I have scientific freedom and the support I need to use it, says academic
In the Czech scientific world, she is already firmly linked to her topic. Sociologist Lucie Vidovićová is probably the best-known researcher in the Czech Republic dealing with ageing. "Because the way we treat our elders is a litmus test of the maturity of our society," she says, justifying her choice of career direction. She has moved several times in the last 15 years and has had experience at many institutes and universities abroad, but her home institution is still Masaryk University. And she knows exactly why.
The decision on a research direction was not a focused choice. “I was lucky to have colleagues and professors who mentored me. They let me participate in research, and I realised that it was something that fulfilled my desire to keep finding out. Moreover, ageing is a topic that applies to everything that a person is, has been and will be,” says the passionate researcher, who heads the Centre for Ageing Research (CERA) at MU's Faculty of Social Studies. There, she and her colleagues are tackling one of today's megatrends (which include climate change and technological advances) and seeking answers to questions related to how ageing affects people's physical, working and mental lives.
“To me, Brno and Masaryk University come together in one nice package. MUNI is a brand that one need not be ashamed of in the slightest and as a scientist I don't have to explain to anyone where I am from. I feel that we have succeeded in creating a shared identity. My colleagues and I feel lucky to be here.”
Freedom!
“If there's one thing I appreciate most, it's the scientific freedom I have here. There's a natural responsibility that comes with it, but I'm not entirely easy to manage and I really appreciate being able to pursue topics that make sense to me. Even if they may not be popular or are even a bit risky,” says Lucie Vidovićová.
Like other academics, she feels the current pressures on scholarly output and the need to generate publications combined with teaching responsibilities. “But one would not work without the other. We discuss research with students and they in turn give us feedback and help generate ideas for further research work. We at MUNI also have great support in the form of the Research and Project Support Department. They keep an eye on the deadlines and the content of project calls, so I can focus on my own science. You get the feeling that you are never alone,” emphasises the sociologist and gives other examples of help. The university also has a CERPEK centre that provides support to academics in improving their teaching skills. And there are also courses that improve management skills because these are also needed to lead a research team.
Pleasant Brno and the working space
This is not the only reason why Vidovićová has never left her native Brno academically. As the years go by, she appreciates more and more the quality of life in the city, its civic and social amenities, its short distances and the fact that it is close to her ageing parents who need support. “To me, Brno and Masaryk University come together in one nice package. MUNI is a brand that one need not be ashamed of in the slightest and as a scientist I don't have to explain to anyone where I am from. I feel that we have succeeded in creating a shared identity. My colleagues and I feel lucky to be here,” Vidovićová emphasises.
Her job is made easier not only by the school's reputation, but also by the high level of digitalisation that prevails and the working environment. In recent years, MUNI has renovated all of its historic campuses and built several new ones.
However, the joy of academic work is still there in its roots, she says. “I have freedom and a position that has high legitimacy in society. I can thus participate vicariously in the direction of society. When I see that, thanks to graduates of my courses, Bratislava, for example, is doing better in covid social measures than my native Brno, I am sincerely happy.”
