SCIENCE AND RESEARCH Masaryk University counts itself among research-oriented institutions of higher education. Numerous successfully resolved projects from a wide range of fields form the best evidence in support of such a claim. Research at Masaryk University is hardly limited to the Czech Republic: the university operates e.g. the first Czech Antarctic station, where scientists focus on the long-term exploration of ice-free ecosystems. The university is also successful in tenders for research and development project funding, achieving many excellent results. Experts from many different fields – the natural sciences, medicine and informatics as well as the humanities, social sciences, law and economics – have received worldwide recognition. Masaryk University may be considered a pioneering institution with respect to the practical application of research results. A number of patent applications are submitted every year – most notably in the area of biotechnology, plasma technology and information and communication technology.