Teachers who fired generations of children with enthusiasm for science will receive an award from the Learned Society of the Czech Republic and the Neuron Endowment Fund

Is it possible nowadays to motivate children to take an interest in science and to lead them towards critical thinking? Proof that it is comes from three exceptional teachers, to whom the Learned Society and the Neuron Endowment Fund will give the award for the best secondary school teachers for their work. This award is given to teaching staff for supporting interest in science and research among pupils and students, and it was presented on 14 May at 10 a.m. at the Karolinum of Charles University in Prague. The award comes with a financial reward of CZK 100,000 for the winner and CZK 50,000 for each of the two finalists.

All three honoured teachers agreed that pupils and students suffer from a lack of critical thinking. In an age overloaded with information it is becoming ever harder for children to obtain and verify facts and to find their bearings in an increasingly complex information society. The three honoured teachers have resolved to fight this too, and their efforts bring results — students placed at international science competitions, successful graduates including, for instance, the founder of the survey portal Survio.com and a software developer at CERN, and dozens of university students who study (not only) technical fields with enthusiasm. "We are delighted that thanks to its patrons the Neuron Endowment Fund can financially reward the work of excellent teachers who are a model and an inspiration for many students," says the chair of the administrative board of the Neuron Endowment Fund, Monika Vondráková.

Thanks to Petr Pavlíček the grammar school in Opava has become a top educational institution generating young women and men who are not only educated but motivated. Vojtěch Šimetka, who took part in the International Young Physicists' Tournament while studying at the Opava grammar school, joined the development of special software at CERN in Switzerland after graduating from the Faculty of Information Technology of Brno University of Technology. Another student, Martin Pavlíček, took part in founding the successful company Survio.com despite serious health problems.

RNDr. Pavla Kodríková systematically leads her students towards an interest in science and research. Every year her students place in the top positions in regional and national Secondary School Professional Activity competitions. Among other things they have won the award of the Learned Society of the Czech Republic and the Česká hlavička award. The successes of Pavla Kodríková's students reach beyond the borders of the Czech Republic.

Mgr. Jan Kvirenc, in cooperation with institutes of the Czech Academy of Sciences, has created for his students a broad educational palette in the form of history seminars, scientific lectures, specialist excursions and discussions. In his teaching he pays attention to developing critical thinking. He also took part in publishing the Inspirace series, which helps primary and secondary school teachers convey scientific findings.

This year the Neuron Awards will be received by laureates in all three categories — for lifelong work, for a significant scientific discovery, and six young talented scientists will also be honoured. All the laureates receive, along with the award, a personal financial prize donated by the fund's patrons. An international scientific board also takes part in selecting the laureates. All of this makes the Neuron Awards unique. "Among this year's honoured are again people whose work builds an excellent reputation for the Czech Republic all over the world. The aim of the Neuron Awards is to show our public that there are people here we can rightly be proud of," says Monika Vondráková.

This year's ceremony will take place on 6 November 2019 at the National Museum in the presence of representatives of scientific, social and cultural life. The public will have the chance to meet the new Neuron Award laureates at a public debate on 7 November 2019 from 5 p.m. at the Opero coworking centre, Salvátorská 931/8, Prague 1. It is hosted by Ondřej Cihlář. Registration for the debate is necessary at rsvp@nfneuron.cz.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2363046580465471/

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