We feature an interview in this issue with Professor Eva Semotanová, director of the Institute of History of the ASC R. As a research worker, she specializes in interdisciplinary fields of science on the intersection between geography and history, namely, historical geography, history of cartography and historical cartography. Professor Semotanová's study includes the history of Czech towns and cities in a historical-geographic context as she seeks to integrate this context into historical processes. She supervises the Institute's cartographic collection. Chair of the Committee for Historical Geography, she also lectures on historical geography. and Marina Hužvárová.
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) celebrates fifty years since the signing of its founding convention. Over the last half century, ESO has become the world's most productive ground-based astronomical observatory. The signing of the ESO Convention on October, 5, 1962 and the foundation of ESO was the culmination of the vision of leading astronomers from five European countries: Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden. They had decided to join forces for the purpose of building a large telescope that would give them access to the magnificent and rich southern sky. Operating three unique and world-class observing sites in Chile (at La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor), ESO has become a leader in the astronomical research community. To celebrate the 50th anniversary, ESO and its partners (including the Czech Republic) are organising many events and public initiatives during 2012. and Marina Hužvárová.
A firm called Company RadioMedic Ltd., developed at the Nuclear Physics Institute of the ASCR in 2009, deals with the development, manufacturing and distribu‑ tion of radiopharmaceutical preparations. It has developed a ra-diopharmaceutical with an active substance that selectively binds to hypoxic cells. These tumor cells are more sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the presence of oxygen in tissue and consequently the number of the hypoxic cells is a limiting factor for a therapy effect. and František Melichar.
The International Workshop on Astronomical X-Ray Optics took place in Prague December 6-12,2009. Its goal was to present and to discuss recent and forthcoming technologies for future X-ray astronomy missions, with emphasis on IXO of ESA/NASA/JAXA. These missions require development of mostly innovative techno logies, and invited speakers discussed the possibilities, results obtained so far, and new ideas in detail. and Martin Blažek.
The General Assembly of the International Association of Research Institutes (RIHA) took place at the Institute of Art History of the ASCR November 11–12, 2011. The purpose of RIHA (founded in 1998 in Paris) is to promote education and research in art history and related disciplines, to intensify cooperation between institutes by facilitating the flow of information on scientific and administrative activities and exchanging research findings while also encouraging institutes to undertake joint projects. The outcome of the Annual Assemblies of RIHA in Brussels (2010) and Prague (2011) is a Resolution of RIHA entitled Measuring Quality in Art History. and Lubomír Konečný.