menu scientists Gregor Johann Mendel (1822 - 1884) He was a world-renowned scientist, founder of genetics and inventor of the basic rules of heredity. After his studies at the University of Vienna he lectured for a short time and later he was appointed the abbot of the Augustinian monastery. When he returned to Brno in 1856, he did research in genetics via hybridisation of pea plants. He defined so-called Mendelian inheritance. His innovative work was published in 1865 for the first time. In 1869 he was elected president of the Scientific Association in Brno. Mendel’s contribution was appreciated after his death when William Bates translated it to English. Jaroslav Heyrovský (1890 – 1967) Jaroslav Heyrovský was the first Czech Nobel Prize winner; he received it in 1959 for the invention of so-called polarograph and utilisation of polarography. Heyrovský started to solve the problem of dropping mercury electrode which served for the measurement of the surface voltage of the mercury. Later, more precisely in 1924 he constructed so-called polarograph. Heyrovský also earned honorary doctorates and he was a member of several scientific academies. He indelibly delved into the history of men. Jan Janský (1873 – 1921) He was a neurologist, serologist and psychiatrist, who was born in 1873 in Prague. He is known for his classification of four blood types. When he finished his studies at the faculty of Medicine at Charles University in Prague, he started working as a doctor at the Psychiatric Clinic. While working at the clinic he did research into the connection between the blood bunching and the mental diseases. Based on this research he concluded that the connection did not exist, but he discovered the blood classification. OttoWichterle (1913 – 1998) He was a famous Czech scientist and inventor from the field of organic chemistry. In addition, he is considered a founder of the macro molecular chemistry, however, his most significant invention is the contact lenses. Among other things he was also known for the invention of the synthetic fibres or rather silicon. A paradox is the fact that Wichterle built the machine for the production of soft contact lenses out of the children’s construction set called Merkur and the machine was driven by the generator taken from the bicycle and later by the engine from the gramophone. With his inventions Wichterle indelibly delved into history.