Mendlovo n·mestÌ 1

CZ-603 00 Brno

Czech Republic

PRESS RELEASE

February 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A NEW GENETICS CENTRE FOR THE PUBLIC AND SCIENTISTS

Exhibition opening in May 2002, BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC

In Spring 2002, the city of Brno in the Czech Republic will be focused on genetics. From 16 to 19 May, the Abbey of St Thomas, the home of Gregor Mendel, is hosting the European Molecular Biology Organisation workshop entitled ìGenetics after the Genomeî with top international scientists attending. Among them will be Nobel Prize winners Christianne N¸sslein-Volhard and Eric Wieschaus. Following the meeting, a public exhibition, ìThe Genius of Genetics ñ A Celebration of Gregor Mendel through Science and Artî will open and pay tribute to hisÝ life and work and the beginnings of genetics.

Gregor Mendel, once the Abbot of St. Thomas in Brno, is regarded as the ëfather of geneticsí because of his cross-breeding experiments with peas. The concept of the exhibition, ëThe Genius of Genetics, a Celebration of Gregor Mendel through Science and Artí is to combine the creative presentation of historical documents and objects with modern scientific images and contemporary works of art, including an interactive website. Historical items will be presented to the public, some for the first time.

The public will also be able to see various parts of the Augustinian Abbey with its magnificent library, basilica and newly restored refectory, as well as Mendelís garden and bee house. The exhibition will appeal to a wide variety of interests: science, art, architecture, religion and gardening.

The Brno initiative of the Vereinigung zur F–rderung der Genomforschung

The lead body of this fascinating venture is the Vereinigung zur F–rderung der Genomforschung (VFG ñ an organisation that promotes genetic research) in Vienna, Austria. As Professor Kim Nasmyth, co-ordinator of the project and director of the Research Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna explains, ìThe intellectual roots of genetics date back to the 19th century and to Mendelís studies in the Augustinian Abbey. His research stimulated a totally new experimental approach in biology.î

The EMBO workshop from 16 to19 May 2002 and the Gregor Mendel exhibition are the first steps towards establishing the Mendel Life Science Centre, the Mendel Museum of Genetics and, eventually, a research centre within the Abbey of St Thomas.Ý Professor Nasmyth is confident that through the initiative ìthe European scientific endeavours in the field of genome-research will gain a special stimulus.î The present abbot, Lucas Evzen Martinec, initiator of the exhibition could even imagine the development of a new world centre of genetics.ÝÝÝ

Genetics in between science and art

The exhibition is being organised by an international team of curators and scientists.Ý Two highly esteemed curators, Marina Wallace, senior lecturer at Central St.Ý Martinís College of Art and Design in London and Martin Kemp, Professor of the History of Art at Oxford University, were invited to develop the concept.Ý Both are directors of Artakt, which generates projects combining art and science researching and mounting innovatory exhibitions that illustrate history from a modern perspective and uses the newest technologies.

The architectural design of the exhibition architecture is being handled by the well-known Czech architect Eva Jiricna, who also works in London. Her models reveal modern architectural elements while retaining the original substance of the Abbey, which dates back to the 14th century. Some of the contemporary artistic installations are being created for the exhibition by international artists Christine Borland, Sue Brind, Susan Derges, Matilda Downs, Cornelia Hesse-Honegger, herman de vries, Rob Kesseler and Gerhard Lang.

Ethical questions

The rector of the Masaryk University of Brno, Professor JiřÌ Zlatuöka, is certain that many questions will arise while visiting the exhibition, ìGregor Mendelís discoveries represent the first piece of a mosaic of knowledge in genetic mechanisms. They have also revealed unthought-of possibilities in the field of the discovery of biological substances of living organisms and the utilisation of these findings at the beginning of the 20th century. Important ethical questions also occur in connection with Mendelís discoveries: ìHow far are we, as scientists, allowed to use this knowledge?îÝ The exhibition, however, will answer many questions about Mendelís research, the connections of his work with the development of cell theory, and how his discoveries relates to us.

International collaborations

Prof Zlatuska is very proud of the co-operation of his university with the international team. ìScientific variety of different impulses and findings do not know national borders. The diversity of the surroundings presents a fertile ground for new ideas. Therefore, I am very pleased that the exhibition is being produced by friends and supporters of Mendelís work. And I am also pleased that in this project the connection between Vienna and Brno is working so well.î Abbot Martinec is convinced that not only the Abbey of St. Thomas but also Brno itself will profit from the project.

The project has the full support of the president of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel and Abbot Lukas Evzen Martinec. The team are in process of raising 1.000.000 Ä for this high-profile international enterprise.Ý

END

For further information contact

Elaine Snell

Tel +44 (0)20 7738 0424 (London UK), mobile +44 (0)7973 953794 elaine.snell@which.net

The Genius of Genetics