Czech Academy of Sciences facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Czech Academy of Sciences

Akademie věd České republiky
The main building of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague
Established	1784; 241 years ago (1784) Royal Czech Society of Sciences 1953; 72 years ago (1953) Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences 1992; 33 years ago (1992) Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic
President	Prof. Eva Zažímalová
Administrative staff	7771
Doctoral students	4395
Location	Prague , Czech Republic 50°4′54″N 14°24′51″E / 50.08167°N 14.41417°E / 50.08167; 14.41417

Eva Zažímalová, the president of the Czech Academy of Sciences

The Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS) is a very important science organization in the Czech Republic. It was created in 1992. Before that, it was known as the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences.

Its history goes back a long way, to the Royal Bohemian Society of Sciences founded in 1784. The CAS is the main place for public research in the Czech Republic, apart from universities. It does both basic research to discover new things and practical research to solve real-world problems.

The Academy has three main science areas. These are Mathematics, Physics, and Earth Sciences. It also covers Chemical and Life Sciences. The third area is Humanities and Social Sciences.

The CAS runs 60 different research institutes. It also has five support units. About 6,400 people work there. More than half of these are highly trained researchers and scientists with Ph.D. degrees.

The main office of the Academy is in Prague. Forty of its research institutes are also in Prague. The other institutes are located in different parts of the country.

History of Czech Science

The Czech Academy of Sciences has a long and interesting history. It has changed names several times over the years.

• 1784–1952: It started as the Royal Czech Society of Doctrines.
• 1890–1952: It was also known as the Czech Academy of Sciences and Arts.
• 1953-1992: Then it became the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences.
• 1992-Present: Finally, it became the Czech Academy of Sciences.

In 2010, the Academy decided to make its research available to everyone for free. This is called an open access policy. It means anyone can read and use their scientific findings.

Research Institutes of the CAS

A radio telescope of the Astronomical Institute in Ondřejov

The Czech Academy of Sciences has many different institutes. These institutes are grouped into three main areas. Each area has three sections. Each section then has several institutes. These institutes are further divided into smaller teams.

Science of Inanimate Nature

This area focuses on things that are not alive.

Mathematics, Physics, and Informatics

• Astronomical Institute: They study stars, planets, and space. It was founded in 1954.
• Institute of Physics: They study how the world works at a basic level.
• Institute of Mathematics: They work on numbers, patterns, and problem-solving.
• Institute of Computer Science (ICS): They research computers and how they work.
• Nuclear Physics Institute: They study the tiny parts inside atoms.
• Institute of Information Theory and Automation of the CAS (UTIA): They research how information is processed and controlled. It was founded in 1959.

Applied Physics

• Institute of Photonics and Electronics: They study light and how it can be used in technology.
• Institute of Physics of Materials: They research how different materials behave.
• Institute of Plasma Physics: They study plasma, which is a super-hot gas.
• Institute of Hydrodynamics: They look at how liquids and gases move.
• Institute of Scientific Instruments: They create and improve tools for science.
• Institute of Thermomechanics: They study heat and how it relates to movement.
• Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics: They research forces and motion.

Earth Sciences

• Institute of Geophysics (GFÚ): They study the Earth's physical processes, like earthquakes. It was founded in 1920.
• Institute of Geology: They study rocks, minerals, and the Earth's history.
• Institute of Atmospheric Physics: They study the Earth's atmosphere and weather. It was established in 1964.
• Institute of Geonics: They research the Earth's surface and how humans interact with it.
• Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics: They study how rocks break and move.

Life Sciences and Chemical Sciences

This area focuses on living things and how chemicals work.

Chemical Sciences

• Institute of Inorganic Chemistry: They study chemicals that don't contain carbon.
• J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry: Named after a famous scientist, they study how chemicals react. It was established in 1972.
• Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals: They research how chemical processes work on a large scale. It was founded in 1960.
• Institute of Analytical Chemistry: They figure out what things are made of.
• Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry: They study very large molecules, like plastics.
• Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry: They study chemicals found in living things.

Biological and Medical Sciences

• Institute of Biophysics: They use physics to understand living systems.
• Biotechnology Institute: They use living organisms to create new products.
• Institute of Physiology: They study how the body works.
• Institute of Microbiology: They research tiny living things like bacteria and viruses.
• Institute of Experimental Botany: They study plants and how they grow.
• Institute of Experimental Medicine: They do research to improve human health.
• Institute of Molecular Genetics: They study genes and DNA.
• Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics: They research how animals' bodies work and their genes.

Biological and Ecological Sciences

• Biology Centre: This is a large center for various biology studies.
• Institute of Botany: They focus on plants.
• Institute of Vertebrate Biology: They study animals with backbones.
• Institute of Systems Biology and Ecology: They look at how living things interact with their environment.

Humanities and Social Sciences

This area focuses on human society, culture, and history.

Social Sciences and Economy

• Economics Institute (EI): They study how money and resources are used.
• Institute of Psychology: They research how the human mind works.
• Institute of Sociology: They study human society and social behavior.
• Institute of State and Law: They research laws and government.

History

• Institute of Archaeology (Prague): They dig up and study old objects to learn about the past.
• Institute of Archaeology (Brno): Another institute for archaeology.
• Institute of History: They research and write about past events.
• Masaryk's Institute and Archives: They preserve historical documents and study a famous Czech leader.
• Institute of Art History: They study the history of art and architecture.
• Institute of Contemporary History: They focus on more recent historical events.

Humanities and Philosophy

• Institute of Ethnology: They study different cultures and peoples.
• Institute of Philosophy: They explore big questions about life and knowledge. It includes the Centre for Medieval Studies.
• Oriental Institute: They study cultures and languages from Asia and Africa.
• Institute of Slavonic Studies: They research languages and cultures of Slavic countries.
• Institute of Czech Literature: They study Czech books, poems, and plays.
• Institute of Czech Language: They study the Czech language. It was founded in 1946.

See also

• Amalka Supercomputing facility