News: Faculty of Science

Karel Eliáš, lawyer, university lecturer, and principal author of the current Czech Civil Code, received the highest honour that Palacký University in Olomouc can bestow. He became its honorary doctor. He received the title of doctor honoris causa for his extraordinary scholarly achievements and creative contributions in the field of legal science and legal culture.

The honorary doctorate was awarded to Karel Eliáš on the recommendation of the Faculty of Law's Scholarly Board and by decision of the University's Scholarly Board. He received it at a ceremony in the Archepiscopal Palace during a gathering of the academic community.

The laureate was introduced by Václav Stehlík, Dean of the UP Faculty of Law. "Professor Karel Eliáš is widely regarded by the scientific and broader legal community as one of the most important figures in Czech legal science and legal culture in general. He has made a significant contribution as the main academic and legislative author of the current Czech Civil Code in connection with the extensive recodification of Czech civil law," said Václav Stehlík, adding that the Czech Civil Code is fully comparable with the best foreign codifications of all fundamental personal and property relations. "Professor Eliáš devoted a significant part of his long-term, extensive, and erudite publishing, other scientific, and pedagogical activities to the restoration of legality within the framework of the rule of law and generally recognised legal principles in accordance with moral principles," emphasised the dean.

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Rector Michael Kohajda recalled the award winner's contribution to legal education. "It is well known that Professor Eliáš has always considered teaching to be an integral part of his work in higher education. And when I talk about teaching, I don't mean memorising legal regulations, but rather cultivating legal thinking, legal language, and a systematic, historically grounded approach to law. Moreover, his teaching style is primarily focused on dialogue with students," said Michael Kohajda.

Representatives of the university then presented Karel Eliáš with an honorary doctorate in the form of a diploma and a commemorative UP medal with a double portrait of Josef Dobrovský and František Palacký.

"I appreciate that Palacký University has decided to recognise the results of my work and my career. I thank you sincerely and with respect for this. I appreciate this extraordinary honour all the more because it is being awarded to me by the oldest university in Moravia," said Karel Eliáš. He recalled that he first visited the Olomouc Faculty of Law thirty years ago, when he attended a conference focused on the preparation of the Civil Code. "At that time, I never dreamed that the Civil Code would become my destiny and consume so many years of my life and energy."

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He devoted part of his speech to the values and attitudes that underpin the academic world and public life. He spoke about freedom, democracy, and the natural right of people to pursue their own happiness. "Neither Nazism nor communism was able to eradicate this human desire. I believe that no one else will either," he said, among other things. He also pointed to the ever-increasing legal regulation, which he described as a manifestation of legal hypochondria.

Before the meeting at the Archbishop's Palace, Karel Eliáš accepted an invitation to the Faculty of Law, where, among other things, he signed the chronicle. The faculty has been keeping it since its restoration in 1991.

Since 1990, Palacký University has awarded honorary doctorates to fifty extraordinary personalities for their contribution to knowledge, the development of society, and the dissemination of humanistic values. At the suggestion of the Faculty of Law, these were Simon Wiesenthal, Willibald Posch, Vladislav David, and Otakar Motejl. An overview of all UP honorary doctors is available on the university's website.

Karel Eliáš

In 1979, he graduated from the Faculty of Law at Charles University in Prague. In 1996, he completed his doctoral studies in commercial law at the Faculty of Law in Brno. He habilitated at the same faculty. In 2002, he was appointed professor of commercial law.

After graduating, Professor Karel Eliáš worked as a corporate lawyer. In 1991, he became a researcher at the Institute of State and Law of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. He then taught at the Faculty of Law of the University of West Bohemia in Plzeň, where he headed the Department of Commercial Law, later Private Law, and subsequently served as Vice-Dean for Science and Research. Since 2016, he has been teaching at the Faculty of Law of Trnava University in Trnava.

He is a long-standing member of the Scholarly Board of the Faculty of Law at Palacký University. He serves on the disciplinary council of its doctoral programme in Theoretical Legal Sciences.

In 2012, he was inducted into the Legal Hall of Fame by the legal community for his exceptional lifetime contribution to law.

The dreaded varroosis has long been one of the leading causes of bee colony deaths, destroying entire apiaries in some areas. This threatens honey production and the many years of work beekeepers have put into beekeeping. A new four-year project supported by the National Agency for Agricultural Research (NAZV) of the Ministry of Agriculture aims to change this situation. As part of the project, scientists will present new practical solutions for diagnosing and controlling varroosis. The results, which will help monitor, prevent, and treat this disease, will be used by beekeepers themselves and by the state administration. 

"Our project is currently in its initial phase. It was created in response to a call from the Ministry of Agriculture, which requested a professional proposal on how to modernise and replace the outdated system for investigating varroa mites in bee colonies. Our team has proposed an innovative solution that combines biological research, modern technology, science communication, and direct cooperation with beekeepers," said lead researcher Jiří Danihlík from the Department of Biochemistry at the Faculty of Science.

Incorporation of modern technologies

The current mandatory monitoring of varroosis in bee colonies is conducted in winter, which is not the most suitable period for the intensity of Varroa destructor mite reproduction. The new concept proposed by Olomouc scientists envisages more flexible monitoring throughout the year. Beekeepers will also be able to use smartphones for this purpose. A specially developed application will help beekeepers with diagnostics directly in the field. Experts will thus obtain more accurate data on the actual extent of infestation and new research findings on the development of the disease in years with different weather conditions. Satellite data will also be used to monitor developments, and the Department of Geoinformatics at the Faculty of Science will be involved in processing this data. Over the next four years, scientists will test how their proposed approach works in practice.

The research part of the project builds on the UP Faculty of Science's involvement in the international COLOSS monitoring programme. Since 2014, the local team has been systematically collecting data on bee colony deaths, treatment methods, foraging conditions and other symptoms observed in bee colonies. This has resulted in an extensive database, which scientists will now subject to detailed statistical analysis. "Colleagues from the Department of Mathematical Analysis and Applications of Mathematics will participate in this. The aim is to more accurately identify the factors that affect the health of bees and, at the same time, to determine suitable strategies for beekeeping," said Jiří Danihlík.

The project will connect research with practice

The project does not only involve laboratory research. It also includes workshops, conferences, educational videos, and practical guides that offer beekeepers clear, applicable procedures for protecting their colonies.

"Cooperation with practitioners will be key. Beekeepers will provide us with samples and field data and, in turn, gain access to the latest scientific findings. Our ambition is to create a modern, data-driven varroa monitoring system that will replace the model that has been in use for decades and will better reflect the reality of the current landscape and changing conditions," added Jiří Danihlík.

The project, entitled Innovative Solutions for the Diagnosis and Control of Varroosis as an Alternative to EpM300 in the Period of Onset Climate Change, will involve collaboration between the Faculty of Science of Palacký University under the leadership of Jiří Danihlík, the Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Brno, headed by Roman Hobza, and the Czech Agrifood Research Center (CARC), represented by Tomáš Erban.

Aurora's third open call from the European university network Aurora aims to connect scientists and higher education institutions across Europe. In addition to purely scientific projects, it now targets activities at the intersection of research and education. The total call budget has increased by nearly half to 240,000 euros. In the two previous rounds, seven projects involving UP received support; applications for this year's round can be submitted until April 17.

The third open call, Call for Incentive Research & Education Collaboration, from the Aurora alliance—which unites nine research-oriented European universities—responds to growing interest in international collaboration and the need for stronger integration of research and education. It supports the creation of new partnerships across the alliance and the development of activities with long-term impact, whether in science or education.

Emphasis on Linking Research and Teaching

A key novelty of this year's round is the opening of space for so-called "mixed incentive projects"—projects combining research and educational components. Aurora is responding to the current trend of strengthening research-based teaching and efforts to create international study opportunities closely tied to ongoing scientific activities.

Funding of up to 20,000 euros can continue to support both purely research projects and, newly, activities that connect academic teams and students, leading to the creation of future blended intensive programmes (BIP), micro-credentials, or joint programmes. A key criterion remains international collaboration involving at least three partner institutions from the Aurora alliance and alignment with its thematic priorities, such as sustainability, health, digital society, or social innovation.

Inspiration from Previous Rounds

In the calls from the previous two years, more than 90 high-quality projects were submitted in total, with sixteen receiving support. In 2024, UP was the coordinator of one project and participated as a partner in two others. Last year, four projects involving Palacký University succeeded. UP also contributed to organizing two summer schools and sent students on short-term internships.

Thematic Schools, Seminars, and Internships

In addition to research and combined projects, the call continues to support the organization of thematic summer or winter schools, for which up to 20,000 euros can be obtained. A new feature is intensive multi-day seminars, which can serve—thanks to funding of up to 10,000 euros—as a platform for meetings of academics and students, sharing know-how, and developing new project ideas. The third key activity of the call continues to target support for mobility for early-career researchers. Master's and PhD students, as well as postdocs, can receive funding for short-term internships of up to 3 months at one of the universities in the Aurora 2030 consortium.

How to Apply?

Complete information about the call, including details on project proposal requirements and the evaluation process, is available on Aurora's central website. The deadline for submitting proposals for the current call is April 17, 2026, at 12:00.

Palacký University's charity campaign to buy a power generator for Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv was successfully completed in just one week. The target amount was collected thanks to the extraordinary solidarity of the university community and wider academic community in the Czech Republic. Paměť národa (Memory of Nations) was a key partner in the initiative, and Masaryk University and the Brno University of Technology also provided significant support.

The collection responded to the acute need of the Kyiv University to cope with power outages caused by ongoing attacks on civilian infrastructure. The generator will enable the university to continue teaching, operate key facilities, and maintain basic security.

"We managed to complete the collection in just one week. I consider this a success not only for the Olomouc university community, but for the entire academic community of the Czech Republic, which joined the appeal. I want to thank everyone who contributed to the collection. We have sent a clear signal that solidarity between universities is not just symbolic, but that our help has a concrete form and a concrete impact," said Michael Kohajda, rector of Palacký University.

"We feel that we are not alone – that we have reliable friends who are lending a helping hand. Together we are stronger." Kyiv University management

The generator was delivered to Kyiv at the end of last week. Palacký University decided to take advantage of the logistical opportunity when Memory of Nations was transporting other generators to eastern Ukraine.

"As soon as it became clear that the collection would be successful, we couldn't wait. Memory of Nations was organising the transport of other generators to eastern Ukraine, and it was possible to add ours. Thanks to this, we got the generator to Kyiv without delay—in a situation where time really matters," added Matěj Dostálek, Vice-Rector for Communication and Social Responsibility at UP.

The amount raised exceeded the original target. The surplus will be used by Memory of Nations to purchase additional equipment to help Ukraine overcome this difficult period under intense and inhumane attack by the Russian aggressor.

Help Ukraine with Memory of Nations. You can contribute here.

The generator was handed over to the Kyiv University thanks to the cooperation of KNU Rector Volodymyr Bugrov and Vice-Rector for International Relations Ksenia Smyrnova. University staff will put it into operation in the very near future.

The management of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv stated that the new generator "is not just technical equipment, but a light in dark times, warmth, and the opportunity to continue working and helping people even during power outages." The Ukrainian side also thanked Palacký University and its Czech partners for their important support and emphasised that solidarity and interest from abroad are extremely valuable in these difficult times: "We feel that we are not alone – that we have reliable friends who are lending a helping hand. Together we are stronger."

Palacký University has long supported Ukrainian students and academics and is involved in activities to support the attacked country. The successful collection for the generator is another concrete step that confirms the university community's belief that responsibility and solidarity are fundamental values of the academic environment.

 

A completely new mechanism that allows plants to form vascular tissue for the efficient transport of water and nutrients was published today in the prestigious scientific journal Science. Scientists from CATRIN at Palacký University and the Growth Regulators Laboratory, a joint workplace of the Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Faculty of Science at Palacký University, also participated in the research led by the University of Cambridge and the University of Helsinki. The study paves the way for future research to optimize the growth characteristics of crops important to agriculture and forestry, including the production of commercially valuable materials such as wood, paper, and bioproducts.

“This research clarifies how plants finely tune the development of vascular tissues and determine the fate of their vascular cells. The findings may influence plant traits ranging from drought resistance to root and tuber growth in food crops to wood formation,” said co-first author Raili Ruonala from the University of Helsinki.

Based on studies of a model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, scientists have uncovered the regulatory dynamics that control xylem formation. This conductive tissue acts as the plant’s “water supply,” distributing water and minerals upward while helping to strengthen the plant.  The experts then focused on thermospermine, a small positively charged polyamine molecule already known to regulate vascular cell differentiation. It turned out that the fate of some plant cells in the vascular system depends on the cooperation of two factors – thermospermine and a specific chemical modification of the ribosome – the cell’s “protein factory.” The study showed that only ribosomes carrying a specific chemical “mark” on their RNA allow thermospermine to bind properly and subsequently control cell development.

Members of the CATRIN research team have also focused on polyamines as plant growth regulators in their research into plant responses to stress. Polyamines help plants grow better and cope with stress, or, for example by influencing which genes are switched on or off in a cell and how proteins are produced. Scientists have now shown that these molecules can also directly regulate ribosomes, defining cell differentiation and development.

“These findings are significant because they are the first experimental evidence of this mechanism. In addition, polyamines are synthesized by all living organisms, which is why this research is important not only for plants but also for other organisms, including human health,” said co-author Nuria De Diego, head of the CATRIN Plant-Environment Interactions research group. Together with her colleague Sanja Ćavar Zeljković, they were responsible for measuring polyamines. They are collaborating with the University of Helsinki, the University of Cambridge, and the Polish Academy of Sciences to use this discovery to understand secondary tree growth and study certain diseases.

Ondřej Novák, the head of the Laboratory of Growth Regulators, participated in He participated in the characterization of plants with a mutation in a gene whose activity is influenced by the chemical modification of ribosomes after binding with thermospermine. “The study provides the first evidence that a polyamine can directly and specifically regulate gene expression directly at the ribosome. Detailed structural analysis further reveal precisely how thermospermine binds. The research thus uncovers a new regulatory principle and resolves a mystery known for more than 15 years. Namely, how thermospermine can activate or suppress different groups of genes as needed, but only through a ribosome with a specific chemical label,” said Novák.

Although the research was conducted on the model plant Arabidopsis, it suggests that the same signaling may occur in other plants. For example, in trees, these signals could be set to promote the formation of many conductive vessels for upward growth, while in radishes, they could be adjusted to favor storage cells in the root, allowing the plant to store more energy.

Scientists from Olomouc collaborated on the research with colleagues from the United Kingdom, Finland, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and other countries.

Palacký University Olomouc, in cooperation with Paměť národa (Memory of Nations), is launching a public donation campaign to help Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv. One of Ukraine's most prestigious universities has appealed to the University in Olomouc, requesting a generator to enable it to continue teaching and research during the current freezing winter, when Ukraine is facing attacks on its energy infrastructure by Russia. The generator is expected to be sent to Kyiv in the coming days.

Universities have always stood for knowledge, freedom, and responsibility in society. Today, they have another opportunity to live up to these values.

Ongoing attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure are depriving millions of people of electricity, heat, and basic security. This reality also affects academic institutions—places that are crucial for maintaining education, critical thinking, and social resilience in times of crisis.

Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv, one of Ukraine's most important universities, has officially approached Palacký University Olomouc with a request for help. Palacký University, in cooperation with Paměť národa (Memory of Nations), is therefore launching a donation campaign to purchase a KJ POWER KJA110 (110 kVA) diesel generator, which will enable teaching, research, and the basic functioning of the university in Kyiv to continue even during power outages and under extremely difficult conditions.

The university as a pillar of resilience

Despite blackouts, evacuations to shelters, and daily uncertainty, Kyiv University continues to teach, conduct research, and provide assistance. The university serves as a safe and stable environment not only for students and teachers, but also for the wider community. It is a place where psychological support is provided, where the continuity of education is maintained, and where the future of a country defending itself against aggression is being prepared. 

However, even the strongest institutions cannot cope with extreme stress without support. We are therefore facing a clear challenge today: to help our colleagues who defend the same values as we do, only in unimaginably more difficult conditions.

A call to the academic community – without borders
This donation campaign was launched on the initiative of Palacký University Olomouc, in cooperation with Paměť národa (Memory of Nations). At the same time, it is an open call to the entire academic community and all university communities – students, teachers, employees, and other universities in Czechia and abroad. Because academic solidarity knows no borders. And because the help of one university, multiplied by the support of others, has real power.

The goal is to raise funds for specific, immediately usable aid – a generator that can be sent to Kyiv in the coming days through Paměť národa. Every contribution, large or small, is an expression of solidarity and responsibility. Together, we can help ensure that education, research, and human values survive even in times of war.

Let's show that we are not indifferent to the fate of our colleagues!

Scientists describe the structure of photosystem II in green algae with extreme resistance to high light intensity

Olomouc (February 4, 2026) – An international team of scientists has described in detail the structure of photosystem II in the green microalgae Chlorella ohadii and revealed the mechanisms that enable this organism to survive and function effectively even under extremely high light intensity. Photosystem II is a key protein complex in photosynthetic organisms that converts light energy into chemical energy. The results of the research, which involved experts from the Department of Biophysics at the Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc (UP FS), were published in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.

Using cryogenic electron microscopy, the researchers obtained a highly detailed structure of the photosystem II supercomplex. The analysis revealed an unusual arrangement of light-harvesting proteins that differs significantly from the structures known in higher plants and in most other algae. According to the scientists, this arrangement allows for more efficient regulation of the flow of excitation energy and protects the photosynthetic apparatus from damage at higher light intensities.

"Our results show that the photosystem II of this microalga is structurally optimised for environments with extremely variable light conditions. We have identified specific structural elements that are likely responsible for its extraordinary phototolerance," said corresponding author Roman Kouřil from the Department of Biophysics at the Faculty of Science.

Link to the article:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65861-2

The results of the study also provide new insights into the evolution of photosynthetic complexes. The structure of photosystem II in Chlorella ohadii combines features known from various groups of photosynthetic organisms with completely unique elements. According to Roman Kouřil, this suggests that the photosynthetic apparatus may have repeatedly adapted to extreme environmental conditions throughout evolution through relatively subtle yet functionally significant changes.

"A better understanding of these adaptive mechanisms is key to basic research on photosynthesis and may also inspire biotechnological applications," added lead author Rameez Arshad from the Department of Biophysics at the Faculty of Science.

The research involved experts from the Department of Biophysics and the Department of Experimental Biology at the Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, as well as scientists from Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, CATRIN UP, Czech Agrifood Research Center, CEITEC of Masaryk University, and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. It was precisely this interdisciplinary collaboration that made it possible to link detailed structural results with their biological and functional significance.