President of the CAS to be a scientific advisor to Brussels politicians
15. 06. 2021
When preparing policy in certain areas, the European Commission listens to the views of seven Chief Scientific Advisors. Eva Zažímalová, the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences has been appointed a member of this expert panel. Which is a great personal and professional honour. In her role as a Scientific Advisor she will be helping EU policy makers by providing her expertise, e. g. in epidemiology and social behaviour.
Politicians have the power to influence people’s lives across the whole world. They decide how countries approach climate change, social politics, and coordinated efforts to fight pandemics. To do this well, an advisory body of experts with wide-ranging expertise should be there to help. At EU level, that role is fulfilled by the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors (GCSA), whose members are appointed for four years and work to informpolicy making and ensure it is in line with the latest scientific knowledge.
A voice for Czechia and participation in EU policy decisions
In May 2021, Commissioner Mariya Gabriel appointed two new members to the GCSA for the next years, including Professor Eva Zažímalová, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAS). She is the first Czech member of this elite advisory group.
"It is a great honour to be appointed to this group."
“The Group of Chief Scientific Advisors plays a very important part in the European Union’s policy making, based on the latest developments in science. It is a great honour to be appointed to this group,” says Eva Zažímalová.
This position enables her to influence European policy and raise the profile of science in European policies.
“Eva Zažímalová can take advantage of her substantial experience as an active and successful scientist. She is already well practised in listening to and understanding the voices of scientists across the domestic and international scientific community. During the four years she has spent at the head of the Academy of Sciences, she has become closely familiar with the science policy agenda. That is a combination that guarantees the Czech voice will be heard in Brussels,” notes Pavel Baran, President of the Science Coucil, CAS.
Challenges for the GCSA
The Group’s seven scientific experts, with their broad spectrum of collective expertise, will provide independent scientific advice to improve European policies; in particular, they will contribute to ongoing work on energy transition in Europe, as well as on resilience to crisis, such as pandemics, and cancer screening. The expert group is also tasked with improving interaction between policy-making and scientific advice.
The second new member appointed to the Group alongside Eva Zažímalová is environmental scientist Professor Eric F. Lambin. Both were nominated by European Research Organisations and selected by an independent Identification Committee.
“I am happy to welcome Professor Eva Zažímalová and Professor Eric F. Lambin as new members of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors and look forward to receiving their excellent scientific advice,” says Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.
“The fact that Eva Zažímalová has been successful in such an exclusive selection process shows the high level of Czech science and international prestige the Czech science community holds,” adds Milena Hrdinková, State Secretary for European Affairs.
Eva Zažímalová, President of the Czech Academy of Sciences
- completed her studies in chemistry, with a specialisation in biochemistry, at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague in 1979.
- Her research has focused on the phytohormone auxin – its metabolism and the molecular mechanisms of its activity and transport in plant cells.
- She has been coordinator and investigator for many national and international projects and has contributed significantly to the organisation of several international symposia.
- She is author or co-author of original scientific works published in renowned international journals (including Science, Nature, PNAS, etc.) as well as chapters in specialised monographs. Her work has been cited more than 5200x (excluding self-citations).
Text: Eliška Zvolánková, Division of External Relations, CAS Centre of Administration and Operations
Photo: Shutterstock
The text is free, licensed under a Creative Commons license.
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The Czech Academy of Sciences (the CAS)
The mission of the CAS
The primary mission of the CAS is to conduct research in a broad spectrum of natural, technical and social sciences as well as humanities. This research aims to advance progress of scientific knowledge at the international level, considering, however, the specific needs of the Czech society and the national culture.
President of the CAS
Prof. Eva Zažímalová has started her second term of office in May 2021. She is a respected scientist, and a Professor of Plant Anatomy and Physiology.
She is also a part of GCSA of the EU.