Julius Lukeš is a medical doctor, scientist, traveller and Charles University graduate who has visited more than 100 countries worldwide. He is our first guest in the new Forum Radio. Launched on the occasion of Charles University’s 674^th birthday!

Charles University, founded on 7 April 1348, is celebrating its 674th birthday. On this occasion, the university awarded five scientists Donatio Universitatis Carolinae prizes. They are worth a financial reward of one million crowns.

Charles University recently hosted a one-day conference at the Patriotic Hall bringing together top members of the legislative branches from the Czech, Estonian, Lithuanian, and Latvian Parliaments, to mark 100 years since the Czechoslovaks gave de jure recognition to the three Baltic states. The event also focussed on lessons for today.

The 2021 Czech film Occupation underperformed at the box office but eventually began picking up awards such the Czech Film Critics’ Prize and the Czech Lion. The script was co-written by Marek Šindelka - a Ph.D. student at Charles University.

Dr. Erik Meijaard is a highly-recognised ecologist and conservationist who has been based in Borneo since the early 1990s.  Last semester, students were able to attend his course on conservation practices and management at Charles University’s Faculty of Science, based on studies and research he and his team have conducted for years.

“It has to be talked about, even though personally it hurts a lot...” Belarusian-born historian Alena Marková from the Faculty of Humanities warns that the ‘normalisation’ now in Belarus is similar to Czechoslovakia after 1968.

Students from Charles University across all faculties have been helping to raise money for refugees from Ukraine. Most recently, students from two medical faculties at Charles University organised a charity hockey match that helped raise hundreds of thousands of crowns in support.

“I don't know a single Belarusian who supports the war in Ukraine,” says Larysa Aharkava, a Charles University graduate. She came to the Czech Republic from Belarus at the age of 18 and has been working for Google for the last 12 years.

Following the pandemic, Charles University students are once again helping in tough times, providing aid to Ukrainian refugees arriving in the country. “Their efforts are remarkable,” says Charles University Chancellor Michal Zima.

“The Russian occupiers are dropping bombs on civilians,” says Tamara Bardina from Chernihiv, Ukraine, a student at Charles University. Her indignation was in immediate response to the invasion on 24 February. Since, the situation in Ukraine has only grown worse.

The inauguration of Professor Milena Králíčková, the new Rector of Charles University, took place on 3 March 2022 at the historic Carolinum. She succeeds Professor Tomáš Zima who served for two consecutive terms. The new rector's term of office will last until 31 January 2026.

It was only last week that Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to invade Ukraine yet already the conflict feels months old. Since, there has been fierce resistance from the Ukrainians. Forum spoke to Professor Emil Aslan, an expert in Security Studies at Charles University.

Last February saw the cancellation of Venkov 2021 due to the pandemic. The popular conference hosted by the Department of Social Geography and Regional Development and organised by Dr. Radim Perlín, has always been an opportunity for regional stakeholders to connect with researchers and government planners. Luckily, this year, it returned.

“They are fighting for our freedom here as well,” was the message sent by the Faculty of Arts’ Dr. Radomyr Mokryk, currently in Lviv. He was one of the panellists at a student event held at Kampus Hybernská. The happening took place a day after Russian military forces attacked Ukraine.

Science communication – raising  awareness and understanding among the general public, while capturing the thrill of successful science – is something of an art. It isn’t always easy to communicate effectively. But British experts agree, it is essential and it's important to get it right.

Tomáš Weiss from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Charles University is the editor of a new book on the influence of small states in international security. “It may be interesting for Czech readers that the book devotes several chapters to the Czech Republic,” he says.

“We really had no idea how big a role the Aborigines played,” say Petr Kuneš. An associate professor at CU, Dr. Kuneš was a member an international team that examined how colonisation changed vegetation management in Australia.

The Olympics are not just about sports and the joy of winning: sociologists also look at the role that money, politics and globalisation play. “Basically, all Olympics suffer some controversy,” says Matouš Veselský, a sociologist at the Faculty of Humanities.

Friday, 11 February, marks the seventh International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrating the role of women in the scientific world and promoting gender equality. What do women scientists at Charles University enjoy the most about their work and what kind of challenges did they face?

Charles University, Professor Milena Králíčková, met for the first time in the historic Carolinum’. Králíčková was elected to head Charles University by the Academic Senate in October 2021 and then appointed by the Czech head of state at the end of January. The very first meeting addressed a number of specific points and challenges.