From Brno Labs to the Finnish Wilderness: Our Faculty Scored Big at a Prestigious Conference in Espoo!

At the end of May, the global scientific community gathered in the Finnish town of Espoo, where the international conference Alkali Activated Materials and Geopolymers: High-End Technical Applications took place in the picturesque Hotel Korpilampi. And it was no ordinary event!

Hotel Korpilampi proved to be the perfect venue for connecting science and nature. Just a twenty-minute taxi ride from Vantaa Airport, and you find yourself in a different world – on the edge of a lake, surrounded by forests, birdsong, and… the occasional brave swimmer. But more on that later.

  Representing our faculty was, among others, PhD student David Markusík from the Institute of Materials Chemistry, who presented the results of his research titled Effect of activator type and molarity on rheology and surface chemistry of alkali-activated slag. And he certainly didn’t go unnoticed – his work drew great attention not only from academics but also from industry representatives. Thanks to his excellent results and engaging presentation style, David deservedly won first place in the poster session.

But the award wasn’t just symbolic – from none other than the president of the European Ceramic Society, emeritus professor Paolo Colombo, David received a grant covering all travel expenses. When science is done with heart (and mind), the world starts to take notice.

And since in Finland, important matters are often settled in the sauna, David joined other participants in a traditional evening of relaxation. The result was not only a pleasant time but also a new collaboration with the University of Oulu, sealed in style: by swimming across a lake with water at 13 °C.

This trip was not only an opportunity for professional growth but also proof that Czech science has something to offer the world. And that even in the cold waters of Finnish lakes, something truly heartwarming can emerge – like a new scientific partnership.

Congratulations to David, and we look forward to seeing what he brings back next time!

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Published	2025-06-09
Link	https://www.fch.vut.cz/en/faculty/organizational-structure/ims/news/f142507/d292837