07/2007

Academic bulletin 07/2007

RESUMÉ

NEW DIRECTORS OF THE ACADEMIC INSTITUTES
Academic Bulletin introduces 53 recently named directors of all Academic institutes that will control the institutes in next five years.

EVENT OF THE MONTH
Prague Meeting of the ERC Scientific Council
The European Research Council (ERC), the first pan-European funding body set up to support investigator-driven frontier research, has been newly-established to stimulate scientific excellence by supporting and encouraging the very best scientists, engineers and scholars. The ERC complements other funding activities in Europe such as those of national research funding agencies, and is a flagship component of the Ideas Programme of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). From 14–15 May, Prague and the ASCR Main Office building hosted the ERC Scientific Council Meeting.

TOPIC OF THE MONTH
Microorganisms Maintain the Planet in Spite of Man
Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Aquatic Sciences (AQUAFLUO) Conference in Nové Hrady between May 28 and June 1was the first of its kind and enabled researchers from a variety of fields to discuss current aquatic research problems. Addressing the conference was Prof. Paul Falkowski of Rutgers University, a member of prestigious (U.S.) National Academy of Sciences and specialist in Geological Sciences and Marine and Coastal Science. As such he is engaged in iron fertilizer for phytoplankton and phytoplankton’s role in the carbon dioxide cycle. Professor Falkowski gave Academic Bulletin a brief interview.

SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
Co-operation Guarantees Progress
The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic and the University of South Bohemia (USB) in České Budějovice signed a new contract about mutual co-operation, that could strengthen existing relationship.

AWARDS
The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Awards so far in 2007
On the 26^th June, Prof. Václav Pačes, president of the ASCR, awarded scientific teams from the Institute of Information Theory ASCR and the Biology Centre ASCR as well as three young scientists with ASCR Awards that among the most important scientific prizes awarded in the Czech Republic.

The Learned Society of the Czech Republic Awards
On the 14^th May, on its annual general meeting, the Learned Society of the Czech Republic honored mathematician Prof. Miroslav Engliš and two young Czech scientists, N. Špačková and J. Čížek. The ceremony took part in Karolinum, a historical building of Charles University in Prague.