11th Tomášek Days 2002 Conference of Young Microbiologists

PROF. TOMÁŠEK’S LIFE O. Zahradníček, V. Woznicová (Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, and St. Anne’s Faculty Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic): Some moments of Prof. Tomášek’s life – Part 1. Prof. Václav Tomášek, the long-time head of the Institute of Microbiology of the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University and the Faculty Hospital, Brno, was an admirable personality. It is not accidental that the conference of young microbiologists was given his name. To commemorate Prof. Tomášek’s 40th anniversary of death (he died on 20 June 1962), the organizers have decided to contribute several papers to him. As it is not possible to describe his whole life, the contributions mention only a few interesting points of Prof. Tomášek’s life and work. The main source for the papers was the archive of Prof. Tomášek at the Institute of Microbiology. Moment No. 1: Prof. Tomášek – an international researcher. In this part, we present Prof. Tomášek as an intensively communicating scientist, receiving and sending letters in several languages and exchanging information throughout the world. He was a member of international societies and took part in major microbiological congresses. Moment No. 2: Prof. Tomášek – an official and an academic dignitary. In spite of his inborn modesty, during his life Prof. Tomášek served as an official in many organizations. He was, for example, president of the Medical Chamber for Moravia and Silesia. Nevertheless, his most important function was that of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University in the years 1946–1947. Moment No. 3: Prof. Tomášek – a human being. Prof. Tomášek was an example of personal bravery and loyalty to his motherland. During World War II, he took part in the anti-Nazi resistance movement. In the years 1941–1945, he was interned in the concentration camps of Mauthausen and Ośvięcim (Auschwitz). Even in these conditions, he could make use of his bacteriological knowledge. – Also after World War II, Prof. Tomášek did not lose his sense for humanity and mercy, which he showed many a time. O. Zahradníček, V. Woznicová (Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, and St. Anne’s Faculty Hospital, Brno, Czech Republic): Some moments of Prof. Tomášek’s life – Part 2. This paper adds some more moments of the life and work of Professor Václav Tomášek to those shown in Part 1 (see Wednesday, after the Ceremonial Opening of the Conference). Unlike the first part, this one is less serious.