100 let od narození prof. Němce

On 15th of March 100 years ago, professor Jaroslav Němec, an important expert on solid material physics, fracture mechanics, material fatigue and ageing of structures, was born. During his succesful career, he was also the director of the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics of the (then) Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (1978-1987). In 2004, he received a prestigious National Award in Sciences and Technics for outstanding contribution to science and its application for industry. Professor Němec was not only a scientist in his own right but also a thinker and a phylosopher of a renaissance type. He was a university professor and founded a new study programme - material engineering. He was also a painter - his pictures create a permanent exhibition in Chateau Horažďovice, Municipal House in Kašperské Hory and in sanatoriums in Karlovy lázně and Chateau Příchovice.