Prague - The Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the most prestigious scientific research institute in the country, has a new boss. Well, almost.
The candidacy of professor Jiří Drahoš, chemist by profession and deputy president of the academy, who beat Eva Syková, neurobiologist and head of the Institute of Experimental Medicine, in a secret ballot, has to be approved by the government and appointed by Czech President Václav Klaus.
It is a new procedure but neither of the sides is expected to object to Drahoš's nomination. In the past, the new president of the Academy of Sciences was voted solely by the Academic Assembly, which consists of scientists and public sector representatives.
Catching up with the West
In their "campaign" for the post, both Drahoš and Syková vowed to stay in the path the Academy has taken under Václav Pačes, current president of the Academy. Like him, they want to give full support to Czech top science institutions and boost close ties with foreign laboratories.
Jiří Drahoš also stated that the Czech Academy still lags behind the Western Europe's academies and catching up with the West is a "must".
Pačes is known for being active in the political platform. He was considered one of the possible candidates in the presidential election this February and a real candidate in the Senate election this October. Now he would like to devote his time to research and science.
Klaus challenges scientists
Shortly before the vote, president Václav Klaus came to thank Václav Pačes for his contribution in the science field. He also challenged the scientists to take an active part in the debate about the global warming. Klaus is a vocal critic of the global warming, denying the human factor in the climate change.
PM Topolánek (Civic Democrats) failed to appear at the session but in a letter addressed to the Academy he promised not to make any cuts in the budget earmarked for the science.
Mostly male
The world of Czech science leadership is widely dominated by men and in the entire history of the Academy of Sciences the institution had only one female president at the helm. Biologist and academic Helena Illnerová managed the institution before Václav Pačes.
Marcela Linková, who is at the head of the National Contact Centre for Women and Science (NCCWS) at the Institute of Sociology of the Academy of Sciences, is disappointed by electing Drahoš, instead of Syková. According to her, Prof. Syková is an "extremely competent researcher and research manager."
Moreover, the male leadership does not reflect the quality of Czech women researchers who could easily occupy these leadership positions, says Linková.
You can see the NCCWS's web site in English here.
