Highlights

Statements

Joint Statement by Czech Academic Institutions in Support of the Russian Philosopher Svetlana Mesyats

The case of Svetlana Mesyats, a scholar of ancient philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, raises serious concerns about academic freedom and the personal safety of researchers in Russia. Dr Mesyats was arrested in May 2026 and placed under house arrest over alleged irregularities in the reporting of results from a research and translation project, and now faces a prison sentence of up to ten years.

News

Pavel Jungwirth elected Corresponding Member of the Mainz Academy of Sciences and Literature

The Academy of Sciences and Literature in Mainz has admitted five new members. Among them is Pavel Jungwirth, a physical chemist at the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, a member and, from 2020 to 2022, president of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic.

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.

Statements

Joint Statement by Czech Academic Institutions in Support of the Russian Philosopher Svetlana Mesyats

The case of Svetlana Mesyats, a scholar of ancient philosophy at the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, raises serious concerns about academic freedom and the personal safety of researchers in Russia. Dr Mesyats was arrested in May 2026 and placed under house arrest over alleged irregularities in the reporting of results from a research and translation project, and now faces a prison sentence of up to ten years.

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.

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.

More