Czech astrophysicist rejects award, says government harms science

Grygar, who was awarded for his exceptional scientific achievement and popularisation of science, justified his decision saying the changes in science funding that the council has introduced rather damage science.

Grygar, a years-long employee of the Czech Academy of Sciences, disagrees with the new rules according to which the academy's budget is to be gradually decreased.

Science is to be financed according to the alleged applicability in practice and according to the market principles.

The Czech Head award was launched as a Czech analogy of Nobel Prizes eight years ago.

The council has awarded seven prizes to top-level Czech scientists who will take them over from Prime Minister Jan Fischer tonight.

One of them is oncologist Josef Koutecky who will be awarded for his life achievement.

Another award-winner is C.C. Novasoft firm that has developed a system of transferring spoken word into written text.

Immunogeneticist Jan Klein is one of the most often quoted Czech scientists. He is currently a professor at Pennsylvania University in the United States.

Student awards have been bestowed on Jiri Sedy for his research into spinal cord treatment with stem cells, and Milan Hanus who has created a computer model of processes in a nuclear reactor.

Autor: ČTK
www.ctk.cz