In under a week, the Winter World University Games will kick off in Lake Placid, USA, where the Czech Republic, through the Czech Association of University Sports, will send a 142-member team comprising 93 athletes. Among them will be 12 students from Charles University.

In today's episode, Forum Radio talks to well-known American literary translator Alex Zucker. Zucker’s translations include novels by some of the best contemporary Czech authors including Bianca Bellová, Petra Hůlová and Jáchym Topol.

Dictionary.com chose “woman” as its word of the year for 2022, an apt choice which could apply to Charles University. In February, for the first time in its history, the position of rector was taken up by a woman: professor and  scientist Milena Králíčková. The events of 2022 demonstrated the importance and necessity of science more than ever.

Associate Professor Jan Sýkora from the Institute of Asian Studies has been to Japan countless times and has dedicated more than 30 years to the study of the Japanese language and culture. This year, he received one of Japan’s highest honours.

Czech baseball experienced its own smaller version of “Nagano ‘98” over the last few weeks. For the first time in history, the national team made it to the World Baseball Classic (WBC). Pitcher Lukáš Ercoli, a graduate of sports management at Charles University, helped the Czechs advance.

Radim Tauber was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and ADHD in the fourth grade, which explained why he so often had failing grades as a kid and was moved from school to school. His professors at CU, familiar with his needs, helped him to succeed. Most of all, he worked hard himself.

Sports associations that organise championship competitions in water rescue sports, pitting top swimmers in lifesaving disciplines such as manikin, relay, beach sprint and surf race. CU student and champion swimmer Dominika Geržová knows a thing or two about that.

The 18th century Czech composer Josef Mysliveček is at last getting the attention he deserves, says acclaimed American musicologist Daniel E. Freeman. It is in no small part thanks to Freeman’s own extensive research into the composer’s music and life. 

She won the national final of the FameLab competition at the end of September and just won silver at the international grand final in Cheltenham! Future molecular biologist Eliška Jandová, a student at the Faculty of Science at CU. She confirmed her knack for public speaking and, most importantly, outlined hope for cancer patients.

The legacy of two dates in Czechoslovak history, 17 November 1939 and 1989, was commemorated on Thursday by students and representatives of Charles University. “We are gathering together to honour the memory of the students and their brave fight for freedom,” CU Rector Milena Králíčková said.

“I consider Charles University to be one of the best in the wider region, it can withstand comparison with the best in the world,” says Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová. The head-of-state met on Wednesday with students at Charles University. 

This Thursday Czechs are marking the 33^rd anniversary of the Velvet Revolution which paved the way for a return to freedom and democracy in Czechoslovakia. We speak to historian Jakub Rákosník. 

Charles University’s hockey team successfully defended its title from last year in the Battle of the Universities. In the final this time, the team defeated players from the Czech Technical University in Prague. The triumph is the team’s ninth in the traditional competition of Prague universities.

The field of nursing within the medical profession has grown ever more varied. While in the past, a “one-size-fits-all” approach was sufficient, that is no longer the case. “The shortage of nurses,” says Ivana Dvořáčková of Hradec Králové University Hospital, “would be eased if we relieved them of tasks which could go to less qualified professionals.”

From the Freemasons to the mysterious Illuminati, take your pick: throughout history there has been no shortage of conspiracy theories suggesting most of us live with a veil over our eyes. Not knowing there are shadow organisations operating to overthrow society.

He has illustrated magazines and books but recently took on his biggest project: a large mural on the wall of a four-story apartment building at Hradčanská in Prague 6. He is Marek Kulhavý, known in the art world as Mára Čmára (Mára Scribbles). Kulhavý found his way to art at Charles University’s Catholic Theological Faculty.

Charles University, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and in consultation with the EC, has taken part in the creation of the Eastern Partnership University Cluster. It includes universities from both the European Union and the so-called Eastern Partnership.

During ceremonies of Charles University, you can’t miss him: he stands out even among esteemed guests, always the first to walk into the Great Hall in dignified historical dress, sceptre in hand. He is the university’s bedel or beadle. At the Carolinum that role is performed by Josef Šebek.

Two Czech scientists who have contributed significantly to global research with their lifetime of work, one scientific transfer project and six young scientific talents. These are this year's awards from the Neuron Foundation for Science. Six of the nine awards have gone to Charles University.

Carolyn R. Bertozzi, Morten Meldal and Barry Sharpless were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their research on tools for building molecules. Their findings will contribute to the development of processes that simplify functional chemistry.