Fulbright Reality Czech

Lucie Čejková is a PhD student at the Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University in Brno. She focuses on news audiences and related topics. In September 2024, she began a five-month Fulbright-Masaryk scholarship program at the Department of Film Production and Media Studies at Pennsylvania State University. Her goal was to explore how leading scholars in the media field bridge the gap between academia and the public, particularly in the areas of media literacy and conspiracy thinking. Reflecting on what the experience gave her, Lucie shares that when meeting the "big names" during her Fulbright stay: "I learned I didn't need to be so starstruck or afraid. The people I met were kind and humane, willing to mentor me at this early stage of my academic career. Without being too pathetic, I think it's fair to say I learned lessons I'll carry with me forever." Never meet your heroes, they say. Well, after my Fulbright stay, I seriously doubt that saying. ...

Emma Blenke is an alumna of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) Program. She spent the past school year teaching at the Business Academy in Karlovy Vary, one of the Czech Republic's most renowned spa towns. Like many Fulbright ETAs, Emma made the leap across the Atlantic right after earning her BA, navigating not just a physical journey, but a profound cultural and personal transformation. Although she was the only ETA in Karlovy Vary, Emma quickly found a supportive community in her Czech colleagues, especially her mentor, Kate, who made her feel welcome from day one. Reflecting on her time there, Emma shared: “What I thought would be a solo journey of learning how to live on my own turned out to be a shared one. I grew because of the people around me, students, teachers, mentors, who reminded me that independence doesn’t mean isolation.”  Some people ease into adulthood. I crash-landed into it—with a frying pan in one hand and Google Translate in the other. In college,...

Dawn Norris is a sociologist. She received her PhD and Master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, and previously served as a professor at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. In Spring 2023, Dawn traveled to Prague as a Fulbright Scholar—and she "caught the bug." While teaching at Charles University’s Faculty of Arts, she explored how national history, social structures, and culture shape work trends and experiences. Beyond the classroom, her research delved into how people living in and around Prague understand the meaning of work and unemployment. Then came an unexpected twist: during her final week on Fulbright, Dawn met someone who instantly made her aware of a research position for which she could apply at the University of Ostrava. The project? Conducting in-depth interviews with Czech coal miners about their identities and what work means to them. It was a perfect fit. Today, 15 months into this life-changing move, Dawn reflects: "Every day ...

Jan Špale je strojní inženýr. Na Strojní fakultě a v Univerzitním centru energeticky efektivních budov ČVUT se věnuje vývoji průmyslových tepelných čerpadel. Jeho cílem je pomoci průmyslu s dekarbonizací výroby procesního tepla, což vyžaduje zohlednit více disciplín najedou - fyziku, techniku i společenský dopad. V rozhovoru prozrazuje, proč místo zubařiny zvolil termodynamiku, co ho přivedlo do výzkumné laboratoře v Buštěhradě a také, proč se rozhodl vyjet na stáž na Purdue University jako stipendista Fulbright-Masarykova programu.  Rozhovor s Janem Špale vznikl ve spolupráci s Ladislavem Loukotou ze stránky  Vědátor  a je čtyřicátým osmým dílem seriálu příběhů k 30. výročí Fulbrightovy komise. Videozáznamy najdete začátkem každého měsíce na našem  YouTube  kanále a  Facebooku . Koncem týdne Vám přinášíme textovou verzi rozhovorů zde na blogu. V čem tkví hlavní úskalí průmyslových tepelných čerpadel, kterým se věnujete? Jde o to, že průmyslové teplo j...

Maria Vostrizansky is an English Teaching Assistant in the Czech Republic during the 2024-25 academic year. She teaches English at Gymnázium Jihlava, working with students aged 11 to 19. Maria graduated from Alma College, Michigan, in 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History and will pursue a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy at The Fletcher School, Tufts University, in 2025. Her research interests center on international relations, particularly the evolving roles of Eastern European countries in global diplomacy. Passionate about bridging cultural divides, Maria aims to inspire future generations to engage with pressing global challenges. Photo: Maria, together with her Czech mentor and colleague Iveta Nečadová and her host school's Headmaster Pavel Suk, September 2024, Prague. At the heart of international diplomacy lies dialogue—conversations that span borders, institutions, and ideologies. From February 25 to March 1, 2025, I had the incredible hono...

Christian Blackburn and Britt Mobley are Fulbright English Teaching Assistants. When Christian signed up to spend a year at the Technical High School in Liberec, and Britt at a Vocational High School in Tábor, they knew they were in for the adventure—but they couldn’t have imagined just how much this year would teach them. As two Southerners from the Carolinas, they came with their accents, traditions, and a hope to bring a piece of home into our classrooms. What unfolded, though, was something deeper and far more rewarding: "Spending a year as Fulbright English Teaching Assistants in the Czech Republic gave us the chance to reflect on who we are, where we come from, and how we connect across cultures. From the mental labor of language learning and lesson planning, to navigating the paradox of American pride and cultural humility, to sharing sweet tea and pork belly on a football field, this year reminded us that true exchange happens in the everyday moments of showing up...

Václav Novotný je vedoucí Kanceláře dopravní infrastruktury v Institutu plánování a rozvoje hlavního města Prahy (IPR). Ve své práci se dlouhodobě zaměřuje na udržitelnou mobilitu, integraci dopravy do územního plánování a podporu veřejného prostoru. Propojuje dopravní inženýrství s urbanismem a architekturou a klade důraz na mezioborovou spolupráci a vzdělávání studentů. Podzim roku 2024 strávil společně s manželkou a dvěma syny v New Yorku jako stipendista Fulbright-Masarykova programu. V neziskové organizaci Regional Plan Association, která již přes 100 let zlepšuje kvalitu života nejen Newyorčanů, sbíral nápady přenositelné do Prahy.  Rozhovor s Václavem Novotným vznikl ve spolupráci s Ladislavem Loukotou ze stránky  Vědátor  a je čtyřicátým sedmým dílem seriálu příběhů k 30. výročí Fulbrightovy komise. Videozáznamy najdete začátkem každého měsíce na našem  YouTube  kanále a  Facebooku . Koncem týdne Vám přinášíme textovou verzi rozhovorů zde na blogu. ...