Petr Witz co-founds Global Research Network GRASP

GRASP is a network of 35 researchers from 27 countries, a shared research agenda, and an ambition to further develop international cooperation. The GRASP initiative, co-founded by Petr Witz from the Institute of Sociological Studies (ISS) at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University (FSV UK), connects experts focusing on large-scale projects and their sustainability.

The GRASP network originated from online expert discussions and grew into a global research initiative within just a few months. A significant step in its further development was the first joint hybrid meeting, supported by the faculty’s new "Brainstorm" program.

During a two-day workshop, ten researchers met in person, while others joined online. Together, they formulated a particular work plan for the coming year and a development outlook for the network for the next three years. "The first hybrid meeting, made possible by the faculty's Brainstorm program, was a breakthrough in many respects and provided an impetus for the further development of the GRASP network. It gave rise to a host of new, stimulating ideas and concrete tasks," says Petr Witz. According to him, the meeting also demonstrated that FSV UK can play a leading and coordinating role in such international research initiatives.

The Brainstorm program was launched at the initiative of Arnošt Veselý, Vice-Dean for Science and Research at FSV UK. Its goal is to create a space for open expert discussion from which new research questions, projects, and collaborations can emerge. What specific plans has the GRASP network set for itself, and why—according to Arnošt Veselý—does contemporary science need more space for open discussion? Read the full article on the FSV UK science and research website.