Let’s Connect Science, Study and Practice so That Society as a Whole Can Grow

In recent years, Ostrava has been making an increasingly strong mark on the map of global science. Researchers from the Faculty of Education at the University of Ostrava have also played their part, focusing on human movement, the impact of social inequalities on education, and life in a post-industrial region. Prof. Daniel Jandačka, Dean of the Faculty, speaks about the underfunding of Czech science, the importance of movement for health, the new facilities at the City Campus, and why science should be a natural part of university study.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing Czech science today?

Czech science is significantly underfunded compared with countries in Western Europe, even in relation to GDP. Yet even with limited resources, we are able to produce high-quality results. If we are to develop them further, however, we need sufficient opportunities. These are closely linked to financial support. If we support science, society as a whole can grow. And that is also connected with the prosperity of the Czech Republic as a whole.

The Faculty of Education has also made significant progress in science in recent years. Your researchers publish in prestigious journals. What is behind this shift?

I think we have really come a long way. We have several long-term research studies that can help address a number of problems in our post-industrial region.

What specifically is your research based on?

As part of the REFRESH project, we are monitoring the impact of industrial decline on children’s education and, more broadly, on entire families. This will enable us to describe more accurately the links between children’s educational outcomes and their social disadvantage. This is a very important topic in the Moravian-Silesian Region, but also in the Czech Republic as a whole.

Another significant project is DigiWELL. Within our Faculty, it focuses, for example, on people with obesity and on older adults. Current technologies play an important role in the project, such as mobile applications, smart wristbands and other devices that can help support health and quality of life.

When we talk about industrial decline, we also have to mention environmental pollution, which Ostrava has long been facing. Do you also focus on this issue?

According to the World Health Organization, long-term life in a polluted environment is among the significant health risks associated with premature death. We focus specifically on the Moravian-Silesian Region and monitor the impact the environment has on different groups of people — runners, the active population, and those who do not meet the recommendations for physical activity.

Can movement itself help offset the negative effects of living in a polluted environment?

Our results so far show that physical activity has a positive effect even in an industrial region. After five years of measurements, we will be able to assess more accurately whether people living in a more polluted environment benefit from physical activity in the same way as others, or whether certain health risks appear among them.

You began your career as a physical education teacher. Is movement something we should place greater emphasis on?

We could prevent a range of health problems through an active lifestyle. This is precisely why research into physical activity and health is developing significantly around the world. At our faculty, we also try not to remain only at the level of theory. When we manage to identify important connections, we translate them into practice, for example through recommendations for the public, the development of mobile apps, or tailored physical activity programmes for different groups of people.

How does the new City Campus building help you in this?

City Campus naturally supports an active lifestyle. It is very valuable for us to be able to connect research facilities, sports grounds and education in one place. From a global perspective, it is quite a unique concept, and our facilities are attracting interest from abroad as well.

The City Campus is home to the Centre for Human Movement Diagnostics. It is very well equipped and serves not only research, but also people from outside the university. Members of the public and athletes can, for example, use our MRI facilities. In addition, we offer nutritional counselling and comprehensive diagnostics of the body. We also deal with topics that are becoming increasingly relevant today, such as longevity and well-being.

Do members of the public and athletes make use of these opportunities?

We have managed to create a place full of activities for people of all ages. At the same time, however, we still see room for greater public involvement. Many people still have no idea what they can actually make use of here.

The Centre also serves elite sport. Athletes train with us and use our facilities for both training and diagnostics. For example, Baník players undergo exercise stress tests or body composition analysis here.

Should university study be connected with research?

Study programmes should enable students to read academic literature, take part in research and gain international experience. Practice is of course important, but it is equally important to understand how knowledge expands and how new findings can be applied in different situations.

This helps students better understand the world and their own profession. At the same time, it strengthens society’s resilience to current threats. And in my view, that cannot be replaced simply by courses in critical thinking.

Is political pressure also affecting the scientific community today?

We have seen this very clearly recently, for example in the United States. But we are also observing similar tendencies in the Czech Republic. Scientists in some fields are being ridiculed or dismissed by politicians. In my view, that is not a good strategy and it does not contribute to the development of society.

The role of scientists is to examine problems in depth and look for solutions. Politicians should make use of that, rather than criticise science. Only in this way can society move forward and find answers to the major technical and social problems of our time.