Studying at VSB-TUO was the best thing that happened in my life

You have received many awards during your career. How does the Honorary Doctorate of the VSB-TUO rank?

I consider it one of the most important awards I have ever received. It is a great honour for me, I appreciate it very much. VSB - Technical University of Ostrava (VSB-TUO) is an institution with a rich and long-standing tradition, which has educated a number of highly qualified experts and has thus contributed significantly to the development of knowledge and the improvement of the quality of life not only in the region, but I dare say also on a global level. I would like to thank the Rector, the scientific councils of all faculties and my fellow teachers.

Let's go back to the beginning. Why did you choose physical metallurgy?

I will be honest - I originally wanted to be a surgeon, but my parents enrolled me in religion classes, and that was a problem at the time. I could not go to medical school, I was very disappointed. I decided to go to the Faculty of Metallurgy at VSB-TUO and it opened its arms to me. Today I know for sure that it was probably the best thing that happened to me in my life. I was taught by world-class experts, such as professors Karel Mazanec, Vladimír Číhal or Ludmila Hyspecká, and I met many dedicated and friendly people.

So, you look back on your studies fondly …

I think every student has good memories of their studies. They were beautiful years and I feel that the older we get, the nicer they seem. Lots of common experiences, friends, but also valuable knowledge and experience. I have already mentioned three great personalities, but there were many more people from whom I learned a lot. There were many experts who worked at and with the Faculty and I hope they will forgive me if I do not mention them all. However, expertise and scientific knowledge are one thing. Quite another, but also very important, is the social and societal aspect, the concern for the student, the standards of behaviour, the ethics and integrity that only the best teachers can provide. And these are the ones I met at VSB-TUO. Simply put, my alma mater gave me a lot professionally and humanly. I might add that the role of a good teacher can hardly be replaced by something else, like the internet.

The beginning of your scientific career was also connected with VSB-TUO. Can you describe this period?

After finishing my engineering studies, I worked for less than two years in Vítkovice Ironworks and then I started my study stay and postgraduate studies (today's doctoral studies) with Professor Mazanec. In addition to scientific activities, I also taught and after defending my dissertation I joined the department as a researcher. I managed to get several grants, in collaboration with doctors we developed and patented several interesting things for medical applications and I think that they still help patients in the field of surgery, orthopaedics and rehabilitation. In 1993, I became an Associate Professor at the Department of Materials Engineering at the Faculty of Metallurgy at VSB-TUO, working closely with Professor Mazanec. Six years later I defended the Great Doctorate at the Academy of Sciences in Prague (the title of DrSc) and was appointed Professor. I also briefly served as Vice-Dean for Science and Research and taught externally at Montanuniversität Leoben in Austria. The then management of VSB-TUO established cooperation in the USA and in 1994, we were preparing a scientific conference with SIU Carbondale and I was responsible for its organisation from the position of Vice-Dean. The very successful course of the conference and the participation of experts from all over the world called for further cooperation, and the then director of the Materials Technology Center invited me to the United States. The original intention was for a one-year internship.

However, it was extended and you are still working at the local university today. But what is admirable is that you never gave up cooperation with VSB-TUO.

I have been cooperating with my colleagues since the beginning of my experience abroad, 27 years. I consider VSB-TUO to be an excellent partner who contributes significantly to the success of our joint activities. From obtaining prestigious NSF grants supported also by European institutions, to internships of professors, scientists and students, to building new departments and facilities in the Czech Republic and the USA. I am also very proud of the fact that over 30 students who have interned with me in the US or done their theses under the guidance of scientists from the Czech Republic and the US are now highly successful professionals. Many are working abroad and those who have decided to return to the Czech Republic are achieving excellent professional results and hold important positions.

In which areas do you cooperate the most?

Past projects have focused on research and development of advanced new materials and technologies for the automotive and aerospace sectors. Naturally, close cooperation with many industrial partners - Ford, Skoda, GM, Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, Boeing and Airbus to name a few - followed, accompanied by the establishment of new scientific facilities.  I would like to mention that after the initial initiative of scientists from Ford Motor and General Motors, it was our Czech-American team that brought modern knowledge and scientific background to this study and supported global activities in this field. In the near future, our team plans to apply to several grant agencies in Europe and the USA for support for our further research related to the challenges of autonomous transport and the implementation of state-of-the-art knowledge into teaching at our universities.

The potential environmental and health impact of new materials is also a major issue. Do you also address these aspects?

At VSB-TUO, a workplace and infrastructure have been built to make a significant contribution to the understanding of this issue. This research has had and is having a global impact and the assessment methodologies developed at VSB-TUO are the basis for the approach to assessing the release of particles from different materials into the environment. Together with Professor Jana Kukutschová, who was in charge of coordination of activities in the Czech Republic, we are preparing further projects in the framework of cooperation between our universities. We will try to incorporate other elements, such as the use of artificial intelligence in the development of new materials and metamaterials and the study of their environmental impact, for example in the context of autonomous transport. I am planning my sabbatical at VSB-TUO and we want to work out detailed plans for our further scientific collaboration.

How did you enjoy your stay at VSB-TUO in connection with the award of the honorary doctorate?

It was an immense honour for me. We spent a lot of time with friends, and Vice-Rector Kukutschová and her team showed us new workplaces. It is always an emotional affair as well, but unfortunately time is also always short. I visit VSB-TUO at least once a year, and I have a lot of friends here. At the university I am always surprised by its development and also by the progress of the young generation, which is very enterprising which I think is a guarantee for overcoming the "turbulent" period related to industrial restructuring. I can say with certainty that the current VSB-TUO will play its role and will help the whole region, the Czech Republic and people around the world.

Text: Martina Šaradínová, PR Specialist for R&D
Photo: Tomáš Sláma a Petr Šimčík