Four Czech research projects to get two billion crowns from EU

"The money will go to the Technical University in Liberec, the Technical University (VUT) in Brno, the Czech Academy of Sciences' Institute of Scientific Instruments and the Institute of Veterinary Medicine Research.

Another four billion crowns will be divided among further applicants in the foreseeable future..."

Source: Four Czech research projects to get two billion crowns from EU, Ceskenoviny.cz, 27 November 2009.

Čím kdo zachází, tím také schází

"What goes around. Comes around."

Práce Big Ant International, která vyhrála Gold Pencil for Design (Public Service Poster) při One Show Design Awards 2009.

Zdroj: TheInpirationRoom.com

Update: Nová Doctorowova kniha

Blogger a aktivista Cory Doctorow dnes představuje nový román Makers. Jeho předchozí kniha Little Brother stála za to, takže Makers předchází velké očekávání.

Stáhněte zdarma zde.

Promo text z Doctorowa webu:

"Perry and Lester invent things—seashell robots that make toast, Boogie Woogie Elmo dolls that drive cars. They also invent entirely new economic systems, like the “New Work,” a New Deal for the technological era. Barefoot bankers cross the nation, microinvesting in high-tech communal mini-startups like Perry and Lester’s. Together, they transform the country, and Andrea Fleeks, a journo-turned-blogger, is there to document it.

Then it slides into collapse. The New Work bust puts the dot.combomb to shame. Perry and Lester build a network of interactive rides in abandoned Wal-Marts across the land. As their rides, which commemorate the New Work’s glory days, gain in popularity, a rogue Disney executive grows jealous, and convinces the police that Perry and Lester’s 3D printers are being used to run off AK-47s.

Hordes of goths descend on the shantytown built by the New Workers, joining the cult. Lawsuits multiply as venture capitalists take on a new investment strategy: backing litigation against companies like Disney. Lester and Perry’s friendship falls to pieces when Lester gets the ‘fatkins’ treatment, turning him into a sybaritic gigolo.

Then things get really interesting."

Zdroj: Caphound.org přes BoingBoing.

Special commitee established to audit Faculty of Law at ZCU

A commitee was established to audit graduation theses at Faculty of Law at West Bohemian University (ZCU) in Pilsen. BA, MA, and JUDr theses will be checked for inconsistencies, such as plagiarism, premature reviews by examination boards etc.

The commitee's creation is a solution to ongoing scandal at the University.

"A scandal broke out recently after it surfaced that tens of people managed to complete their studies of law, which usually take five years, in a mere couple of months or weeks.

The 'miraculous' students were mainly high-ranking officials, policemen and politicians, who may now feel committed to those at the university who enabled their extremely quick completion of studies." (Ceskenoviny, 9.10.)

During today's discussion (Otázky), former vice-dean, M. Kindl, refused that it was faculty's failure, and stated that such things as lost theses sometimes happen. V. Dvorakova, head of the accreditation commission for universities, refered also to Faculty's problems during re-accreditation process last year which almost led to discontinuing of Master's programme.

Sources:

• Otázky Václava Moravce. 1.11.2009, 12-1pm. Available on-line.
• Šesták M. Chybějící práce a plagiáty prověří v Plzni speciální komise. Ct24.cz, 1.11.2009.
• Czech teacher sues expert pointing to corruption at law faculty. Ceskenoviny.cz, 27.10.2009.
• "Mafia" at Czech university threatened national security - expert. Ceskenoviny.cz, 9.10.2009.

My comment: M. Kindl's argumentation was very weak; stating that he won't be making any exuses at the beginning, he later refused to take responsibility for faculty's behaviour while being part of its management; he also resisted to acknowledge any discrepancies.