Ambassador Miloslav Stašek Visits Villanova University
21.05.2026 / 17:07 | Aktualizováno: 21.05.2026 / 17:23
On May 5, 2026, Ambassador Stašek met with Rev. Peter Donohue and viewed the university’s artifacts correlated to Gregor Mendel.
Czech Ambassador Miloslav Stašek visited Villanova University to meet with its President, Reverend Peter Donohue, to discuss academics and the university’s study abroad program in the Czech Republic as well as to view significant archival materials of the recognized father of modern-day genetics, Gregor Johann Mendel, on May 5, 2026.
During his tour of Villanova University, Ambassador Stašek was able to become familiar with the historical artifacts and scientific papers of Mendel, who conducted his groundbreaking research on the land of today’s Czech Republic in Moravia. Dr. Edward Guinan, Professor of Astronomy & Astrophysics, and Dr. Dennis Wykoff, Professor and Chairperson of Biology, along with other staff
were instrumental in guiding the Ambassador through the opportunity to view Gregor Mendel’s seminal work for the foundation of the rules of heredity, in particular the paper, “Versuche über Pflanzen-Hybriden” (Experiments in Plant Hybridization), which was published in the 1866 Proceedings of the Natural History Society of Brünn. The university’s collection also includes a microscope believed to have been used by Mendel.
As an Augustinian institution of higher education, Villanova University is one of the custodians of Gregor Mendel’s legacy. The Czech Embassy is honored that Villanova University celebrates his findings, meticulous and painstaking experimentation, and determination as an inspiration to future monumental discoveries and contributions to science.
Author: Andrea Pohl