Highlights

News

Chemist Ivo Starý Takes the Helm of the Learned Society

The incoming president of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic is its current 1st Vice-President, chemist Ivo Starý from the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. He succeeds mathematician Martin Loebl of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics at Charles University.

News

At the age of 79, virologist Ivan Hirsch has passed away

It is with deep sorrow that we received the news that on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, Prof. RNDr. Ivan Hirsch, CSc. (born 1946), a member of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic, passed away at the age of 79.

Jaroslav Nešetřil received the Nerode Prize for his pioneering work in graph theory

Jaroslav Nešetřil, together with French mathematician Patrice Ossona de Mendez, has been awarded the 2025 Nerode Prize by the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science (EATCS). They laid the foundations for a significant area of structural graph theory, known as Sparsity.

Jan Konvalinka received the Arnošt Lustig Prize

Courage, bravery, humanity, and justice — these are the values embodied by the laureates of the Arnošt Lustig Prize, awarded since 2011 by the Czech Israeli Mutual Chamber of Commerce. The 2024 Prize was presented on Wednesday, October 1, in the Ball Game Hall of Prague Castle by the President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, to Professor Jan Konvalinka, biochemist, Director of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, and member of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic. 

Statements

Declaration in Support of American Universities

The Council of the Learned Society expresses its solidarity with and support for universities in the United States that uphold academic freedom. It also voices concern over the restriction of funding for important programs in the fields of medicine and human rights.

The Council of the Learned Society expresses its support for the Serbian academic community

The Council of the Learned Society expresses its support for Serbian students and university representatives who are facing intimidation and attacks on academic freedom.

The learned society stands behind Ukraine

The Council of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic expresses its support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression and appeals to the Czech political representation to take the necessary steps, together with its European partners, to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities and to ensure the security of the entire European continent.

About the Society

The Learned Society of the Czech Republic brings together prominent scientists working in the Czech Republic.

It is a successor of the Royal Bohemian Society of Sciences. Its main aim is to promote the free practice of science in all of its manifestations, inspire the desire for knowledge and joy thereof, spread scientific findings amongst the public, and champion improvement in the levels of education and creative, rational and personally responsible social environment in the Czech Republic.

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