BUT Summer Schools offered knowledge and confidence building in difficult fields

Brno University of Technology (BUT) offered nearly thirty summer schools across eight faculties and institutes this year. Thanks to these programs, hundreds of high school and elementary school students gained new knowledge and boosted their confidence in challenging technical and artistic fields. Participants had the opportunity to explore advanced technologies and scientific research methods. Additionally, they experienced the atmosphere and study environment of the largest technical university in Moravia, which also offers artistic programs. Below is a summary of individual summer schools.

A total of eight scientific topics presented by PhD students from CEITEC BUT, 28 participants from 19 high schools and grammar schools, and a four-day program including three lectures, a pub quiz, a barbecue, and—most importantly—countless hours in laboratories. This was the summer school at CEITEC BUT for talented high school students from the Czech Republic and Slovakia who have a deeper interest in scientific laboratory work. The winning summer school team focused on wound dressings for bleeding control and healing support in regenerative medicine.

CEITEC Student Talent Letní škola 2023 | Author: CEITEC VUT

Since 2007, this summer school has been open annually to all those interested in nuclear energy. The program included thematic lectures, excursions, and nuclear cinema. The event was organized by industry experts and university professionals, including Karel Katovský from the Department of Power Engineering at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Communication (FEEC). What did the event look like? Students from BUT also performed exceptionally well at the Summer University in Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant.

The 15th edition of this event hosted 102 participants. The Technical Summer School at the Faculty of Civil Engineering (FCE) provided a review of fundamental high school knowledge in mathematics, descriptive geometry, and physics, as well as an introduction to university-level concepts in these subjects. Students were also introduced to selected professional institutes within FCE in a popular-science format. The Technical Summer School aims to increase motivation for studying and help reduce first-year university dropout rates.

Letní technická škola FAST | Author: FAST

Students from the Faculty of Architecture (FA) at BUT returned to the abandoned village of Pelhřimov for the fifth edition of the Summer Workshop 2023, where they worked on restoring a local cemetery without electricity or mobile signal. The summer school is organized annually by the Department of Spatial Design at FA under the leadership of architects Jan Mléčka and Tomáš Madr.
For those interested in studying architecture, FA also offered a week-long Architectural Perspective Drawing Course.

Participants in the summer school organized by the Centre of Sports Activities at BUT (CESA), in collaboration with FEEC, explored technologies supporting sports performance at the Palacký Hill campus. The three-day camp was attended by 23 high school students from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They experimented with sports testers, power meters, and mobile applications for monitoring bodily functions. Alongside practical knowledge gained during workshops, students also experienced top-tier CESA sports facilities, well-equipped FEEC laboratories, and the modern campus environment.

Letní škola sportovních technologií | Author: CESA, FEKT

At the three-day summer school organized by FEEC, 19 high school students explored the intersection of technology and medicine. They measured and analyzed their own biosignals, examined medical images on a school CT scanner, and learned about molecular biology and bioinformatics. They also experimented with heart catheterization using an anatomical model, ultrasound examinations, and 3D printing simulations.

For high school girls interested in IT, the Faculty of Information Technology (FIT) offered the annual IT Summer School for Girls. This year, participants learned about biometrics, 3D printing, created their own chat application, and gained knowledge on Wi-Fi security. Most importantly, they left convinced that IT is a field for everyone.
FIT also hosted students from Kenya’s Strathmore University for two summer schools focused on cybersecurity.

Letní škola IT pro holky, účastnice v rozhovoru pro rádio | Author: Václav Koníček

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA) organized a special series of Alumni Summer Schools, connecting past and present students with the public. One of the summer schools, "Stylized Self-Portrait," led by successful alumna Vendula Chalánková, was featured in a Czech Television report.