Kralupy 14, June 2011 - On 14 June 2011, the Conference Hall of Česká rafinérská, situated in the Kralupy-based Administration Building got named after academician Otto Wichterle, a leading expert of Czech science. The act took place as part of the Year of Chemistry campaign with the aim of popularizing chemistry as a branch of science and bringing it closer to the public, and to young people in particular.The ceremony took place in the presence of Prof. Ing. Kamil Wichterle, DrSc, son of academician Otto Wichterleho, ing. Blanka Wichterlová, DrSc., Prof. Ing. Jiří Drahoš, chairman of the Czech Academy of Science, Ass. Prof. Ing. Josef Koubek, CSc., rector of VŠCHT Praha, ing. Ladislav Novák, director of the Union of Chemical Industries, acting as gestor of the Year of Chemistry campaign, Mgr. Petr Holeček, Mayor of Kralupy nad Vltavou, Bronislav Havlín, Mayor of Veltrusy municipality, representative´s of Industrial partner companies and research institutions, local schools, further guests and Česká rafinérská´s employees.
The gala get-together was opened by Marek Świtajewski, the Company´s new chief executive Office, who – inspired by the life and work of Otto Wichterle – highlighted the role of an industrial company in support of science and the vocational education system. Prof. Kamil Wichterle cast his mind back on his father, recalling his close relationship to Kralupy-based industry and research, epitomizing a hub to which quite a few managers – including researchers – would transfer from Zlín where they had worked during World War II on a number of projects in the laboratories of Baťa company. Personal recollections of Otto Wichterle about his close relationship to grandchildren and intellectual development thereof were supplemented by B. Wichterlová.
Talking of the role of Otto Wichterle at the helm of the Academy of Sciences in the period of 1990 to 1993 was Prof. Drahoš, today´s President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, appreciating his contribution to academy transformation and to the organization of the separation thereof, performed in connection with the split of Czechoslovakia.
Ass. Prof. Koubek, rector of VŠCHT, apologized to Otto Wichterle in the name of VŠCHT for his exclusion from VŠCHT in August 1957, i.e. a move hitting for political reasons a wide range of other top teachers and leading scientists other than Otto Wichterle. Ass. Prof. Koubek appreciated the Otto Wichterle´s contribution to the transformation of VŠCHT study plans in 1990s, and added a couple of funny stories dating back to the days of cooperation with O. Wichterle at the premises where O. Wichterle studied and was actively engaged as tutor and scientist in the aftermath of World War II.
As part of the ceremony of naming the Conference Hall after Otto Wichterle, a presentation was delivered by Prof. ing. Jiří Drahoš, CSc., Chairman of the Czech Academy of Sciences, on the subject of "Analysis of time series (not only) in chemical engineering", intended for the guests attending and employees of Česká rafinérská. After the presentation, a vivid discussion took place.
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