Secondary school students in Bratislava can now study courses focused on artificial intelligence. (source: skyro.ai)
Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
First students enrol at technical school providing classes on artificial intelligence
The school welcomed its first students in early September. (source: skyro.ai)
The very first secondary school in Europe that provides an education in artificial intelligence and modern technologies was opened in Bratislava in early September. Named Skyro, it offers two study programmes: the development of hybrid apps and the creation of digital games, the TASR newswire reported.
“About 70 percent of teaching is comprised of technical subjects, and the rest is subjects providing general education,” said Viktória Jakubovičová, one of the school’s founders, as quoted by TASR.
The school’s aim is to set new standards in education and contribute to keeping emerging talent in Slovakia. As it wants to focus on practical skills and the preparation of students for the real world, the school mimics the operation of a company, and students work in teams. Final grades are a combination of self-evaluation, team evaluation, and the teacher’s evaluation, TASR wrote.
The school currently uses space at the primary school on Biskupická Street in the Bratislava borough of Podunajské Biskupice. Currently, there are 47 students. It plans to open sub-units in the Czech Republic, Denmark and the United States.
World can admire astrophotography from Slovakia again
Viewers worldwide are again able to admire the beauties of the night sky above Slovakia after a picture by photographer Tomáš Slovinský was chosen as the Earth Science Picture of the Day on September 10.
It captures a nighttime view of Stratená Píla in the Slovak Paradise National Park, which, as the photographer admitted, is among his favourite places.
“With the Milky Way dominating the sky above the eastern horizon, its glow off the picturesque lake in the foreground offers a serene composition,” Slovinský wrote about the picture, which was taken in mid-May. “For me at least, standing beneath a starry sky is always a calming experience.”
This is his 20th photo published on the website since he started with astrophotography.
“I am all the more happy that the photo was taken in Slovakia,” Slovinský wrote on Facebook. “I can’t even believe this has happened. I never knew my images would be published and admired in the world. Thanks a lot for everyone supporting me.”
Bird area near the capital lures rare species
The European roller (source: Števo Benko)
One of the Europe's most colourful bird species, which had been considered extinct in western Slovakia, was recently spotted near Bratislava, two non-governmental organisations focusing on nature protection have confirmed.
The European roller still has some nests in the east of the country, but its occurrence in the west is considered exceptional. Earlier this year, one individual was spotted near Šoporňa, in the south-west of the country, and in late August and early September, a European roller was identified near the capital, in the locality of protected bird area Sysľovské Polia near Rusovce, a village on the south bank of the Danube.
“It’s no coincidence that it stayed on the fallow land where it hunted for food,” the SOS/BirdLife Slovensko non-governmental organisation, which deals with the protection and research of nature in Slovakia, with a focus on birds and their biotopes, wrote on Facebook, highlighting the importance of the LIFE Steppe on border project that has helped create new meadow and fallow land areas where bird species like the European roller can survive. “It’s clear evidence that these activities make sense.”
A European roller was spotted in the Sysľovské Polia area in early September. (source: Facebook/BROZ)
Another organisation, BROZ, which deals with the practicalities of nature protection, added that the bird species returned in part thanks to special booths and pastures. It plans to instal the booths across southern Slovakia and establish more pasture reserves there to support the occurrence of European rollers in the area.
Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read:
Art historian Peter Kresánek used to run a travel agency focused on German-speaking tourists. In an interview, he talks about what Germans and Austrians typically find interesting about Slovakia, and his experience catering to their needs.
Dolný Kubín in northern Slovakia has the potential to become the country’s centre for disabled athletes. Its aim is to become a barrier-free town.
Edward Monovich is an interdisciplinary artist who lives and works in Boston. In this piece, he reflects on a childhood spent in his grandparents’ kitchen, where traditional Slovak food was cooked.
Once a symbol of Czechoslovakia’s fashion industry, the Nehera brand is making waves again on the international stage after a decades-long absence.
After many years without one, Zemplínska Šírava water reservoir in eastern Slovakia has welcomed a cruise ship capable of providing up to 164 passengers with a comfortable sailing experience.
Political meme of the week
(source: Zomri.online)
Caption: The health-care sector, education and railways in Slovakia, just as soon as Šimečka is recalled.
This meme published by the satirical site Zomri parodies the ruling coalition's current efforts to oust Michal Šimečka, leader of the largest opposition party Progressive Slovakia (PS), from his post as one of the four deputy speakers of parliament. He and his family have been facing attacks from several coalition politicians in recent weeks, who accuse them of manipulating the grants system in Slovakia. None of the coalition's claims of wrongdoing have been substantiated, and observers and even the public, via widespread internet mockery, say that the government has many more pressing issues to address.
You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: radka.minarechova@spectator.sk. Thank you!
