The prestigious award, granted to the organizers from our Department of Geological Sciences on October 31, 2024, by the Czech Association of Geomorphologists, recognizes their contribution to promoting geoscience education in primary and secondary schools.
The award ceremony took place on October 31 in the Mirror Hall of the Czernin Palace at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, as part of the meeting of the Education, Science, and Informatics Section of the Czech UNESCO Commission. The award was presented by Jan Klimeš, Chairman of the Czech Association of Geomorphologists, and received by Rostislav Melichar and Kateřina Zachovalová from Masaryk University, Patrik Fiferna and Klára Froňková from the Czech Geological Survey, and Iva Kotalíková representing the Association of Museums and Galleries. The award honored their support of geoscience education in primary and secondary schools.
Jan Klimeš personally presented the award. Rostislav Melichar, who accepted the award on behalf of Masaryk University, commented: “The Geological Olympiad is the only secondary school olympiad organized by Masaryk University in cooperation with the Czech Geological Survey and the Association of Museums and Galleries. We are still a very young competition, so we are thrilled by this recognition. We believe that through the competition, secondary school students discover that geological sciences are a fascinating field with great importance for society and the planet. And that there are many exciting career paths in geological sciences after university studies,” Melichar concluded.
If you’re interested in the Geological Olympiad, check out an interview with the winners of its latest national round, who also succeeded in the International round of the competition in China. Alongside the organizers from our Institute of Geological Sciences, they traveled to China this August, bringing home not only medals but also numerous unforgettable experiences.
In August, the four most successful participants of the central round of the Geological Olympiad, which is organised by Masaryk University, represented the Czech Republic at the 2024 International Earth Sciences Olympiad in Beijing. What were their impressions of the competition, and of China as a country?
Read an inspirational interview with Dr. Joe Lennon about how he teaches the course Advanced English for PhD Studies at SCI MUNI and how he coordinates the Masaryk University Writing Lab, helping students make a greater impact with their academic writing.
