UHK Annually - University of Hradec Králové A Reliable Partner in Crisis
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UHK Annually
UHK EVENT MAGAZINE
University of
Hradec Králové
A Reliable Partner
in Crisis
CONTENT UHK ANNUALLY 2020
3 The University of Hradec Králové
lends a helping hand. The Rector
commended volunteers
34 Faculty of Education students
majoring in Czech Studies moved
three tonnes of stone
Life at UHK
63 Rector Kamil Kuča honoured 8 outstand-
The University of Hradec Králové
9 “It was an exceptional opportunity
and I learned much from it,” Anna
35 Unique research on reed galls
and solitary bees has provided
ing individuals from the University of
Hradec Králové on the occasion of the
Velvet Revolution of 1989. Great thanks
lends a helping hand. The Rector
commended volunteers
Macáková recalls here compulsory many answers, but even more will also be bestowed on everyone who
service at a nursing home questions fought the COVID-19 pandemic
10 Klára Rybenská received an award 37 The immortal Remoska has daz- 67 Alžběta Dvořáková was awarded the
from the Minister of Education for zled people for over 60 years 2019 Mayor’s Student Award for Creative JAKUB NOVÁK UHK SPOKESMAN
coordinating the manufacture of Achievement
face shields 38 Hradec Days of Social Work KRISTÝNA VÁVROVÁ DEAN’S OFFICE, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, UHK
organised online for the first 68 The Elixir for Schools DIGI Centre
Science time in history educates teachers and students alike
in digital technologies at the Faculty of The new coronavirus pandemic brought the entire world to a standstill at the start
12 Stanford University Survey: Top 39 University galleries stand for Science of the year. After it had claimed its first dozens, hundreds and then even thousands
2 % ranking for UHK researchers tradition, exhibition practice
and educational potential 69 We only had 24 hours to create a winning of victims, it became painfully obvious that governments were not prepared to
14 UHK Scientists shoot lasers at ap- project. The first signs of fatigue didn’t face the challenge. The mantle was taken up by volunteers. In the Czech Republic,
ple trees to help orchard keepers 40 Vivat academia, Vivant profes- appear until around six in the morning
sores! – Welcome, new profes- universities stood at the forefront of the effort to stop the disease from spreading.
15 The Faculty of Informatics and sors and associate professors 71 Philosophical faculties decided to fight The University of Hradec Králové (UHK) was no exception.
Management can identify poten- against traditional myths
tially malicious websites Foreign affairs
72 The University strives to be quality Taking care of medical workers’ children of hospitals and other medical facilities, which
16 The legacy of J. A. Comenius – 46 Twenty-one million Czech crowns certified. The prestigious HR Excellence and sewing face masks. were looking for volunteers who would help take
with respect and admiration go toward international student in Research Award is granted by the
and employee mobility. The European Commission care of the children of doctors and other medi-
18 Naturalised inferentialism: University of Hradec Králové yet Rector Kamil Kuča describes the first wave cal workers. We spread the news across all our
standards, meanings and reasons again receives a bumper crop of 75 Swimming across the Chanel is like
in the natural world – the project funds climbing Mount Everest. Along with all of UHK students volunteering in the spring: communication channels, and I am proud to
continues the magic and misery you can imagine “When we realised how critical the situation was, say that our students stood up to the challenge.
48 The first UHK double degree we immediately responded to the desperate calls More than sixty volunteers offered to help without
19 EEA and Norway grants go programme agreement has been 77 “My university teachers’ supporting my
towards UHK. The University will signed writing was of vital importance to me,”
open a new study course on the says writer and UHK graduate, Jakuba
transfer of technologies and stu- 49 Two new lichen species have Katalpa
dents can look forward to a unique been discovered in South Korea
summer school 79 UNIVERSITY – a new application for
51 Student exchange during Corona university students is here
21 Research by Associate Professor times. Is there a silver lining?
Šilhán reveals that tree rings pre- 80 Lenka Novotná won the main prize at the
dict rockslides years in advance 52 “Friendships from Taiwan have 2019 Graphics National Competition for
opened the door to the entire her book Kroj
22 Nominations and evaluations world for me,” says student
of selected results according Markéta Jindráková 81 The University of Hradec Králové organ-
to the M1 Module on behalf of ised a one-week IT Day Camp
the Faculty of Informatics and 55 “There were a lot of guests at
Management, UHK Harvard, but we all felt very 83 The Philosophical Faculty of the
welcome,” says Fulbright Scholar University of Hradec Králové got the
24 The uncertain realities of Jaroslava Program scholarship holder green light, and it can start renovating
Severová Lukáš Vízek its building on Svoboda Square. The esti-
mated cost is about CZK 200 million
26 A Czech historical atlas won three 57 The Faculty welcomed 20 interna-
prestigious awards tional students, notwithstanding 84 Researchers’ Night in Hradec Králové:
the COVID-19 pandemic Robots in research and in practice
28 The Department of Chemistry pub-
lished in prestigious journals 58 A semester in Canada during the 86 Let’s be objective about Europe. The
COVID-19 pandemic EUforka project busts myths about the
30 A team from FIM is the only Czech EU
participant in an international 60 The FF UHK eLearning
competition. It is designing a programme 87 The University of Hradec Králové is
robot called FIM Bot proud to join a project that supports top
61 We have established a new part- notch athletes
32 “The goal of the project ‘1620 – nership with Uzhhorod National
Road to Defeat’ was to commemo- University 88 Once again, students and companies met
rate the key events of the quadri- at the JobStart trade fair. UHK graduates
centennial anniversary of the end 62 FF UHK will participate in are an inspiration
of the Bohemian Revolt,” explains SensiClass, an international
archaeologist Ladislav Rytíř strategic partnership 90 UHK Annually in a nutshell
UHK ANNUALLY 2020 3
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a moment of hesitation.” But this was not all that Institute of Social Work at the Philosophical start a new teaching job, but classes were can- 3D printing. “The University of Hradec Králové
the University did. Don’t forget that medicine Faculty, the compulsory labour order also celled, and I was rather unhappy that I wouldn’t adopted a very proactive approach from the very
related courses are also taught at UHK and applies to special education students at the get the opportunity to teach. When a notice was onset, especially by engaging our student volun-
so, in addition to helping medical staff at the Faculty of Education majoring in social policy put up on the University website that volunteers teers. The manufacture of face shields was one of
University Hospital in Hradec Králové, UHK and social work. The compulsory labour order were needed and after we learned more about the those efforts through which we could help in our
students also started to assist medical workers that was enacted in the spring of 2020 also volunteer work from our tutor Irena Kapustová, region and of which I can be proud,” Rector Kamil
directly in their homes – they took care of their applies to Veronika Obrovská, a sophomore I didn’t think twice and signed up right away. Kuča describes the University’s involvement.
children in their home environment, especial- in the masters’ Social Work programme at the I started to help the very next day,” says the UHK was one of the initiators of the FB group
ly when the kids had special needs. Students Institute of Social Work of the Philosophical leader of a local Boy Scout’s organisation and 3D Print Against Covid-19. In cooperation with
did their best to help out not only in Hradec Faculty UHK. “I have not been designated to any a student of the Faculty of Education, UHK. other volunteers, the University immediately
Králové. They also helped out in other towns particular job so far, but I am ready. I think that Lenka Haklová, a student at the Institute of started coordinating the manufacture of face
Social Work (Philosophical Faculty), worked
at a nursing home for the elderly. Cheerful
and a dog lover, she joined the nursing home
in Lampertice in the Trutnov district. “In the
end, I am glad that I got the opportunity and
the experience, even if it would have been much
better to try out this job as part of our normal
training in our second year of study,” Lenka ex-
plains with a smile.
Tens of Thousands of UHK Shields at the
Frontline and the Minister’s Award for
Exceptional Contribution
The shortage of protection gear for medical
practitioners during the coronavirus pandem- protection shields. “Even though the 3D printed
ics raised a wave of solidarity, as many people shields are just a quick fix, we still believe that they
started to sew facemasks at home. In Hradec will be useful in the current situation. They are cer-
Králové, five different organisations decided tainly in high demand by the University Hospital
and cities such as Pardubice, Náchod, Jaroměř, the students’ involvement is a good step, which to cooperate in the manufacture of face shields in Hradec Králové and many other institutions,”
Humpolec, Třebíč, and even Pilsen, depending could help social services in our region during for doctors, medical staff and social workers. the Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development,
on the students’ own home address. Students this state of emergency. As social work students, At first, the components were manufactured by Pavlína Springerová, commented at the end of
also joined local community projects under we are being led to show solidarity and empathy,
which they made and distributed hundreds of and to help others. Now we have a chance to put
handmade face masks. “Our teachers also did those values into practice and lend a much-needed
their best to help, like former Vice-Rector Zdeněk helping hand,” Veronika comments. In addition
Beran and his family personally made hundreds to being enrolled in a full-time study program,
of face masks for the Rector’s Office and other she also works in the Civic Advisory Centre in
University departments.” Hradec Králové.
Compulsory labour and the UHK The autumn wave of the pandemic was witness
to several dozens of compulsory labour orders
On Friday, 13 March 2020, the Czech for students in both the Hradec Kralové region,
Government enacted Decree No. 207 on the and in other regions of the Czech Republic.
provision of care in social service facilities for UHK students most frequently help in social
the duration of the state of emergency, which facilities such as nursing homes for the elderly
allowed the Government to order students from but also in other facilities, including hospitals.
several study programmes to take up designat- Martin Řehák joined the efforts as a volunteer.
ed jobs. In addition to UHK’s students from the “I enjoy working with children and I planned to
4 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 5
UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020
March of 2020. The manufacture was co-organ- manufacture of a disinfectant. We also lent needed.” In the first stage, the University gave
ised by the University, the Technology Centre our RT-PCR machine to the District Hospital away 40 computers that were no longer used
in Hradec Králové and the companies Trilab, in Trutnov, when it became a testing centre by the Faculty of Informatics and Management
Deeplab and Industra. “We used twenty-five 3D for Covid-19 patients,” explains Jan Kříž, the and the Faculty of Science. “The Philosophical
printers to produce brackets for the shields, which Dean of the Faculty of Science. Cooperation Faculty also decided to donate some of its note-
were manufactured from PETG (polyethylene with the Trutnov Hospital did not end there. books, but in the end it opted to give them to chil-
terephthalate glycol), material known for its re- The Faculty also organised a training course dren’s homes rather than families,” the Dean of
sistance and durability. Volunteers from UHK took for the hospital’s medical staff on how to the Philosophical Faculty Jan Prouza joins the
care of both the printing process and the assembly. use personal protective gear. The course was debate. “We wanted to help overcome the increas-
The print alone takes about two hours, so there overseen by Dr. Alena Myslivcová Fučíková. “It ingly broader gap in access to education created by
was time enough to prepare other parts in the soon became apparent that the medical work- the social and economic inequality in our society,
meantime, such as the harnesses, and to complete ers were well trained for the situation. We only especially now – during the coronavirus pandem-
the final assembly. In the end, we worked 24/7 in taught them a few tricks how to stay comfortable ics. In addition to donating the computers, we
three shifts with the help of additional volunteers while working. We also lent them our filtration also asked our students to help to the best of their
and printers from UHK,” recalls Dr. Richard and ventilation unit, which we use in our course abilities,” Rector Kuča acknowledges the effort.
Cimler, the founder of Deeplab and a lecturer at on the use of hazardous agents that we teach
the Faculty of Science (UHK). The regional gov- together with Dr. Klára Kubelková from the Algorithms to predict how the disease
ernment of the Hradec Králové Region also got Faculty of Military Health Sciences (University will progress in COVID-19 stricken
involved, and once the manufacturing process of Defence, Brno), here at our Faculty of Science patients
had been certified, production was handed over (UHK),” Dr. Myslivcová Fučíková described the
to Gifty, which managed to make the entire training workshop. The most recent contribution UHK researchers
process more effective. “The volunteers man- have made in the area of pandemics man-
aged to manufacture and distribute over 30,000 Donated computers helped with agement is the development of a contactless
protective face shields during the first wave of the distance learning monitoring system to aid the understanding of
pandemics, mostly to nursing homes for the elder- how COVID-19 progresses in patients afflicted
ly, to schools, to emergency and rescue workers, The autumn wave of the Covid-19 pandemics to donate some of our spare computers to families by the disease. “First of all, we have to design
to local authorities and to medical offices,” the reminded everyone that distance learning is in need. The donation was arranged by a local as- a system based on sensors that will monitor the
Vice-Rector Springerová sums up the effort. a major challenge for many families. “Many sociation called Let’s Talk to Each Other to whom patients,” Richard Cimler, Head of the Centre
families, and single parent families in particular, we initially and formally donated the computers to for Advanced Technologies of the Faculty of
Klára Rybenská, a then postgraduate student found it very difficult to finance the equipment it. The association then assembled the computers Science, outlines the project that received
at the Faculty of Education (UHK), was one needed to arrange distance learning for their and distributed them to where they were most a CZK 2.5 million grant from the Technology
of the most active members of the production children. We took it upon ourselves to help them
team and chief coordinator of shield distribu- as much as we could,” Pavlina Springerová, Vice-
tion. She was nominated for the Minister of Rector for Strategy and Development (UHK),
Education, Youth and Sports Award. It is given described another aspect of the University’s
to students and graduates who excel in their involvement in the combat against the pan-
field of study and for extraordinary student demics, and she adds “In November, we decided
contribution. Dr. Rybenská received the award
from the then Minister Plaga after graduating.
Respirator testing and medical worker
training
“To help test filters and materials, we lent our
electron microscope to the volunteer initiative
COVID19CZ, which developed a new type of respi-
rator together with the Czech Technical University
in Prague. The Department of Chemistry offered
their stock of chemical substances, which were
in shortage on the market at that time, for the
6 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 7
UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020
“It was an exceptional opportunity
and I learned much from it,” Anna
Macáková recalls her compulsory
service at a nursing home
TOMÁŠ VODIČKA DEAN’S OFFICE, PHILOSOPHICAL FACULTY, UHK
Anna Macáková, a second-year student majoring in social work, was one of the
students conscripted by the Hradec Králové region to assist social services during
the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemics. She helped in the Private Nursing Home
in Nechanice.
How did you get the job? observe, and ask questions, because it certain-
Agency of the Czech Republic. “Nonetheless, publication, help still continues. “I there- It all started when I got a call from the regional ly was not easy.
the most important part of the project is to fore decided to acknowledge every student who authorities. A rather pleasant-sounding lady
develop advance algorithms that will allow us selflessly and unpretentiously participated in the offered me a job at a nursing home. I was then What was your service like? What
to monitor the progression of the disease and to effort during the first wave, whether by taking interviewed by the nursing home director, also did you do?
conduct an ongoing evaluation of the patients’ care of the children of frontline medical workers, by telephone. We agreed on the starting date We started the day off by helping our clients
condition,” explains Dr. Filip Studnička from or by helping the elderly in nursing homes, or by and she gave me some details on my new job. with their morning routine. My colleague and
the Department of Physics of the Faculty of manufacturing face shields. I would like to extend I were assigned to the first floor. It took about
Science. “This will allow doctors to intervene my thanks and gratitude to all of them. I will an hour to change their clothes and nappies
before the patient’s condition starts to visibly de- present the Rector’s Medal as a special reward to and to change their bed linen. I accompanied
teriorate, or to relocate patients, whose condition our students’ representatives. I am sure we should the clients who were able to walk to their break-
is improving, to a different ward and in so doing be able to find a convenient and dignified space fast room and helped the rest to eat in their
distribute available resources, such as ventilators, at the University where we will be able to exhibit rooms. After that, we changed their nappies and
more efficiently.” UHK researchers are currently the medal to remind future generations of the re- gave them their drinks. This was followed by
installing the sensors in hospitals in Trutnov sponsible and beneficial role our University played lunch and a nap, during which we repositioned
and Chrudim and plan to extend the research in these difficult times,” Rector Kamil Kuča bedridden clients and washed them. We took
programme to other hospitals as well. concludes gratefully. • them out for a walk whenever the weather was
okay. When the weather was bad, I helped them
Rector’s Award goes to UHK volunteers out during their indoor exercises. I helped
distribute their medication and measured and
The list of activities pursued by UHK teachers recorded their body temperature. After after-
and students to help combat the pandemics noon snacks, we again changed their nappies.
would be rather extensive. At the date of this Dinner was served at 5 pm and we then helped
them to their beds and with their evening
routine. Before the end of the day, we prepared
the laundry and other things needed for the
next day. My shift ended at 7 pm.
So, what was your first day like? Did you know that students may be “con-
My first day at work was very hard, especially scripted” under Czech laws in a state of
mentally. I did not really know what to ex- emergency?
pect. So, I was mostly just trying to get a grip, No, not at all. I didn’t have the slightest idea
until they called me. It was quite a surprise.
8 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 9
UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020
And to tell you the truth, I really didn’t feel up The Hradec Králové Regional Authori- distribute almost 30,000 face shields all across
to it at the time. But looking back, it has been a ty commended you on your efforts. Tell the Czech Republic. In the end, some forty
great experience, not only in terms of my stud- us about it. students participated in the endeavour over
ies, as I am studying towards becoming a social The Regional Authority paid my wages into a period of two months.
worker, but also in terms of my private life. my bank account rather promptly; within
I dote on all the good memories. And I have two or three months. And I was pleasantly It was Klára Rybenská who organised and
become rather attached to many of our clients. surprised by the amount, it was more than coordinated the entire face shield project on
I had expected. • behalf of UHK. Without her every day relentless
efforts, weekends included, the University of
Hradec Králové would never have been able to
Klára Rybenská received an award produce and distribute 30,000 shields dur-
ing the first wave of the pandemics to protect
from the Minister of Education doctors, dentists, social workers and other
frontline workers at a time when protective
for coordinating the manufacture gear was most needed.
Klára Rybenská modestly adds that “it would
of face shields not have been possible to coordinate the large
number of orders, invoices and material supplies
PETRA KUBAŘOVÁ DEAN’S OFFICE, FACULTY OF EDUCATION, UHK and keep the distribution network going without
the help of our students. They came to work and
Klára Rybenská received an award from the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports helped every day in spite of all their other study du- “It was a fairly intense period,
for exceptional student contribution in the year 2020. Robert Plaga, Minister of ties. I would therefore like to thank everyone who but I am very grateful for the
Education, bestowed the award in recognition of students who volunteered to help supported us in any way they could, specifically the opportunity, because it taught
manage the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemics, who cared for others without any UHK management board, all my colleagues, the me a lot. The experience certainly
regard for their own comfort, and whose stories were inspirational. officials from the regional authorities, as well as made me richer in many ways. I
everyone who brought us food and drink and face volunteered, it was my decision
K lára Rybenská, a student at the Faculty
of Education (UHK), coordinated the
activities of the university community related
The printing process started in mid-March.
A total of thirty 3D printers were operated by
twenty-five university students; coordinat-
masks. It was a collective effort.”
She definitely appreciates her experience with
to spend all that time and
energy, and I would certainly do
it again, if I could,” Ms Rybenská
to the manufacture of 3D printed headbands ed, organised in shifts and trained by Klára the production of UHK face shields. sums up with a smile. •
and the assembly of face shields for the Hradec Rybenská herself. She also coordinated the
Králové Region with extraordinary resolve procurement of materials, the distribution of
and diligence. finished face shields and communication with
DIY printers. During the first couple of weeks,
Ms Rybenská got a PhD in Information and this little workshop managed to distribute over
Communication Technologies in Education 4,500 face shields free of charge.
at the Faculty of Education in September. By
that time she had already been working as At the start of April, production was handed
a secretary at the Department of Auxiliary over to the University of Hradec Králové, which
Sciences of History and Archival Studies replaced the 3D printing process with a much
(Philosophical Faculty). UHK’s Vice-Rector more efficient injection moulding process.
Pavlína Springerová contacted her as to wheth- Throughout this period, Klára Rybenská con-
er the Faculty could lend the University any 3D tinued to manage the entire manufacture, and
printers. Klára is in charge of the 3D printers managed to raise the daily production capacity
and she immediately organised the 3D printing to match the promptly increasing demand.
of headbands. “I just decided to go for it, there Ms Rybenská tirelessly coordinated all the
was no time to waste. I felt that it was the best orders, invoices, material supply and distribu-
I could do at that time,” Ms Rybenská recalls. tion. By 17 May, Klára Rybenská and her team
had managed to manufacture, assemble and
10 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 11
SCIENCE SCIENCE
Stanford University Survey: Kuča, who has been featured in both catego-
ries, and Associate Professor Blanka Klímová.
we are so delighted about the success,” the Vice-
Rector for International Affairs Leona Stašová
Top 2 % ranking for UHK researchers Their research and articles are widely cited
worldwide. Vice-Rector Krejcar does not spare
enthuses, and adds: “The THE Young University
Rankings 2020 use 13 different selection crite-
praise for his colleague: “Unlike my other ria, such as teaching and learning environment,
JAKUB NOVÁK UHK SPOKESMAN
esteemed co-workers who managed to get to the knowledge transfer, research influence and inter-
Stanford University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world, top of the rankings, Associate Professor Klímová is national outlook.”
employs some of the best researchers. In their most recent research conducted
in cooperation with Elsevier’s SCOPE, they published the article titled Updated
science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators, which contains
an appendix listing the most successful scientists in the world. The top 2% ranking
featured no less than 6 researchers from UHK.
“I t is a very extensive list, or rather a d
atabase
based on a very lucid and transparent method
ology. The scientists are classified in two catego-
who ranked in the top of their field in the
Career category, in addition to Kamil Kuča, the
university Rector and a renowned toxicologist,
ries – Career and Single 2019. The Career category and associate professor Jiří Bajgar from the
covers their citation contribution throughout their Faculty of Science.
career until the end of the year 2019, while the
Single category reflects their citation index over The top two percent of the most frequently
the past year,” explains Ondřej Krejcar, the Vice- cited scientists in the year 2019 in the Single
Rector for Science and Creative Activities. He category also include Dr. Eugenie Nepovimová,
happens to be one of the three UHK scientists Professor Kamil Musílek and Professor Kamil
neither a medicinal nor a bio-molecular chemist, The Times Higher Education Emerging
she is a social scientist. In her field, she managed Economies University Rankings and the
to rank among the top one hundred scientists in Nature Index
the Czech Republic.”
UHK’s placement in The Times Higher
UHK ranked among the Top Five Education Emerging Economies University
“Young” Universities Rankings 2020 and its placement in the
internationally recognized World University
The increasing quality and international recog- Rankings is great news and notably a mark of
nition of the University of Hradec Králové has appreciation for UHK’s efforts. UHK’s placing
been confirmed by the University’s premium in the THE Young University Ranking is not
position in one of the rankings published by the only first in the year 2020 nor is it its first
the Times Higher Education (THE) magazine taste of international success. For the first time
in 2020, which focused on so-called young in history, the University of Hradec Králové
universities. “Although the roots of our University managed to place in the Nature Index thanks
date back to the year 1959, as do the beginnings to researchers from the Faculty of Sciences.
of the tertiary education of teachers at the then The Nature Index is a database that monitors
Institute of Education in Hradec Králové, the premium publication outputs in natural scienc-
University of Hradec Králové as an official institu- es. “We attribute our success to our physicists
tion classifies as a young university. The inter- Janusz Gluza and Jiří Lipovský and the work they
national competition among new research and did from June 2019 to May 2020,” comments Jan
educational institutions is enormous, which is why Kříž, the Dean of the Faculty of Sciences. •
12 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 13
SCIENCE SCIENCE
UHK Scientists shoot lasers at apple The Faculty of Informatics and
trees to help orchard keepers Management can identify potentially
KRISTÝNA VÁVROVÁ DEAN’S OFFICE, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, UHK
malicious websites
UHK scientists use flying drones, multispectral cameras and lasers to develop ZUZANA DOSTÁLOVÁ DEAN’S OFFICE, FACULTY OF INFORMATICS AND MANAGEMENT, UHK
a method that will aid horticulturists and viticulturalists in their plant care and
cultivation. The Zeta Programme project for young researchers under 35 succeeded Detection software has been developed to home in on malicious software.
in the call for innovations published by the Technology Agency of the Czech A web browser plug-in is the key. The software monitors any potentially malicious
Republic (TA CR) and placed 13th and 14th out of 400 applications. websites that an internet user might be visiting at any time.
“O ur aim is to be able to promptly and
efficiently identify trees that are ex-
posed to nitrogen stress, i.e. nitrogen shortage
Researchers will then review the recorded
images separately and develop algorithms to
assess the condition of the trees from the re- D r. Daniela Ponce from the Department of
Information Technologies initiated the
or excess, which hinders their growth and the cordings made by the various cameras. The data project and student developers Ondřej Caha
maturing of fruit, over large surface areas,” the may also be used to monitor the yield and the and Patrik Štípek co-authored it. They started
lead researcher, Associate Professor Jan Šlégr, development of fruit and plant hydration. working on the project during the winter term
outlines the project. of the year 2019. The application has passed
Researchers must also come up with novel initial functionality testing and appears to be
To this end, they will analyse pictures taken by ideas on how to mount lasers and cameras on running just fine.
a broad variety of cameras, both multi-spectral the drones. “We are currently at the prototyping
and mono-spectral, or photodiodes attached stage. So far, we keep rather close to the ground, “The app is based around the current list of
to flying drones. “We will shoot laser beams at forgive the pun – before drone-testing apple trees, malicious websites published online by the Czech
tree leaves, record the wave lengths reflected back we will take them down to the strawberry fields, Trade Inspection Authority. It downloads and
at drone sensors and then analyse the images,” where there is nothing to get hung about,” Jan stores the database. If the user attempts to visit
Professor Šlégr continues. Šlégr concludes. any of the malicious sites listed, the app redirects
them to a warning page, which displays the cause
The TA CZ Zeta project called Design of Non- for redirecting the user and explains why the site
Destructive Methods for Analysing Nitrogen has been listed as potentially malicious,” Ondřej
Stress in Fruit Farming stands for a collabo- Caha explains.
ration of experts from the Faculty of Science
(UHK) and the Pomology Research Institute The application is installed by way of a brows- pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic have
in Holovousy, and a follow-up of their joint er plug-in. After user testing, the app will resulted in development being halted just before
success in previous projects. Under- and be uploaded to Google Chrome, Firefox and the user testing stage, which is the last milestone
post-graduate students from the FS UHK will Microsoft Edge app stores. A single button we need to pass before we launch the application,”
also partake in the project. • click is all it takes to install the application. Dr. Ponce comments on the current state of
development. •
“The software is intended for older and less experi-
enced users who frequently become victim to mali-
cious websites. Regrettably, current circumstances
14 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 15
SCIENCE SCIENCE
The analysis of the possibilities
and limits of the Comenius
project for the improvement
of all things human has been
subject to a detailed review by
thirteen contemporary thinkers,
published by Jan Hábl under the
title Utopianism or Realism of
The legacy of J. A. Comenius – Comenius’ General Consultation
on an Improvement of All Things
with respect and admiration
Human? The Czech and foreign
contributors to the collection
investigate Comenius’ treatise
PETRA KUBAŘOVÁ DEAN’S OFFICE, FACULTY OF EDUCATION, UHK from four principal perspectives:
historical, pedagogical and
psychological, philosophical, and
theological. Historians explored
Various unique events have been organised for the period from 2020 to 2022 the historical circumstances that formed the the co-authors created a text that reviews the
to commemorate the 430th anniversary of the birth and the 350th anniversary of creation of the General Consultations, its span of Comenius’ combat for humanity in an
the demise of the father of education science John Amos Comenius. The UHK’s sources and inspirations, and the Comenius’ unprecedented depth and breadth.
Faculty of Education, whose own logo has been inspired by Comenius, has joined concept of humanity and its improvement.
the celebrations. Education scholars and psychologists ana- In the upcoming years, not only the Faculty of
lysed the educational aspects of the work – are Education will strive to do more than just com-
I n an inaugural event, organised slightly in
advance of the anniversary, we commemorat
ed Comenius, the Teacher of Nations, by
broader public. Together with his colleagues,
he has devised for the Comenius 2020 project
an interactive presentation about the life and
the educational plans proposed by Comenius
realistic or utopian? Philosophers and theo-
logians delved into the conceptual framework
memorate what Comenius left us. We feel that
we should all endeavour to mend the human
condition, today and in the future, and that
a public reading from his most extensive the ideas of the prodigious Czech philosopher, and backdrop of De Rerum Humanarum we should stop and think about what can be
but sadly never completed work De Rerum pedagogue and theologian. Although aimed Emendatione, that is the philosophical, done to make things better. How different our
Humanarum Emendatione, considered by principally at the younger generation, the anthropological and theological sources of prospects would be, if the improvement of all
Comenius himself to be his most important project also strives to stimulate a more general the Comenius’ emendation vision. Together, things human were to continue. •
philosophical contribution. The artistic public discussion about the spiritual inherit
interpretation of the selected segments of the ance of our nation. Comenius’ timeless ideas
1600-page treatise was rendered by František continue to appeal to students of all ages, as it
Staněk, an actor from The Klicpera Theatre. expands their horizons and helps them to learn
to cooperate in the improvement of all things
In an effort to outline the most significant human, not just in theory but also in practice.
concepts from the treatise, Jan Hábl from
the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology More than half a dozen events devoted to
(Faculty of Education, UHK) cooperated with the inheritance and work of J. A. Comenius
David Loula to prepare a selection of cita- were planned to take place as part of the
tions for publication – The Best of De Rerum Educational Days event, which should have
Humanarum Emendatione by J. A. Comenius. taken place in March. Although the event had
The selection is based on a three-volume critical to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
edition of the work published by the Svoboda we hope that it will be possible to host it next
Publishing House in 1992. The selection was year, together with the Comenius Association
published with the consent of the translators conference, which is also planned for next
and copyright holders of the critical edition. year. The Comenius Association is a network
of 31 university institutions from 18 European
Comenius scholar Jan Hábl also strives to pres- countries specialised in teacher training and
ent the work of the Teacher of Nations to the social education.
16 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 17
SCIENCE SCIENCE
Naturalised inferentialism: standards,
meanings and reasons in the natural
world – the project continues
TOMÁŠ VODIČKA DEAN’S OFFICE, PHILOSOPHICAL FACULTY, UHK
In October 2019, Professor Jaroslav Peregrin and his fellow scholars from the
Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Philosophical Faculty of the
University of Hradec Králové accomplished a major breakthrough when the project
EEA and Norway grants go towards
Naturalised Inferentialism: standards, meanings and reasons in the natural world
was selected to be one of the top 20 elite grant projects of excellence in basic
UHK. The University will open a
research (EXPRO) by the Czech Science Foundation.
new study course on the transfer of
The project Naturalised inferentialism: stan-
dards, meanings and reasons in the natural
marvels of contemporary technologies. And
we wish to continue in our scholarship, and technologies and students can look
forward to a unique summer school
world has been in progress for about a year. in presenting our ideas and thought processes
How is it going? to the international scientific and philosoph-
As you would expect, the project has been ical community.
affected by the current pandemic. Fortunately,
pure scholarship makes up the What is the overall objective of
core of the project and we may the project?
JAKUB NOVÁK UHK SPOKESMAN
still engage in it even in these Put simply, we would like
troubled times. The project has al- to contribute to the current
The University of Hradec Králové has managed to establish a promising cooperation
ready produced its first fruit. Two knowledge and understanding
with one of the largest universities in Norway – the Oslo Metropolitan University
of our papers have been accepted of the functioning of the human
in leading journals (Philosophy language, and in more general
(OsloMet). The two universities will focus on the transfer of technologies, the
and Phenomenological Research terms, human social practices.
protection of intellectual property rights and the creation of spin-offs. UHK can
and Mind and Language – out In philosophy, a rather distinct draw up to EUR 132,000 from the EEA and Norway grants to subsidise the project,
of 651 journals recorded in the ive approach to these problems which is to start in August this year.
Scimago database, they rank has evolved in recent times,
10th and 20th respectively in the
subject matter of philosophy), and two of our
articles were included in a collection published
which has become to be known
as inferentialism. It is currently represented
by Professor Brandom as its principal propo-
“I t’s a great step forward in the area of tech-
nology transfer, a field of study on which the
University of Hradec Králové wants to focus in
The partnership, which has recently been
forged based on the call for the Institutional
Cooperation Project, is very ambitious. Thanks
by Routledge, a major publishing house. nent. Bob Brandom himself has so far worked the upcoming years. I am quite positive that the to the project, a unique summer school is soon
at a purely philosophical, speculative level. sharing of best practices and a cooperation with to be set up as the first of its kind in the Czech
What do you plan to accomplish in the upco- We argue that science has inundated us with the Oslo Metropolitan University will push us for- Republic. “The transfer of technologies is closely
ming stage of the project? a cornucopia of tangible results that may be wards,” Leona Stašová, Vice-Rector for Creative linked to the protection of intellectual property
Next year we plan to organise a large confer- brought in evidence for the concepts intro- Activities, praises the new development. In rights. No summer school has been organised on
ence devoted to the phenomenon of argu- duced by inferentialism, and which, as we hope practical terms, the sharing of best practices this topic in the Czech Republic, especially not
mentation. Leading philosophers such as to establish, appear to support its conclusions. will be implemented via a new course to be one that would be taught by such an experienced
Bob Brandom, Bahak Köymen, Josef Perner We therefore seek to find a path that would taught by lecturers from OsloMet at UHK. They international partner, and we expect that the
and Hilary Kornblit have already responded connect philosophical speculation with the are experts in the field of technology transfer. A methodology of the contemplated summer school
to our call for papers. This should be a rath- relevant outcomes of empirical science. We course syllabus is currently being drafted, while will be shared with other universities in both part-
er extraordinary event. Naturally, we may be are convinced that this confrontation should the course itself is scheduled for the academic ner countries,” Vice-Rector Stašová explains the
compelled by circumstances to conduct it over produce a truly fresh and fecund perspective of year 2021/2022. international reach of the project.
the internet, which would a pity – a face-to-face the human language and cast new light on us
debate is still indispensable, irrespective of the humans in general. •
18 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 19SCIENCE SCIENCE
The project should facilitate and develop entre-
preneurship and it should support the creation
of spin-offs. This will in turn create a more sta-
ble economic environment that will be able to
show for a more flexible approach to employ-
ment needs on both a local and a global scale.
“We support all projects that aim
to form a business environment
Research by Associate Professor
that is based on the outcomes of
research and development, and
science in general. This particular The Oslo Metropolitan University has four
Šilhán reveals that tree rings predict
cooperation will help reinforce the
students’ economic and business skills
faculties, just like the University of Hradec
Králové, and it is attended by about 20,000 stu- rockslides years in advance
and build and support community dents. Despite being one of the youngest uni-
engagement,” UHK Rector Kamil Kuča versities in Norway (it was established as late KRISTÝNA VÁVROVÁ DEAN’S OFFICE, FACULTY OF SCIENCE, UHK
comments, adding that the growing as in 2018), it is a new institutional partner
community of start-up businesses that has been attested by an extensive network
has a direct positive impact on the of international contacts and the establishment
development of the entire region. of two prestigious scientific centres. • Associate Professor Karel Šilhán from the Department of Biology of the Faculty
of Science, University of Hradec Králové, analysed the growth rings of over 150
conifers in the Outer Western Carpathians, a region that has witnessed extensive
EEA and Norway Grants generally aim to con- rockslides over the past 20 years. His research managed to identify a method to
tribute to a more equal Europe, both socially predict the movement of rock formations years before they break lose.
and economically, and to develop the bilateral
relations between the Czech Republic, Norway,
Iceland and Liechtenstein. For the upcoming
project, the University of Hradec Králové may
“I n our initial investigation, we tried to estab-
lish whether we could identify any signs in the
surviving trees that would indicate how rockslides
of so-called reaction wood. “We observe this as
an abrupt attenuation on one side of the rings and
as complementary thickening of the rings on the
draw a grant of up to EUR 132,000. behave before they slide,” Associate Professor other. This allows us to reconstruct the frequency
Šilhán explains. “We know from previous research of the creeping movement of the underlying rock
that rocks move or rather “creep” at a very slow, structure,” Karel Šilhán says. All of the samples
virtually imperceptible pace for up to several dec- had to be compared with trees situated outside
ades before disaster strikes. The surface detritus the area affected by the rockslide, because the
creeps by millimetres over time, unbeknownst to change in the tree rings may also be attribut
anyone, but then comes a single bout of heavy rain ed to other causes, such as snow pressure.
and the entire area ruptures and slides down.” Associate Professor Šilhán’s team therefore
had to compare samples growing even a mere
Tree rings reveal even subtle shifts ten meters apart.
UHK as a proud partner
Research shows that rock movements are “Using these observations, we managed to identify
recorded in the rings of the surrounding pino- 3 basic creeping mechanisms. The first type is
phyta. Trees respond to changes in weather characterised by an increasing frequency, when the
and local climate, and therefore trees from rocks move just a little bit but at regular intervals.
magazine for universities one area should exhibit similar annual growth The second type involves an increasing size of
Universitas is an independent online magazine about science, depending on warmth or precipitation. The the movements, without a change in frequency.
education, research and higher education. Twenty-two Czech slow creeping of the underlying rock may The third type sees rock movements clumped into
universities, including the UHK, are involved in the project. damage tree roots or even bend trunks. Trees a single focal point, from which the rockslide is
More information at www.universitas.cz. correspond by growing asymmetrically, which ultimately triggered,” Associate Professor Šilhán
shows up in the tree ring structure in the form outlines the research.
20 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 21SCIENCE SCIENCE
Can we predict catastrophic rockslides? performance, social relevance, viability, and “We were excited to learn that the Faculty of
strategy and policies. The relative significance Informatics and Management had so many
This begs the question whether we could of the different modules depends on the status excellent research results. At the same time,
actually “predict” future rockslides and thus and the position of the research organisation in it made it particularly difficult to choose and
avoid their disastrous consequences. “We may the overarching R&D system. Another impor- nominate just some of the best,” Hana Mohelská,
certainly develop this line of research much further. tant change is the evaluation of the quality FIM’s Vice-Dean for Science and Research
The mechanisms that we have managed to de- of international cooperation of individual re- explained. In the end, the Faculty selected
scribe will allow us to reconstruct other rockslides, search organisations. Based on the experience and nominated the following authors and
even going up to millennia in the past and in gained in the first years of implementation, their work: Dalibor Cimr – Computer Aided
areas that are today covered by trees or buildings. Module 1 now also includes evaluation in the Detection for Fibrillations and Flutters Using
Samples from local trees should also be able to area of applied social sciences and humanities. Deep Convolutional Neural Network, Pavel Čech
tell us whether the location is under the threat Consequently, remote reviews were added to – Matching UML Class Models Using Graph
of catastrophic reactivation. But rather than evaluate those disciplines in which bibliomet- Edit Distance, Marek Franěk; Jan Petružálek;
giving a simple prediction, we will only be able to rics do not provide relevant evaluation data in Denis Šefara – Eye Movements in Viewing Urban
express the degree of instability and potential for Old rockslides: truly inactive. The outcomes the year 2020 within Module 1. Images and Natural Images in Diverse Vegetation
the reactivation of the rockslides. We still do not were published in the Landslides journal (im- Periods, Martin Gavalec – Strong Tolerance of
have enough data for a more accurate prediction,” pact factor 4.7), which is ranked number one Evaluation will be based only on results pub- Interval Eigenvectors in Fuzzy Algebra and José
Associate Professor Karel Šilhán concludes. in the Engineering-Geological category on the lished in RIV (Information Register of R&D Luis Salmerón Silvera – Uncertainty Propagation
Web of Science. • Results), where each outcome is further evalu- in Fuzzy Grey Cognitive Maps With Hebbian-Like
The research was conducted as part of a project ated based on additional criteria. Learning Algorithms.
run by the Czech Science Foundation and titled
The faculties of the University of Hradec Chaired by Professor Krejcar, the committee
Králové nominated their outcomes based on ultimately selected just two authors and their
Nominations and evaluations of quotas set by the Rector’s Office. The results
were then evaluated by a committee chaired by
work, specifically Dalibor Cimr and José Luis
Salmerón Silvera. Their work will be submit-
selected results according to the M1 Ondřej Krejcar, the Vice-Rector for Science and
Creative Activities.
ted to Module I and will be evaluated by the
RDIC committee. •
Module on behalf of the Faculty of
Informatics and Management, UHK
ZUZANA DOSTÁLOVÁ DEAN’S OFFICE, FACULTY OF INFORMATICS AND MANAGEMENT, UHK
The Research, Development and Innovation Council conducts assessments at
a nation-wide level in accordance with Government-approved Methodology for
Evaluating Research Organisations and R&D Purpose-tied Aid Programmes.
A t its 107th meeting of 8 February 2017, the
Czech Government approved new rules
for evaluating research organisations, which
The basic principles of the new system, which
follows prevailing international standards,
involve conducting the evaluation at three
substantially modified the existing system. The different levels – at the national (central) level,
new evaluation scheme has been implemented at the provider level and at the level of individ-
step by step. Ever since 2017, research organ- ual research organisations. Research organ-
isations have been monitored and evaluated isations themselves are classified into three
every year based on a comprehensive evalu- segments, that is into universities, institutes
ation scheme. Starting from the year 2020, of the Czech Academy of Sciences and depart-
evaluation is now conducted in five-year cycles. mental and industry research organisations.
Quality is now evaluated based on five basic
modules – quality of selected results, research
22 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 23SCIENCE SCIENCE
The uncertain realities
of Jaroslava Severová
PETRA KUBAŘOVÁ DEAN’S OFFICE, FACULTY OF EDUCATION, UHK
and deservedly so. She has been a pioneer and a Associate Profession Jaroslava Severová is
major contributor to the development of com- an academic painter, and she teaches at the
The work of Jaroslava Severová (Faculty of Education, UHK) sets itself apart in the puter graphic art in the Czech Republic and she Department of Art, Visual Culture and Textile
context of Czech visual culture, as most recently manifested at her 2020 exhibition has managed to fill this new form with a deeply Studies of the Faculty of Education, University
in the Central Bohemian Gallery in Kutná Hora, which revealed the diversity and authentic humanistic content. When she was of Hradec Králové. She studied with Professor
intensity of her art. presented with the prestigious Vladimir Boudník Jiří Horník and Professor Vojtěch Tittelbach
Award in 2005, it proved to be clear confirmation at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. She is
T he exhibition showed her striking,
characteristically multi-layered prints,
objects d’art and installations.
of the sublimation of human consciousness
(Two 2016; Six and Seven, 2018; It 5, 2019;
Movement, 2020).
of the fact that the artist who started her career
with an exhibition in Nîmes in 1968 continues to
focus with the same intensity on finding clear out-
a creator of prints, drawings and paintings.
She creates original spatial installations and
illumination art. Since the 1990s, she has
lines in our often obscure or uncertain realities.” been a major contributor to computer graph-
Titled Uncertain Realities, in addition to her Exhibition curator, Richard Drury, explains: ic art. Her art and installations have been
“fly-by walk-through” prints and graphic designs “In her work, Jaroslava Severová strives to make exhibited in many galleries both in the Czech
from the period 1965 to 1971, and her objects sense of the essence of things. To what extent the Republic and abroad. •
Aeon (2002–2019), Inside (2002–2019) and essence consists in an artifice of immutable rules,
The Curve (2004), the exhibition displayed a to what extent it consists in a liquid, coincidental
cross-section selection of her computer prints or unpredictable matter; whether it separates
from 2016–2020. Her most recent digital us from some hidden meaning or whether it is a
work illustrates Jaroslava’s gradual shift mere veil of nothingness. The artist’s reflections
from the letteristic rechiselling of meaning and deliberations are principally embedded in
(X 30b, 2016; EL 40A and EL 4D, 2017; Three her vigilant perception of the most intimate
B’s, Discovery 10i and Discovery 10f, 2018; aspects of the human condition. It is that distinct
Circle 3b, Three A’s and Memento mori 2, 2019) humanistic headspring that feeds and waters
through her lexically-conceptual approach the resurrective power which makes the audience
(Nothing, 2018) and malleable (if not outright perceive her work as the “image first seen”. As an
baroguise) dynamics (Space S 10 and Space artist, and later as a teacher, Jaroslava Severová
133 A, 2016; Space Yi, 2018) to the abstract, has managed to win a rather unique place in
velvety-black structures that evoke visions the Czech visual culture over the past fifty years,
24 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 UHK ANNUALLY 2020 25You can also read
