On November 13, 2024, the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague hosted a debate to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution. Held in the university’s auditorium, the event brought together students, staff, and members of the public. It was organized in collaboration with student associations and the Post Bellum organization, including its international Memory of Nations project.
The debate featured prominent speakers, including the university’s First Vice-Rector, Michal Lošťák, who is also the principal investigator of the BETTER Life project, and Petr Sklenička, Rector of the university. The event also welcomed Michael Žantovský, former ambassador to the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel, as well as a spokesperson for President Václav Havel and director of his post-presidential library, and Vladimír Hanzel, Havel’s long-time personal secretary. Milan Školník, a member of the BETTER Life project team, co-moderated the discussion.
A central theme of the discussion was the enduring legacy of the Velvet Revolution, which not only initiated the transition to democracy in the Czech Republic but also created a foundation for academic freedom and international collaboration, as seen in projects like Horizon Europe. The debate explored the opportunities and challenges surrounding social engagement in Czech society. While civic participation is no longer as intense as it was in the early 1990s, events like this one aim to reinvigorate interest in addressing societal challenges through socially engaged initiatives and research.
By bridging the academic and civic sectors, this debate highlighted the importance of social engagement as a driver for democratic resilience and societal progress, embodying the spirit of the Velvet Revolution.
