Czech-French Collaboration Workshop
Czech-French Collaboration in Astronomy and Astrophysics & Prof. Françoise Combes
26 June, 2026, Prague, Czech Academy of Sciences
The research infrastructure EU-ARC.CZ, together with the Space for Humankind, are organizing a workshop dedicated to Czech-French collaborative projects in astronomy and astrophysics, with particular focus on the field of galactic and extragalactic astronomy. The workshop will bring together researchers from both countries to present ongoing collaborations, discuss future scientific opportunities, and strengthen existing partnerships. Projects associated with major international astronomical facilities and organizations, including ESO, ALMA, ESA, and LOFAR, in which both the Czech Republic and France actively participate, will also be introduced.
A special highlight of the event will be the presentation of the Ernst Mach Medal to Prof. Françoise Combes (Paris Observatory) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to astronomy. Following the award ceremony, Professor Combes will deliver the laureate lecture.
The workshop is organized as a side event of Sounds of Science, a unique public conference organized by the French Embassy in the Czech Republic and the French Institute in Prague, that brings together leading scientific research and classical music, creating an inspiring dialogue between science, culture, and the arts.
Venue: Czech Academy of Sciences, Národní 3, Prague 1
Date: Friday, 26 June, 2026, 09:00 - 13:00
Registration deadline: 19 June, 2026
Program, 09:00 - 13:00
- Welcome (Michal Bursa)
Czech-French Collaboration Projects
- 9:05 - ALMA and Czech-French Collaboration: Catching Jellyfish Galaxies (Pavel Jáchym)
- 9:15 - Cooperation at ESO: from the VLT to the ELT (Soňa Ehlerová)
- 9:25 - Supernovae-driven gas flows and growth of Supermassive Black Holes (Pierre Vermot)
- 9:35 - Czech involvement in ESA space missions (Jiří Svoboda)
- 9:45 - Czech-French collaboration in scientific instruments for space missions (Jan Souček)
- 9:55 - X-ray reprocessing in strong gravity (Michal Dovčiak, Jakub Podgorný)
- 10:05 - X-rays echoes of the SMBH at the center of the Milky Way (Frédéric Marin)
- 10:15 - Galactic Fountains in M101 (Aashiya Shaji)
- 10:25 - Opening new horizons with LOFAR (Alessandro Ignesti)
- Coffee break (10:35 - 11:00)
Ernst Mach Honorary Medal for Merit in the Physical Sciences for Prof. Combes
- 11:00 - Laudatio for Françoise Combes (Jan Palouš)
- 11:10 - Ernst Mach Award Ceremony
- 11:20 - Laureate lecture: Galaxies in Their Environment (Françoise Combes)
- Lunch in front of the meeting room (12:10 - 13:00)
Registration:
If you would like to attend the workshop, please register here. Registration deadline is 19 June, 2026.
Contact: alma-arc@asu.cas.cz