The Story of Technical Chemistry in Brno

The book introduces readers from both the general and professional public to the role of chemical education at Brno University of Technology in the context of the socio-economic and industrial development of the Moravian region. It is clear that technically educated specialists have always been essential for the establishment and development of industry, and the role of technical universities is crucial in this regard. A secondary aim of this book is to contribute, through its historical perspective, to the current debate on the status and evaluation of technical universities. Today, the primary measure of the quality of universities’ creative output is publications presenting the results of basic research. Applied research and collaboration with industry and other applied sectors are somewhat sidelined. The importance of technical universities in training specialists - engineers and technicians - who are essential to our industry, which forms the core of the economy, and thus to the present and future prosperity of the Czech Republic, is also underappreciated. The desire to commemorate at least a selection of the figures who shaped chemical education at Brno University of Technology within the context of the developing society and industry in the Moravian region was one of the author’s primary impulse for writing and publishing this book.