With sand and Europe's top research grant, Slovak chemist develops something nobody has tried

Only three scientists in Slovakia received the European Research Council grant so far.

Michal Májek (right) is the third scientist in Slovakia to receive an ERC grant.Michal Májek (right) is the third scientist in Slovakia to receive an ERC grant. (Source: Tomáš Madeja, UK)

When it comes to research, chemistry is one of the really good areas in Slovakia, as evidenced by the fact that two out of three prestigious European Research Council (ERC) grants for Slovakia have been given to chemists.

"Chemistry has a tradition here. After all, Bratislava used to be called the city of chemistry," says chemist Michal Májek from the Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University, who recently received the second ERC grant.

SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

This is the first time a researcher from a Slovak university has obtained the grant.

SkryťTurn off ads

Although the basic idea behind the Capele project, which focuses on using mechanical energy to activate organic molecules, has been around a few years, Michal Májek brings his own unique twist.

"As far as I know, no one in the world has tried this," he says in an interview with The Slovak Spectator.

Related article To play in the top league, you need the best players. This has not happened for Slovak science yet Read more 

Building upon a new idea

Májek's work is called organic methodology. He tries to develop new reactions, which later material or medicinal chemists can use to synthesise drugs, for example.

The rest of this article is premium content at Spectator.sk
Subscribe now for full access

I already have subscription - Sign in

Subscription provides you with:
  • Immediate access to all locked articles (premium content) on Spectator.sk
  • Special weekly news summary + an audio recording with a weekly news summary to listen to at your convenience (received on a weekly basis directly to your e-mail)
  • PDF version of the latest issue of our newspaper, The Slovak Spectator, emailed directly to you
  • Access to all premium content on Sme.sk and Korzar.sk

Top stories

News digest: Don't forget- clocks go forward on Sunday

More money from Brussels, US helicopters for Slovakia, and Bratislava airport's warning against fake websites.


10 h
Filip Toška holding chard in the hydroponic Hausnatura farm.

How a Mayan doomsday prophecy took a Slovak to hi-tech agriculture

Hydroponic farm run out of former telephone exchange.


9. mar
A Lutheran priest outside the Lutheran High School in Tisovec in 2007.

US teachers not rushing to teach English in Slovakia due to war

Dozens of Americans taught Slovak students in Tisovec in the past, but the local school is now struggling to find teachers from overseas.


21. mar
PM Eduard Heger announces his new political party, Demokrati, on March 7, 2023.

With his new party, Slovak PM embarks on a mission to unify

After two years as premier of an OĽaNO-led government, Eduard Heger is leaving the populist movement of Igor Matovič and hopes to establish a new political culture in Slovakia.


20. mar
SkryťClose ad