Pavel Hobza: AI is a partner in research

Prof. Pavel Hobza is among the most significant Czech scientists of the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries and among the most influential scientists in the world in computational chemistry. He received the Neuron Award 2022 for his lifelong work. What has changed since last October, when he received the prestigious scientific award at the National Museum? What does he expect from the future? "What I still believe is that science will solve all the problems of our civilisation," says Pavel Hobza.

You received the Neuron Award last October. How has your field moved on since then?

One year is too little for fundamental new discoveries, but what matters is certainly the meteoric rise of AI. We see it all around us and we use AI too (even I do), and its possibilities are incredible. AI is a genuine partner in research in entirely new areas of science as well.

What interesting things have happened to you personally since October?

We managed to get our study of hydrogen bonds with hydridic hydrogen — that is, hydrogen carrying a negative charge — published. What matters is that we propose a new definition of the hydrogen bond that would include not only (as until now) protonic hydrogen, that is, hydrogen carrying a positive charge, but hydridic hydrogen too.

How can your field help society as a whole in 2023?

Our group has made fundamental progress in computer design of new drugs, which could make the process of introducing new medicines cheaper and, above all, faster.

What do you expect from science further into the future?

What I still believe is that science will solve all the problems of our civilisation.

Who should be the next Neuron Award laureate?

I would be glad if Neuron found superb laureates not only in science and medicine but in the humanities too.