Botanist and ecologist Petr Pyšek wins “Czech Head” Award

Botanist and ecologist Petr Pyšek, who is in charge of the Department of invasion ecology at the Czech Academy of Sciences, has received this year’s “Czech Head” (Česká hlava) award, Czech Television reported on Friday. Professor Pyšek is considered one of the founders of the modern discipline of invasion ecology and is currently the most cited scientist in his field.

The prize was launched in 2002 by a team of scientists and marketing experts in order to support and promote Czech science among the public as an "attractive brand". It includes several sub-awards for work in distinct areas of science.

The ABB Invention Award went to Martina Benešová-Schäfer for her work in the research and development of radiotherapeutics for treating prostate cancer.

Meanwhile, R&D e-infrastructure developer CESNET received the IDEA StatiCa Industry Award for its development of a low time delay long-distance video and audio transmission device.

The Lorem Award for best research in the area of health sciences went to Ilona Hromadníková for her work in developing a new diagnostics method for predicting pregnancy complications caused by high blood pressure.

Two Doctorandus awards, one for technical sciences and one for natural sciences were awarded as part of the Czech Head competition. The technical award went to young scientist Petr Sezemský who focuses on bioactive nanostructured surfaces created using low-temperature plasma. Meanwhile, the natural sciences award was given to Alžběta Dostálková for her research into the interactions that lead to the assembly of retroviral particles.