CXI PERSONALITY POLL: YEAR 2022 versus YEAR 2023

The new year started 3 weeks ago, but it's still all upon us. The old year 2022 may be gone, but as per tradition, let's see what it was like. This time, we took a look back and forward with 3 of our CXI teammates.

We asked these 3 questions:
What do you think 2022 brought and what do you expect from 2023?
What activities, projects are you planning?
What do you think will be key?

MARLITA MARLITA, Ph.D. student and researcher from CXI's Applied Biology Department

When I think about 2022, it brought me a lot of chances to develop. Professionally, I had the opportunity to be involved in two international events. The first was the SETAC international conference in Denmark and the second event was my internship at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, which provided me with the opportunity to learn new knowledge and techniques, especially in the field of bioanalysis techniques using asymmetric flow fractionation (AF4).

The year 2022 brought obstacles, but also ways to face and solve them. It has brought some sad things, but also miracles that have turned those sad things into happiness. Although we faced many crises - a global pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia war, inflation and the energy crisis - we survived all of them and were able to welcome 2023.

What do I expect from 2023? Rather than expecting the new year to bring me anything, I prefer to welcome the new year by preparing myself to do some things or change some things that went wrong in the previous year. Overall, it's important for me to keep a positive attitude. Whatever life throws at us, we should face it positively and creatively. When a journey fails, we can find many other ways to achieve our goals. If we don't give up, we will definitely achieve our goals.
Whatever your New Year's resolutions and goals are, I wish you every success and happiness in 2023.

 MICHAL ŘEZANKA, Team Leader, CXI Nanochemistry Department

The year 2022 will be remembered mainly as a result of the events of 24 February - the beginning of Russia's aggression against neighbouring sovereign Ukraine. The past year has brought us a war conflict of unprecedented proportions and a related energy crisis in Europe. On the other hand, it has also brought a huge wave of solidarity and a certain unification of Europe. The energy crisis and the solidarity with refugees have also had an impact on our university, and the cost of energy has been one of the main issues we have dealt with in the past year and will continue to deal with in 2023. I expect the new year to be a challenge for me and for all of us. Not only in the sense of coping with a new reality to which we have not been accustomed, but above all in looking to the future and preparing for the challenges of the years to come.

I see the development of cooperation with companies as a key activity for this year, because this is an area where our department lags behind others. We are currently finalising our strategy going forward. My dark horse is the cosmetics industry.

In terms of personal activities, it is only in the realm of wishful thinking because I am a parent of two young children. And not in the sense of not being able to go out with my kids, but I can't even predict what anyone is going to eat for dinner tonight, let alone what they're ever going to want to do.

The number of projects we can successfully apply for will be crucial for CXI and, of course, for our department. It will also be crucial how successful our plan to work more closely with companies is. Last but not least, it will also be crucial to maintain the pleasant and positive working atmosphere that prevails in our workplace. It may not buy us bread, but this seems to me to be essential, especially in these difficult times.

KAREL HAVLÍČEK, Researcher, CXI Environmental Technology Department

I am thankful for 2022. It is the year when I gained many new job opportunities, managed to submit my dissertation, visited many countries and fulfilled my dream to fly in a helicopter over the most beautiful island of Hawaii. I am happy for all the good and the bad, I appreciate everything and I would not change anything that I could influence. I also see 2022 as the year that opened new doors for science and research. As "strange" as it may seem, the global problems (which we have faced and are still there) are driving the emergence of new ideas and the creation of effective solutions. We need to address new sources of energy, new technologies for the sustainability of natural resources, medicines and protective equipment, food sources and much more. I see great potential in science for solving many difficult challenges, but at the same time there must be support from society, which unfortunately in 2022 has become rather 'saturated' with solving personal problems.

Change, that will be essential in 2023. We need to change a lot, and I will start by focusing more than I have done so far on solving the essential problems and not on the trivial ones. From 2023 I expect new challenges, a lot of work, a gradual stabilisation of the socio-economic situation, less conflict and a return of optimism. For me, 2023 will simply be WORKING. I started too much last year to be idle this year. I would really like everyone to have a chance to create something good that they believe in and that will contribute to society. I believe in science, in the people around me, and in what I do.

On behalf of the CXI team, I wish you and your loved ones a healthy and good 2023.

Lenka Hanušová