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Dear students,

it's the time of year when the university town comes alive with big events, where Palacký University and especially you can't miss! In today's newsletter we invite you to the University sports day or to the Flora flower exhibition and Divadelni Flora theatre festival. It is not even a week until the AFO film festival, which is organized by UP and to which the current issue of the university magazine is dedicated. In addition, we have an offer for parents, tourists and athletes and three competitions.

WHAT’S GOING ON AT UP

We are thrilled to invite you to join our exclusive summer semester tours this April, organized by the Division for International Cooperation and its respected Welcome Office. Embark on a captivating journey through the annals of history with our Old Prints and Historical Library Tour on April 22nd, where you will explore rare manuscripts and documents that have shaped Europe. Just a week later, on April 29th, uncover the hidden gems of Olomouc on a Guided Sightseeing Tour, revealing the secrets of the city's storied past. These enriching experiences are offered at no cost, courtesy of our collaboration with skilled librarians and guides. Secure your spot now and immerse yourself in the heritage and beauty of Olomouc—a truly enlightening opportunity awaits!

Registration for Palacký University Sports Day is now open! On Tuesday 7 May, when the Rector's Day off is announced, you can participate in a number of sports disciplines. There are team tournaments in football or floorball, badminton, pilates, self-defence lessons, as well as Stig hockey matches, a chess tournament, a hiking trip or a run through Olomouc parks. More information can be found in the article and on the website upol.cz/en/sports-day.

The new issue of the UP Journal is out! So get your copy in the stands at the faculty gatehouses, libraries, canteens, or even in UPoint. You will read in it how science is effectively communicated to the public. Both Eva Navrátilová, the director of the upcoming Academia Film Olomouc festival, and Daniel Stach, its guest, will share their views on its popularisation. In addition, you will traditionally find plenty of university news, engaging interviews and beautiful photos on the pages of the Journal. And if you prefer the screen to paper, a PDF version is available for download on the website (in Czech).

Important historical buildings, a geopark, parkland gardens, fresh panoramas and fresh gastronomy. All this can be visited in and around Palacký University. A list of interesting places open to the public is presented by the platform Uni t(r)ips, which is backed by the Communications Department. It has been newly expanded by the showroom of the UP_LAB Fortress of Knowledge or the café Lyrata in the recently opened university building Envelopa Hub or the sculpture dedicated to Dr Milad Horáková at the Faculty of Law.

The Faculty of Law, in cooperation with its student Vasyl Kapustej (read the interview on Žurnal (in Czech)), announced a material collection of humanitarian aid for Ukraine. This is the third faculty collection since the outbreak of the war. Donors can bring items directly to the faculty until the end of May. Everything will go to civilians who still remain in the war zone, as well as those displaced by the war from eastern Ukraine. More details on the faculty website (in Czech).

STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS

Ollove and eFko offer the opportunity to come to a support group (in Czech) that is a space to share your feelings, fears, traumas or thoughts. It is for anyone who wants to share or just listen. For those who are discriminated against because of their gender, sexual or gender identity. The group is not therapeutic, but a commentator or supporter will always be present. If you are interested in participating in the group you must fill out a registration form, which we will always release in advance for one particular group. Future dates are April 23 (in Czech), May 14, May 21, June 4 and June 18. For more information, please see the networks (links to Linktree (in Czech)).

INVITATIONS

Can memories deceive us? What happens when we entrust our memory to various technologies? What secrets does the mushroom ecosystem hold? In a few days, the International Festival of Popular Science Films Academia Film Olomouc, AFO for short, will begin, and for the 59th year it has been organised by none other than Palacký University. The theme of this year's edition is memory and you can already see the daily programme with over 250 items - film screenings, concerts, talks, lectures, workshops, walks or original exhibitions. Basic accreditation is free for all! During the festival you can use the shared bikes of university partner nextbike (in Czech) – with code AFO2024 you get 15 minutes of free riding.

Earth Day is celebrated every year by the whole planet, so UP and you can't miss it! On Monday, April 22, you can choose from an extended menu of vegetarian dishes and participate in sustainable and creative workshops in the UP canteens. During these workshops you will have the opportunity to sew recycled kidney beads, paint mugs or breathe new life into your clothes. All workshops, including registration and Monday's menu, can be found on the website. (in Czech)

For many years, the Palacký University Athletics Championship (in Czech) has been one of the opening competitions of the outdoor athletics season in Olomouc – and this year will be no different. The traditional sporting event organized by the Department of Sport of the Faculty of Physical Culture of the UP will take place on Wednesday 24 April at the athletics stadium TJ Lokomotiva – and if you would like to try your luck against others in any of the disciplines, you will find everything you need including registration here (in Czech).

COMPETITIONS

What we eat has an impact not only on our health, but also on the environment. The Sustainable University has therefore launched a campaign (in Czech) in the UP canteens that encourages diners to be active and eat a balanced diet and informs them about the environmental impact of the food and agricultural industry. Join the related appeal Veggie  Challenge with a chance to win upcycled waist bag (fanny pack, bumbag) made from used advertising banners. During the challenge, you choose how you will eat for 30 days – whether vegan, vegetarian or eating meat only once a week. More on the Sustainable University website. (in Czech)

The international multi-genre festival Divadelní Flora will offer seventy events in Olomouc from 9 to 20 May under the motto Freedom. And since UP is its partner, you can not only see the programme and buy tickets, but also take part in an exclusive competition. In it, you have a chance to win a pair of tickets to the performances of Vojcek (Fri 17 May), Na první pohled (Sat 18 May) or Mikrosvěty (Sun 19 May). Email us the answer to the competition question by Wednesday 24 April to soutez@upol.cz and also tell us which performance you would most like to see. Question: This is the third time that the theme of Vojcek has appeared at Divadelni Flora. In which years has it been performed at the festival? You can find the clue in the annotation.

The biggest flower festival or the international flower and horticultural exhibition Flora Olomouc 2024 (in Czech) is on 25–28 April. With a bit of luck, you can be drawn into the Galaxy of Flowers without having to pay anything. As partners of the exhibition, we have a competition for one-day tickets for two people. Just email us the answer to the question at soutez@upol.cz by Monday (!) 22 April: How many outdoor t(r)ips can you find in the Uni T(r)ips guide?