From June 30 to July 4, 2025, Professor Michael Pratt, a globally recognized expert in the area of public health and kinesiology, visited the Faculty of Physical Culture at Palacký University in Olomouc. Professor Pratt previously worked at the faculty during the 2022/2023 academic year as a Fulbright Distinguished Scholar.
During his earlier research stay, he actively engaged in a wide range of scientific and research activities. He collaborated with faculty members on topics such as physical activity monitoring, the relationship between the environment and physical activity, sustainable development, and the formulation of public policies that promote a healthy lifestyle and physical activity. A key part of his stay also included numerous lectures for students and faculty staff, in which he shared his extensive professional experience and international perspective in the field of public health.
"Professor Pratt is among the most frequently cited scientists in the field of physical activity and its impact on public health. Over the course of his career, he has worked at institutions such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which closely collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO). He is also one of the key leaders of the global initiative GoPA! (Global Observatory for Physical Activity), in which our faculty is also involved," noted Vice-Dean for International Relations Michal Kudláček.
As part of his July visit, Professor Pratt met with colleagues from the faculty – including Josef Mitáš, Michal Kudláček, Zdeněk Hamřík, and Michal Vorlíček – to discuss potential further collaboration on research projects that build upon his previous work. He also met with PhD student Petr Mocek, who had previously undertaken a research stay at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where Professor Pratt has been based for many years.
In connection with Palacký University’s interest in developing cooperation within the Fulbright Program, Professor Pratt also met with Ivona Barešová, Vice-Rector for Internationalization, as well as representatives from the University’s Partnership and Mobility Offices. The discussion focused on opportunities for deeper engagement of Palacký University in the Fulbright Program from the perspective of an experienced professional who recently obtained the status of Fulbright Specialist. The possibility of expanding cooperation between UP and UCSD was also discussed.
Professor Pratt’s visit was a significant contribution to the international development of the faculty’s research activities and those of the university as a whole, and it brought valuable inspiration for future collaboration.