A prominent Czech biologist and bioethicist, university lecturer, science communicator, writer, contributor to Czech Radio and other media, and recipient of numerous awards for his scientific and literary work, Professor Jaroslav Petr is a rare phenomenon in an age of narrow specialiZation—a Renaissance man in the best sense of the word. He completed his studies at the University of Agriculture in Prague in 1982 and, the following year, devoted himself fully to scientific research at the Institute of Animal Science in Uhříněves. His work focuses on reproductive biology and animal biotechnology. At the same time, he teaches at his alma mater, where he was appointed Professor of Physiology, Anatomy and Reproduction of Farm Animals in 2004. In his free time, he is dedicated to science communication and writes popular science books.
Professor, you are one of the graduates of whom the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, formerly the University of Agriculture, can be truly proud. How do you remember your studies, and why did you choose this particular university and the field of animal science?
I have fond memories of studying at the University of Agriculture. I grew up in the countryside and was always close to domestic animals. I chose the university with the clear intention of becoming an animal production specialist. However, as early as my first year, I began working in Professor Jílek’s laboratory, which ultimately led me to science.
You work at CZU as a lecturer, teaching biotechnology and bioethics, and you also share your knowledge with students at other Czech universities. What do you find most rewarding about teaching? Do you feel that you successfully convey what you consider most important?
The most valuable thing is the contact with students. They are wonderful. They are interested, they ask questions, and they want to understand what they are learning. Whether I manage to meet their expectations is really a question for them. When I read the teaching evaluations, it seems that I am not doing too badly. But there is always room for improvement.
I teach subjects in which progress is extremely rapid. It is not easy to keep up and ensure that students receive genuinely up-to-date information. However, it is far more important that students learn to think about the issues at hand. Data quickly becomes outdated. The ability to obtain information, sort it, and use it to solve problems is a skill they will need throughout their lives.
At the Institute of Animal Science in Uhříněves, you study reproductive biology and animal biotechnology. What does this work involve, and what are you currently working on?
My colleagues and I eventually moved towards reproductive toxicology. We study the effects of environmental pollutants on fertility. Our model is the egg cell of a sow, which is very similar to that of a human.
For example, we investigate the effects of nanoplastics—microscopic plastic particles that have already permeated the environment. At present, we are working on a project examining the effects of polyfluorinated and perfluorinated substances, often referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their persistence.
We also cooperate with assisted reproduction clinics, so we have an overview of the pollutants to which women undergoing infertility treatment are exposed. When we expose pig egg cells to the same levels of contamination in the laboratory, we observe serious damage.
It is not particularly cheerful work, because the results reveal the poor state of today’s world. Nevertheless, we consider it important to identify these harmful effects. Humanity uses many substances without knowing how they affect fertility. At the same time, there is no doubt whatsoever that fertility is declining in both animals and humans.
Read the full interview in our magazine ŽIVÁ UNIVERZITA.