An introductory word from the Dean
Dear colleagues,
Dear students,
Although some hectic days are left before the end of the year, when we are all trying to finish and accomplish a lot, it is time to take stock. Let's try to stop for a moment, take a breath, and look back at what we have accomplished, which areas we should continue in, and where we need to improve our efforts. Only in this way will we be able to start the new year with clear plans and visions. Advent is, after all, a time for reflection and invites such a pause.
Looking back on the past year, which will forever be marked by the war conflict in Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis, I must first and foremost commend our entire faculty. This reflection is not meant to take the form of an evaluation. The faculty evaluation in itself was one of the great themes of the past year; the faculty once again underwent an extensive international evaluation of science and doctoral studies after a long time. All 13 departments where teaching takes place were involved. I know that dozens of staff, academics, Ph.D. students, and administrative support were involved in this challenging process. We can appreciate all the more that the evaluations have gone very well and take comfort in the fact that the recommendations received can further raise the already high standards of our departments.
It would certainly be fitting at this point to acknowledge all those who have contributed to both scientific performance and teaching because without it, the next generation of future scientists, practitioners, and teachers who will educate the next generation could not exist. Nor can we forget the students. Without their efforts and willingness to learn more and learn new things, we could not achieve the goal of moving knowledge forward. Many thanks are, however, also due to all non-academic staff who create the necessary support for the development and functioning of the faculty. A name list would be very long and many times beyond the scope of this format.
I want to share with you at least the joy of the results that increase the prestige of our faculty abroad and today and into the future. I will provide just a few examples. In 2022, the next phase of the EIRENE European Research Infrastructure for Human Exposome Research kicked off. Our faculty was awarded over 200 million crowns from the National Renewal Plan for projects to be implemented between 2022 and 2025. Tomáš Řezník from the Department of Geography is participating in the joint BENCHMARKS project with a Dutch university, which has received support from the Horizon Europe research and innovation framework program. Peter Fabian from the Department of Experimental Biology was successful in the GAČR Junior Star grant scheme. Our future students are also winning prizes, for example, Darja Klementová, whose work, under our colleagues' guidance, received the "Česka Hlavička "award. The list of exceptional activities and projects could go on and on.
I want to thank all staff and students for creating a faculty of which we can be proud, and I wish us all much strength, energy, optimism, resilience, and perseverance in 2023.
Tomáš Kašparovský
Dean of the Faculty
