Sigma Programme: Announcement of the 8th call – sub-objective 4, Bilateral cooperation

The Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TA CR) announced the eighth public call in the Programme for Support of Applied Research and Innovation SIGMA – sub-objective 4, bilateral cooperation.

This call is aimed at supporting international cooperation in the field of applied research through joint projects of Czech entities supported by TA CR and foreign partners with the support of foreign organizations.

Its main objective is to increase the number of outputs and results in areas that are promising for the future of the participating countries. Another objective is also to promote the transfer of international knowledge, share good practices, and facilitate the penetration of foreign markets.

The project proposal shall be submitted in English. TA CR also recommends the applicants to switch the language in ISTA to English via the appropriate flag icon in the top right corner after logging in.

Foreign partners must be based in one of the following localities:

The Call Period ends on 17 July 2024 (faculty deadline: 10 July 2024). More on the provider’s website.

Changes in the Scientific-educational Board of the study field

There have been changed in the Scientific-educational Board of the study field Mathematics and Computer Science. The chairman became doc. RNDr. Jan Tomeček, Ph.D., the vice-chairman is doc. RNDr. Marek Jukl, Ph.D. Their term of office is from 10 June 2024 to 9 June 2027.

Falling Walls Lab Czech Republic

The National Library of Technology in Prague will host the 9th edition of the international competition Falling Walls Lab Czech Republic, which aims to bring together the next generation of great scientists and innovators. They can come up with a breathtaking idea – a scientific project, a business plan or a social initiative that will break down all walls and barriers.

The contestants' presentation is in English in a pitch-talk format, which is a maximum of three minutes long. It does not matter whether the topic is computing or medicine, economics or engineering, philosophy, robotics, chemistry, art or agriculture – the competition is open to anyone who is convinced of their idea and can convince others of it. Students at all degrees are welcome, even Ph.D. and postdocs. Registration is possible through Falling Walls Lab Czech Republic (falling-walls.com).

The Czech final of the Falling Walls international project will take place on 12 September 2024 at the National Library of Technology in Prague, and the deadline for applications is 30 June 2024. The winner of the national round will represent the Czech Republic at the global final in Berlin, which is regularly held on the eve of the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. This year it will take place on 7-9 November 2024.

Research, Development and Innovation Council Chairman's Award for the promotion or popularization of research, experimental development and innovation 2024

The Chairman of the Research, Development and Innovation Council announces a call for nominations for the Chairman's Award for the Promotion or Popularization of Research, Experimental Development and Innovation for 2024.

• Along with the award, the laureate will receive a financial reward of up to CZK 400,000. This award is provided from the budget of the Government of the Czech Republic and can be awarded only once per calendar year. Laureátka/laureát získá spolu s oceněním finanční odměnu až do výše 400 000 Kč.
• When selecting a candidate for the award, the Chairman of the Council assesses the number, scope and quality of popularization public appearances and the number, scope and quality of written popularization contributions, including popularization in the media and various public lectures, taking into account the impact on the public, particularly in terms of promoting the long-term prospects of research, experimental development and innovation.

Nominations should be sent to Bc. Miroslava Šaichová, e-mail: miroslava.saichova@upol.cz by 15 August 2024. Nomination form here.

František Běhounek Award

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports has announced the 13th year of František Běhounek Award 2024 for promotion and popularization of Czech science and spreading the good name of the Czech Republic in the European Research Area. Detailed information, including the form, can be found on the website.

The prize is associated with a financial reward of CZK 250,000. Nominations of candidates for the František Běhounek Award 2024 are open until Monday, 15 July 2024 by 16:00.

Mandatory reporting of mobilities

It is the responsibility of every outgoing student to report his/her mobility. Always report your intention to go and the duration of your mobility to Mrs. Dana Gronychová (dana.gronychova@upol.cz) from the International section of the Student Affairs Office.

Information about foreign students who will come for an internship must also be sent to Mrs. Gronychová in advance by the department to which they are to come.

You will also find new information about traineeships, which must be reported as well.

Records of foreign guests

It is the responsibility of the department to register foreign guests. If you have international guests visiting your department, please enter their information in the Portal.

Instructions:

• click on "All Applications" in your Portal
• click on the "Guest Admission" tile
• press the "+New" button and fill out the newly opened form.

Mobility scholarship

A student who goes on any mobility abroad for 30 days or more (study stay, research internship, work placement, summer school, etc.), can apply for a scholarship of CZK 5,000 for each mobility. The request must be submitted before departure. This change applies to applications submitted from 1 September 2024, until then the amount of CZK 3 000 applies.

Co-financing of internships abroad

It is possible to apply for additional funding for student internships abroad if the primary source does not cover all the necessary costs. The completed and signed application form (available in both English and Czech) send either by internal mail to Waleria Slowiková (Student Affairs Office) or by scanning it to waleria.slowikova@upol.cz.

Summer office hours of the Student Affairs Office

Student Affairs Office of the Faculty of Science will be closed during the following dates: 1 to 4 July, 5 to 9 August 2024.

During other days in July and August:

Doctoral student evaluations

Students of doctoral study programmes should submit their evaluation for academic year 2023/2024 by 30 June 2024. The evaluation has to be signed by the student as well as the supervisor and the chairman of the Subject-Area Board of the student’s study programme. It has to include a written assessment of the supervisor as to whether or not he/she recommends the student's advancement to the next year. Even after submitting the evaluation, the student can complete the courses he/she has enrolled at in STAG until 6 September 2024.

Extension of studies

Students of the fourth and higher years, together with the evaluation, submit a request for the extension of studies. For that use the general request form, give a proper reason for the extension and, similarly to the evaluation, the request must also include the supervisor’s statement and three signatures (student, supervisor, chairman of the Subject-Area Board).

Vote for the best teacher!

The Dean's Award is given to employees of the Faculty of Science for outstanding teaching activities, and it is standardly given to five employees – one from each of the five fields of study at the FS UP (Mathematics and Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Ecology and Earth Sciences).

Students of third and higher years of Bachelor study and students of the Master study can vote for their favourite teacher. Each student can nominate up to three teachers, who will be assigned votes with a weight of 1,0, 0,7 and 0,5, respectively.

The prize will be awarded to the teacher who receives the highest number of votes. In the event of a tie, two prizes may be awarded in each of the above mentioned fields.

Students can vote electronically on this website until 30 September. Logging in is the same as in the Portal, but further voting is anonymous.

Change of opening hours from 1 July to 1 September 2024:

File service

Holiday office hours from 1 July to 1 September 2024.

Holiday operation on the SLO building

From 1 July to 1 September 2024 the building is open from 7:00 to 15:30.

Holiday operation on the VLD building

From 1 July to 1 September 2024 the building is open from 7:00 to 15:00.

Summer opening hours of faculty libraries

The Library of the Faculty of Science Envelopa:
CLOSED 28 June – 5 July 2024
CLOSED 19 August – 23 August 2024

The Library of the Faculty of Science Holice:
CLOSED 28 June – 12 July 2024
CLOSED 29 July – 2 August 2024
CLOSED 26 August – 2 September 2024

Canteens and FreshUp bistros

The Palacký University canteens, including the FreshUP bistros, adjust their opening hours every year for the two holiday months. On 13 June, the main canteen will end its afternoon operation. The adjusted summer opening hours are valid until the beginning of the winter semester.

Canteens and bistros will not open the first week of July. From the second week of July, most canteens and bistros will operate in normal or adjusted hours. During the second week of July the canteen in Holice campus will remain closed; the UP Accommodation and dining services will use the closure to repair the flooring and modify the food service area.

Water supply disruption

Due to the service work on the water supply connection on 2 July 2024, from 8:00 a.m., the water supply will be suspended in the buildings of the UP Faculty of Science at the following addresses:

• 17. listopadu 12
• 17. listopadu 50
• 17. listopadu 50A
• Fort Science.

The affected buildings will be closed throughout the day. For technical questions related to this notice, please contact filip.zlamal@upol.cz. The water supply disruption and service restrictions will also affect the FreshUP Bistro, canteen and dormitories at Envelopa.

Lectures at the Department of Chemical Biology

The Department of Chemical Biology invites you to Special guest lectures. The lecture entitled 'Light Triggered Calcium Ion Uptake' will be presented by prof. Nasri Nesnas from the Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, USA. The lecture entitled 'Development of a Smart Nanocarrier System for Prostate Cancer Immunotherapy' will be presented by Dr. John Fetse from Larkin University, Miami, USA. Lectures will take place on Thursday, 27 June 2024 from 13:00 (room SE 47.137 in Holice Campus).

Colours of Ostrava

As part of the Colours of Ostrava and Meltingpot, Dr. Ivana Fellnerová from the Department of Zoology will give a lecture on 20 July from 15:30.

Sustainable development ambassadors

Eight Sustainability Ambassadors are helping to spread the principles of sustainability at faculties of UP. They are not only a link between the central department of sustainable development of UP (or Sustainable University), but also contact persons for students and employees at individual units. The ambassador for the Faculty of Science is prof. Ivo Machar from the Department of Development and Environmental Studies.

The role of ambassadors is to convey information between the Sustainability Department of the UP Rector's Office and the university units in all aspects of sustainability so that the university succeeds in meeting the goals of the UP Sustaibale Development Strategy and its action plans.

Times Higher Education Impact Rankings

Palacký University is successfully meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. It is one of the best Czech universities in this field and is gaining ground even in international comparison. This has been confirmed by the current edition of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024, which focuses on the Sustainable Development Goals as defined by the United Nations. In the evaluated areas, Palacký University has been ranked once in the TOP 100 and five times in the TOP 200 out of almost two thousand universities worldwide.

Donate Blood with the Rector

With the beginning of the new academic year, the Donate Blood with the Rector event, which has so far been held only once a year during the UP Academic Week in February, and the university-wide contest with the fitting name 'Roll Up Your Sleeve', will start on Monday, 30 September. The trophy will be awarded to the faculty with the highest total volume of blood donated by students and employees, as well as the faculty with the highest percentage of student donors and, for the first time, the faculty with the highest percentage of employee donors. The competition will run until Friday, 6 December, and the winners will be announced on Tuesday, 17 December, during the traditional pre-Christmas Punch with the Rector in the courtyard of the Armory.

Rector's Award for Volunteers

Do you know a colleague or a student who cares about the world around them and is willing to lend a helping hand? Then do not hesitate to nominate such a person for the Rector's Award for Volunteers from among students, alumni and employees of Palacký University for 2024. It is also possible to nominate for the award those who are involved in international volunteering. Proposals are accepted until 31 August 2024, via the nomination sheet.

University beach chairs

Relaxation and peace not only by the sea, but also on the terraces of the Faculty of Science! University beach chairs are available not only at the Armoury, but also at the UP Library at the Faculty of Science in Envelopa campus. You can borrow them on the 6th floor free of charge during the library's opening hours upon presentation of a student identification card, ISIC card or UP employee card. The nearby terraces provide wonderful views of the city.

The next faculty Newsletter (the first after the summer holidays) will be published on Monday, 9 September 2024.