From Labs to Life: PhD Journeys Unplugged
From coffee breaks to career tips, students explored the twists and turns of the PhD journey with those who’ve walked the path before them.
Natural scientists abandoned all normal laboratory and office duties and exchanged their white coats for evening gowns and suits when the Representative Ball of Masaryk University’s Faculty of Science took place on the first Saturday of March at Semilasso in Brno. Almost 330 visitors came to dance, sing and enjoy the evening’s great atmosphere with colleagues and friends. The Natural Scientists’ Society prepared a diverse program for everyone, with a midnight surprise featuring the highlight of the evening.
Shortly before eight o'clock, the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Tomáš Kašparovský, welcomed all the employees, students, graduates and special guests attending the event. This was followed by a pre-dance by dance students from the F. Jílek Elementary Art Schools (ZUŠ F. Jílka), whose routine with fans and wild flamenco rhythms transported those present to the hot Spanish plains, putting everyone in a great mood.
Dancers filled the dance floor right from the beginning, which as always started with a waltz, this time performed by the Relax Band. The Dance Orchestra from town Hronov, who have been inextricably linked to the faculty ball since 2006, then played throughout the evening for those wishing to dance or just listen. While dancing sessions alternated with the prepared entertainment programme in the main hall, time could be passed pleasantly with the dulcimer music of Ponava in the adjacent restaurant.
During the prepared programme, visitors could let themselves be carried away by a demonstration of ballroom dancing performed by professional dancers from the Danza Dance School, while another half hour set on the dance floor was filled by the dance and singing group First Smile and their Glee Show. The Young Trumpeters then provided a pleasant diversion, during which the dancers could take a breather, with a demonstration of traditional hunting horn music. As always, there was the traditional dance competition for visitors to the ball and a prize draw.
The evening continued pleasantly right up to the midnight peak of the programme, which was provided by a dancing/singing performance by natural science students, the Kampustňáci (Campus People), with their compositions Photosynthesis, How Cells Work and Horner’s Scheme. These performance, which connected natural sciences and mathematics with music and dance entertained both the audience and the performers themselves. The Relax Band Orchestra then took over for its last set, which was followed at one hour after midnight by DJ Pavel Jedla, whose party sounds entertained prom-goers until the end of the ball in the early hours.
As always, the ball was organised by Masaryk University’s Natural Scientists’ Society with significant contributions from the Faculty of Science and other partners. A big thank you goes to all the organisers and partners.
Photo: Lea Králová
From coffee breaks to career tips, students explored the twists and turns of the PhD journey with those who’ve walked the path before them.
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