Prof. PharmDr. Alena Sumová, DSc., Head of the Laboratory of Biological Rhythms at IPHYS, received the Award of the President of the CAS for Promotion or Popularisation of Research, Experimental Development, and Innovation at Villa Lanna in Prague on 21 November 2025. This award is presented annually to prominent scientists who communicate scientific knowledge to the public in an accessible and engaging manner, thereby contributing to the good reputation of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
Prof. Sumová is a leading expert in research on circadian rhythms and their impact on human health. Her work helps explain how the disruption of natural biological clocks affects development, metabolism, mental well-being, and the overall balance of the body.
She regularly appears in the media, at public events and lectures, and is actively involved in outreach to both secondary school and university students, fostering interest in science and a healthy lifestyle among the younger generation as well as the general public.
“With the same joy, I return from a prestigious conference as I do from a visit to secondary‑school students. This generation often disrupts its circadian rhythms, and through lectures, they learn what is going wrong,” says Prof. Sumová. She points out that humans are the only species that deliberately harm their own circadian rhythms through a modern lifestyle. “Yet we know that this is one of the factors that contribute to the development of lifestyle-related diseases.”
The award was presented to Alena Sumová by the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Radomír Pánek, together with Soňa Ehlerová from the Academic Council of the CAS. The photo in the middle shows, from left, Radomír Pánek, Alena Sumová and Soňa Ehlerová. Photo: Jana Plavec.
