The lead partner of the project is Opatství Staré Brno Řádu sv. Augustina (Augustinian Abbey), the partner in the Czech Republic is Masaryk University, and the Austrian partners are the Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU) and Universität Wien (University of Vienna).
The project G. J. Mendel’s Legacy to Science, Culture, and Humanity is co-funded by the programme INTERREG V-A Austria – Czech Republic.
Augustinian Abbey
The Augustinian Abbey is located within the premises of the Old Brno Monastery which was founded as a Cistercian monastery in 1323 by Elizabeth Richeza of Poland, the Bohemian and Polish Queen consort. The Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary can be also found in this compound. In 1782, the Cistercian monastery was abolished by imperial decree and handed over to the Augustinians the following year as a replacement for the building of the original Augustinian Convent at the Church of St. Thomas on today’s Moravian Square. Thanks to Augustinians, in the 19th century the abbey became a centre of culture and education which gave the world figures such as Gregor Johann Mendel, the composer Pavel Křížkovský, or the Catholic politician Tomáš Eduard Šilinger. The abbey also financially and materially supported music students, contributing thus to the development of the talent of the world-famous composer Leoš Janáček.
Nowadays, the Augustinian Brothers are an international community forming a vibrant parish offering regular services, religious studies, and work with both youth and adults. For a long time now, the Abbey of St. Thomas has been involved in culture and tourism (e.g. guided tours of the monastery, annual co-organization of the Mendel Festival, and so on) and strives to promote Mendel’s legacy.
Masaryk University
Masaryk University is the second largest university in the Czech Republic and is a member of Compostela Group and Utrecht Network. It was founded in Brno in 1919 as the second Czech university and today boasts ten faculties and 30,500 students. Masaryk University is one of several higher education institutions which run CEITEC – a research centre for basic and applied research in the life sciences. CEITEC (Central European Institute of Technology) is a European research centre for life sciences, advanced materials, and nanotechnologies. It was founded by a group of universities located in Brno (Masaryk University, Brno University of Technology, Mendel University in Brno, and the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno) and research institutes (Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and the Veterinary Research Institute), and is supported by the South Moravian Region and the City of Brno.
Masaryk University is the founder of Mendel Museum, which is located within the premises of the Augustinian Abbey of St. Thomas. Masaryk University’s Mendel Museum builds on the legacy of G. J. Mendel. It is a meeting place for experts, and a place where scientific and research findings are presented to the general public. In addition to an exhibition about G. J. Mendel, the museum also organizes numerous lectures, primarily on genetics, but also on other disciplines taught at Masaryk University.
Universität für Bodenkultur Wien
The University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna (BOKU) was founded in 1872 as the College of Agriculture and Forestry. BOKU believes in its responsibility to respond to current social and environmental issues and challenges, and covers a wide area of natural resources management, ranging from agricultural issues to biotechnological research, while always guided by the principles and needs of sustainability. BOKU strongly focuses on international cooperation and has around 300 partner institutions all around the world. It is active in terms of research and the teaching of courses at 15 departments, and currently offers 7 Bachelor’s degree programmes, 27 Master’s degree programmes, and 9 doctoral degree programmes. BOKU is ranked among the top 30 universities in the QS World University Ranking in the field of ‘Agriculture and Forestry’.
Universität Wien
The University of Vienna was founded as Alma Mater Rudolphina Vindobonensis by Rudolf IV in 1365, and is one of the oldest and largest universities in Europe. The historic main building of the University of Vienna was opened on the Ringstraße in 1886. Nowadays, around 7,400 scientists conduct their research in 20 faculties and research centres. The University of Vienna is thus the largest research institute and the largest educational institution in Austria. Their 179 study programmes offer a wide range of academic disciplines. The University of Vienna is also an important institution for further education in Austria.
Strategic project partners from the Czech Republic
- South-Moravian Region
- Statutory City of Brno
- Diocese of Brno
- Moravian Gallery in Brno
- Moravian Science Centre Brno, funded organization
- TIC BRNO, funded organization
- Tourist Authority – South Morava, z.s.p.o.
- Brno Conservatory, funded organization
Strategic project partners from Austria
- Naturhistorisches Museum Wien
- Konrad Lorenz Institut für Evolutions und Kognitionsforschung
- Weinviertel Tourismus
Projekt Odkaz G.J. Mendela vědě, kultuře a lidstvu je spolufinancován z prostředků programu INTERREG V-A Rakousko – Česká republika.