The event opened with welcoming remarks by Ladislav Krištoufek, Vice-Rector for Research at Charles University, who stressed the importance of collaborating with Czech scientists abroad in order to improve the research landscape in Czechia.
Eva Zažímalová, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, echoed this sentiment, expressing her hopes for stronger support of returning researchers.
Jiří Kozák, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, introduced the newly established scientific diplomacy department and discussed upcoming legislation on knowledge transfer.
The introductory session concluded with a presentation by Matouš Glanc, Director of Czexpats in Science, who shared the main achievements and activities of the past year.
Keynote presentations were delivered by:
- Veronika Tuckerová, Preceptor in Slavic Languages and Literatures at Harvard University, who discussed her research on the Czech reception of Franz Kafka and the value of an international perspective in uncovering blind spots in research.
- Marie Šafář Postma, Professor of Computational Cognitive Science at Tilburg University, who shared insights from her research on cognitive phenomena related to consciousness and its implications for artificial intelligence, education, and healthcare.
Participants attended mini-workshops on topics such as entrepreneurship in research, the importance of social science and humanities research, thriving during PhD studies, and establishing independent research groups in the Czech Republic.
Networking opportunities were abundant, with interactive discussion tables hosted by Petr Baldrian, Chair of the Czech Science Foundation; Pavel Šebek, R&D Director at Zentiva; and Vladimír Majer, a retired scientific diplomat.
The program concluded with a panel discussion titled “Ideas That Change the World,” where three experts from diverse disciplines, Anežka Kuzmičová, Stanislav Fort and Ivan Kulich, addressed topics ranging from formulating impactful research questions to overcoming systemic barriers in academia. The panelists shared practical tips, such as fostering collaborative environments with less bureaucracy and creating spaces for creative problem-solving.
Key Achievements of Czexpats in Science in 2024
- Launched an upgraded Map of Scientists to strengthen the community and facilitate collaborations.
- Presented, in partnership with Diana Biotechnologies, the inaugural Czexpats in Science Award to Markéta Tomková (University of Oxford) .
- Organised a conference on academic culture, including a keynote from Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council (ERC), to explore how fostering the right environment leads to groundbreaking discoveries.
- Hosted a record-breaking six local meetings abroad in collaboration with local embassies in hosting countries.
- Expanded our advocacy efforts targeting systemic changes in Czech science, including the publication of a report on the needs of the Czexpats community.
- Supported Ukrainian scientists in the Czech Republic and contributed to the establishment of a Czech-Ukrainian Scientific Society.
Looking Ahead to 2025
Plans for 2025 include the continuation of our advocacy efforts, organisation of local scientific meet-ups in a number of cities including Bern, Tel Aviv, and The Hague, the launch of an interactive InfoPortal. Last, but not least, the date of the next Christmas Conference was announced as December 22, 2025.
