The Czech Republic ranks last in the European Union in terms of women working in science, according to a recent report from the National Contact Center – Gender and Science, part of the Czech Academy of Sciences. The study highlights a concerning trend: despite overall growth in the research sector, the share of women in scientific fields has declined over the years. The monitoring report analyzed data from 2005 to 2022, revealing that the Czech Republic has failed to leverage the potential of qualified women in science fully. Over this period, the total number of individuals employed in research and development doubled, yet the proportion of women dropped slightly. By 2022, women accounted for just 28.7% of scientific roles, the lowest percentage in the EU. Higher Education Trends Favor Women, but Leadership Lags Behind Women dominate undergraduate and master’s degree programs in the Czech Republic, and their numbers among doctoral students are gradually increasing. However, this progress is not reflected in senior roles within academic institutions. As Dr. Maříková-Kubková points out, her own institution lacks women in top-level management. This imbalance extends beyond leadership. Women are frequently employed in administrative positions, while leadership roles are predominantly occupied by men. Motherhood...
The Czech lower house of parliament approved changes in rules for state aid to solar power plants on Wednesday that may reduce support for some projects, drawing criticism from industry representatives who said they violated government commitments. The bill, which still needs approval by the upper house, requires power plants built in 2009-2010 – when profits were high – to produce annual profitability calculations that will be used to judge if they should get state aid. It also extends the scope of the calculation to the full lifetime of a plant rather than just the period in which state support is granted. Lawmakers did not approve some of the most controversial proposals, which would cut the allowed return on investment of solar plants, or halt aid paid for electricity produced at times when surplus production cuts market prices below zero. The government, which faces a parliamentary election next year, has said it needs to limit state aid to shore up the budget. Industry representatives said the bill was damaging. “It is absurd that the government is trying to fill holes in the budget by violating commitments to investors, Czech and European law,” Jan Krcmar, head of the industry group Solar...
The Powder Gate in Prague has completed the initial phase of its revitalization project. This stage included a detailed assessment of the tower’s outer facade, enabling restorers to gather critical data about the structure and its architectural elements. These findings will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive renovation plan. The first phase also included cleaning the tower’s exterior, with the total cost amounting to CZK 5 million. The follow-up project documentation for the full restoration will begin next year after all survey results are analyzed, with completion of these findings expected by April 2024. “In December, we will remove all scaffolding from the Powder Gate, which was in place for less than five months,” said Petr Kotalík, head of the Monuments Administration at Prague City Tourism. “This allowed us to examine the condition of sculptural details thoroughly, especially after cleaning away surface dirt.” Kotalík added that in addition to basic cleaning with a steam generator, advanced methods such as chemical, mechanical, and laser cleaning were tested. “During our survey, we specifically looked for traces of original polychromy, or colored decoration,” explained Tomáš Rafl, the project’s lead restorer. “The assumption that the Powder Gate never featured colored decoration was confirmed....
L. Frank Baum’s “The Marvelous Land of Oz” will be performed as a stage adaptation in Prague on December 20, 2024 at Divadlo D21. Organized by the theatre group The Mad and Merry Men, the production is a charity event aiming to support victims of the recent floods across the Czech Republic. Instead of going with the famous first book, this adaptation brings Baum’s second volume in the Oz series to life: The story follows Tip, a boy fleeing from the witch Mombi, who joins forces with excentric characters like Jack Pumpkinhead, the Scarecrow or the strange professor Woggle Bug – who, just as his name says, is a giant Insect. Together, they journey to the Emerald City, encountering themes of identity and transformation along the way, making it a timeless story that resonates with audiences of all ages. „Tip is a peculiar creature of remarkable eagerness and presence of mind, ready to cause mischief for his own amusement”, says actress Rozálie Andělová. „He is relatable, good-natured and well-intending, an embodiment of idealism – something our world is in need of, now more than ever.” Baum wrote The Marvelous Land of Oz as part of a 14-book series set in...
Legendary guitar icons Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have teamed up for the first time in their nearly 50-year musical career to form the SATCHVAI Band, which will visit Prague’s Forum Karlín on July 20, 2025. The duo, along with each of their respective bands, initially joined forces for their first-ever tour together, outside of the G3 format, this past spring (2024) across select U.S. cities and decided it was finally time to form a band together and bring that winning formula to the live stage, beginning in Europe. Celebrating nearly five decades of musical friendship, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai made their first musical collaboration debut in March 2024. “The Sea of Emotion, Pt. 1” showcases the unmatched synergy between these two legendary guitarists as they seamlessly trade solo sections throughout the nearly six-minute opus. Their second collaboration is set to be released just before the European tour, adding even more anticipation for this epic run. About Joe Satriani For over three decades, the guitar virtuoso has traveled the world, playing to sold-out crowds as both a headliner and as founder of the all-star “G3” guitar extravaganza. Satriani’s studio and live recordings have sold more than 10 million copies...
As of late November 2024, 154,500 Ukrainian citizens with temporary protection visas were officially employed in the Czech Republic. An additional 15,990 refugees were registered with the Labor Office, actively seeking employment. They represent 5.5% of all job seekers registered in the country, regardless of nationality. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs released these figures on Monday, December 9. The highest numbers of employed Ukrainian refugees are concentrated in Prague (27,660 people), the Central Bohemia region (27,479), and the Pilsen region (20,478). Many are working in sectors such as assembly line production, construction, manufacturing, and transportation. A significant proportion of these workers are women—62%, or 95,619 individuals, according to the data. Since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022, a total of 62,265 Ukrainians with temporary protection visas have registered as job seekers with the Czech Labor Exchange. Addressing Workforce Shortages but Not Fully Tapping Potential The Ministry of Labor notes that while Ukrainian refugees have alleviated staffing shortages in some industries, their full potential remains underutilized, particularly in skilled professions. One of the primary challenges is the language barrier, which limits access to qualified positions. To tackle this issue, the Czech Labor Exchange offers free Czech...
The much-anticipated arrival of the American fast-food chain Five Guys in Prague has been marked by repeated delays. Initially, the chain was expected to open its first restaurant in the reconstructed Máj Národní department store earlier this year. The launch was first planned for late spring or early summer, then postponed to November, according to Hospodářské noviny. Currently, the Máj Národní management aims for an opening by New Year’s Eve. “We aim to open the Five Guys unit by the end of this year,” said Karolina Ötwösová, leasing director of Máj Národní. However, the timeline remains uncertain. Sources close to the market indicate the opening might be pushed to the first half of next year. Five Guys itself has not provided any updates. Despite multiple inquiries, the chain’s press department has refrained from commenting on the exact opening date. A New Player in Prague’s Competitive Fast Food Scene Known for its signature hamburgers and fries, Five Guys will directly compete with established fast food giants like McDonald’s and Burger King. Its entry is part of a broader trend of American fast-food brands expanding into the Czech market, Popeyes, a U.S. chain specializing in fried chicken, is planning to open its third...
Award-winning comedian, actor, writer, and director Ricky Gervais has announced additional European dates for his brand-new stand-up show Mortality in 2025. He will perform in Prague on October 4, 2025, at O2 arena. Tickets will go on sale through Ticketmaster and Ticketportal starting December 13 at 10:00. Pre-sale access for Live Nation Club and O2 customers begins on December 11 at 10:00, with ticket prices starting at 1,790 CZK. A Record-Breaking Comedian Gervais’s latest stand-up special, Armageddon, not only won a Golden Globe but also became the highest-grossing comedy show of all time, topping Netflix charts globally. Following this success, Mortality will also be filmed for Netflix, further solidifying Gervais’s reputation as one of the most influential figures in modern comedy. Discussing his new show, Gervais remarked, “We’re all gonna die. May as well have a laugh about it. Mortality looks at the absurdities of life. And death. Bring it on.” With over 80 work-in-progress shows under his belt this year alone, Gervais is set to deliver another unforgettable tour. As with his previous tours, a portion of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to charity. During his Armageddon tour in 2023, Gervais donated £1.91 million to animal charities...
Food waste is a massive problem. Every year as much as a billion tonnes of food goes uneaten worldwide, which could be as much as one-third of what’s produced. This isn’t just wasteful, this discarded food also releases harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which could be as much as 8-12 percent of the total. A small local company called Nesnězeno (“uneaten”) is trying to do its part to reduce these numbers; I spoke with its founder, Jakub Henni, to find out more. I meet Henni at the Nesnězeno offices, located in a small residential house on a hillside in Prague 2. Currently, it holds 14 of the firm’s 25 Czech employees, with the rest working in the Brno office, Henni’s hometown. Brno is also where the company first got its start, as a Facebook page that aimed to connect shops and restaurants with people in an attempt to reduce food waste. The way it works hasn’t changed too much in the intervening years. Shops and businesses (Henni refers to them as “partners”) advertise food and other items they have left over, usually at the end of business hours, and customers can pick them up at a discount. The rule...
A new study has ranked Italy’s Trenitalia as Europe’s best rail operator, with Eurostar coming in last. Germany’s Deutsche Bahn came last for reliability. Italy’s Trenitalia claimed the top spot in a ranking of rail operators in Europe, according to a new study released on Monday. The ranking was published by the European NGO Transport & Environment (T&E). Trenitalia was followed by Swiss operator SBB and Czech company RegioJet. Austria’s ÖBB came in fourth, ahead of France’s SCNF. “Trenitalia stands out for its travel experience, SBB is the most punctual operator in Europe and RegioJet has some of the most affordable tickets,” T&E said in the report. RegioJet is also the top private carrier, excelling in fares and passenger comfort but scoring lowest for bicycle transport, which contributes just five percent to the overall rating. The ranking is based on eight indicators, with fares accounting for 25 percent. Other factors include discount programs, punctuality, ticket-buying experience, passenger comfort, night services, and compensation for delays or cancellations. Eurostar performs the worst On the other hand, expensive and unreliable service put Eurostar, which links France, Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, at the bottom of the T&E ranking. Eurostar “charge nearly twice the European average price per kilometer” but...
The iconic “mevro” tram, registered as number 3098, is making a return to Prague’s public transport network after almost six decades. The Prague Transport Company (DPP) has completed a thorough restoration of this historic tram and plans to deploy it on historic tram routes 41 and 42. Originally manufactured in 1948, the “mevro” was introduced to coincide with the All-Sokol Festival and the International Radio Exhibition, events that contributed to its famous nickname. A Pioneering Design in Prague’s Transport History The “mevro” tram represents a key chapter in the evolution of public transport in Prague. It was the final model of two-axle motor trams designed for passenger service in the city. What made the “mevro” groundbreaking were its electrical innovations, such as rail brakes powered by a storage battery and advanced signal circuits. At the time, these features set new safety standards and laid the foundation for the later development of PCC concept trams, whose influence is still visible in today’s iconic T3 models. Historical Roots and Challenges The tram’s design drew inspiration from Milan’s Peter Witt cars, which have been in operation since 1928 and still serve passengers in Italy today. However, the “mevro” trams had a relatively short...
Looking for the perfect date night or a cozy evening out with friends? Kino Eats at Manifesto Market Anděl offers the ideal blend of great food and classic Christmas movies. This isn’t your standard dinner-and-a-movie setup; it’s an opportunity to indulge in global flavors while immersing yourself in the magic of the holidays. With thirteen international food vendors to choose from, you can sample dishes from around the world before settling in with a drink from the bar to watch a beloved Christmas movie. A Cinematic Holiday Lineup This year’s screenings feature classics such as “Love Actually” and “Home Alone”, offering heartwarming nostalgia for the season. For those looking to embrace Czech culture, the program includes Cosy Dens (Pelíšky), a humorous and touching film that captures the essence of Czech traditions, making it the perfect companion to a cold Czech beer. Love Actually on December 11th, and if you can’t make it they’ll screen it again on December 15th. Home Alone on December 19th. And the traditional Czech favorite Pelíšky, on December 22nd. What’s on the Menu? Kino Eats isn’t about stale popcorn and soda. Instead, you’ll enjoy dishes like: Japanese ramen and curry from Taiko and Gohan Kimbab and...
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