Podcast: On Neuron and supporting science

"Science pushes back boundaries and moves the whole of society forward," Monika Vondráková says on the Brain We Are podcast. What is the Neuron Foundation's mission and what are its values? Why did it come into being and how is it managing to fulfil its goals — supporting Czech science and connecting it with business? Who should be a role model for Czech society and who are the leaders of our country? Listen to the podcast about science, business and modern patronage.

"Twelve years ago the Czech Republic was going through an economic crisis and both the state and the public were overlooking science. At the same time I came across the story of the patron Josef Hlávka and it all came together — we founded Neuron as a fund based on patrons' donations that would secure society's recognition and good conditions for Czech scientists' work," Monika Vondráková recalls of Neuron's beginnings. In the hour-long podcast she also explains the fund's goals and values.

Neuron's mission became the financial support of scientists, the popularisation of their work and thereby the raising of the profession's prestige. "At Neuron we want to give the best scientists the conditions and the recognition they deserve," Monika Vondráková adds.

"An important task for us is developing modern patronage — Neuron has already paid out over 110 million crowns in support of Czech science, thanks to our patrons, who are aware of its wider reach into society as a whole. A community of people has formed around Neuron, two different worlds of business and science that may think differently but that understand each other," Monika Vondráková says.

She is not a scientist herself, but this world fascinates Monika Vondráková. "Science pushes back boundaries and moves our whole civilisation forward," she says. She looks at the future and at Czech society with hope and recommends that we define our values and thereby strengthen national pride and confidence.

And Czech science and Neuron Award laureates are role models that can help us superbly in that.

LISTEN TO OTHER PODCASTS WITH NEURON AWARD LAUREATES

• PODCAST WITH ONDŘEJ PEJCHA ON BLACK HOLES AND A LIFT INTO SPACE
• PODCAST WITH MICHAL MALINSKÝ ON WHY MATTER EXISTS AND WHETHER THE PROTON IS IMMORTAL
• PODCAST WITH HANA CAHOVÁ MACÍČKOVÁ ON HOW RNA WORKS AND WHY VACCINATION MATTERS
• PODCAST WITH TOMÁŠ MIKOLOV ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND WORKING FOR THE TECH GIANTS
• PODCAST WITH PETR KOHOUT ON THE SYMBIOSIS OF FUNGI AND OTHER PLANTS IN THE FOREST