My one‑month stay at Masaryk University in Brno, completed within the CEEPUS mobility programme, proved to be an invaluable experience for both my research and professional development. The Department of Geological Sciences provided an excellent environment to explore analytical methods and laboratory facilities relevant to my PhD work.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Mgr. Dalibor Všianský, PhD. who dedicated significant time to guiding me through the laboratories and explaining several analytical procedures, including thermal analysis, which may become an important methodological component of my future research. I am also thankful to doc. Mgr. Ján Cempírek, PhD. for his warm welcome and his willingness to assist throughout my stay.
An important aspect of my mobility was the opportunity to gain insights from professionals outside the university environment. Thanks to Mr. Vsiansky’s support, I was able to consult with specialists working in the field of lightweight aggregate (agloporite/expanded clay) production. These discussions provided valuable context for my research and helped me better understand the practical aspects of keramzit manufacturing. Through these connections, I also obtained a rare and highly relevant sample from Vintířov, one of the key sites of commercial expanded clay production. Its analysis will significantly contribute to clarifying the raw material characteristics essential for my PhD project.
Overall, this mobility stay allowed me to deepen both the theoretical and practical dimensions of my research, broaden my professional network, and gain new perspectives for the continuation of my scientific work. I am very grateful for the opportunity to spend this month at Masaryk University and for the supportive and welcoming environment I experienced in Brno.
PhD Student Gabriela Rezníková