Charles University Celebrated 665th Anniversary since its Foundation












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            * Charles University Celebrated 665th Anniversary since its Foundation
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            In commemoration of the 665th year since its founding by King Charles IV in 1348, Charles 

            a festive gathering in the Magna Aula of Karolinum on Wednesday, 3rd of April 2013. Aside 
            of the Czech Senate, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and rectors of other Czech un
            the gathering was attended also by international guests – the vice-rector of the Universit

            Professor Heinz Fassmann, and Dr Jerzy Skuciński from the Jubilee Office of the Jagielloni
            of Cracow. Diplomats from Prague embassies were also present, as were the many deans and a
            Charles University itself.

            The rector of Charles University, Professor Václav Hampl, started off procedings by assert
            importance of the University: “Charles University represents one of the most important and

            this country has to past traditions as well as to the  present ties with European culture,
            social reflection“.
            Hampl’s speech focused upon the words of Roman philosopher and orator Marcus Tullius Cicer

            bonum, faustum, felix, fortunatumque sit!‘ (traditionally translated to 'May the issue be 
            propitious, lucky, and successful.' or more literally as 'May everything that is good, for
            be blessed! ) – before turning this outwards to the assemblage. "But what is good, fortuna

            the university? What is good for the teachers and what favorable to its students?”
            Cicero’s quote (from ‘De Divinatione‘ – ‘On Divination‘) has been used at Charles Universi
            of Emperor Rudolf II (16th century) and even today traditionally closes the speeches of th

            Hampl continued: “Is there any prophecy to be found within the words of Cicero? If so, as 
            divination, it would most likely be this: Charles University will be always be a pillar of
            and scientific pursuits as long as it will have dedicated students, and it will always be 

            to cultivate and pay interest on this, its most valuable capital – and to apply it on both
            global market of critical academic wisdom“.
            Following the rector‘s speech came the awards. They are as follows:

            1. The Miloslav Petrusek Award for Presentation (named after deceased Sociology professor,
            the Faculty of Social Sciences and vicerector of Charles University):
            The team of employees from the Institute of Particle and Nuclear Physics of the Faculty of

            and Physics working under the leadership of Associate Professor RNDr. Rupert Leitner, DrSc
            endeavours on the experiment ATLAS in CERN, Geneve.
            2. The Bedřich Hrozný Award for Creative Work:

            The team of archeologists under the leadership of Professor Mgr. Miroslav Bárta Ph.D. of t
            Arts, Department of Egyptology, for their work in Abusir and particularly for the discover
            statues of high officers of the Egyptian Old Kingdom.

            Professor RNDr. Vojtěch Jarošík, CSc. of the Faculty of Science for his work on invasive b
            understanding of the rules and success of the nonoriginal (invasive) types of plants and t
            the natural ecosystem (for important reasons the awardee was not able to attend personally

             The event was closed by means of concert (featuring harp and flute), followed by a refres
            Karolinum. The actual anniversary of the 665th occured several days later, on the 7th of A
            was an Open Day in the Karolinum (the historical heart of Charles University), where the b

            exceptionally open to the public, which, aside from celebration and graduation ceremonies,