Female Students Excel in Competitions for Best Final Theses
On November 13, 2024, the Josef Vavroušek Awards ceremony took place at Karolinum in Prague. Since 1996, this prestigious award has been granted by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Charles University to recognize outstanding environmentally focused theses by university students. This year, the jury evaluated 23 submissions from universities across the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
In the bachelor’s thesis category, Anna Choutková, a graduate of the Landscape Architecture program, secured third place with her thesis “Boundaries and Their Representation in the Landscape”. Her work, supervised by Ing. Barbora Dohnalová, Ph.D., explores the perception and significance of boundaries in landscape planning, history, and social context.
In the master’s thesis category, Markéta Sýkorová received third place for her study “Svatý Antonínek – The Present and Future of Pilgrimage Landscapes”. Her thesis, supervised by Ing. Eva Žallmannová, Ph.D., was also recognized in the 9th edition of the Science for the Land competition, where it secured second place in the master’s category.
The Science for the Land competition, organized by the National Museum of Agriculture in collaboration with the Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, also recognized Zuzana Rybková, another graduate of the Landscape Architecture bachelor’s program. Her thesis, “Restoration of Rural Landscape Elements in the Selected Area of the Orlické Mountains”, won first place in the bachelor’s category.
🎓 Congratulations to the award-winning students for their exceptional achievements and outstanding representation of the faculty!
📖 Bc. Anna Choutková
Title: Boundaries and Their Representation in the Landscape
📌 Third place in the Josef Vavroušek Awards (Bachelor’s Category)
🔍 Summary: This thesis explores the role of boundaries in landscapes from historical, philosophical, and planning perspectives. It analyzes historical border markings, their transformation over time, and their function in contemporary landscapes. Through a case study in the Náměšť region, the work proposes new visualization methods for landscape boundaries, respecting the area’s rich history while incorporating modern approaches.
📖 Ing. arch. Markéta Sýkorová
Title: Svatý Antonínek – The Present and Future of Pilgrimage Landscapes
📌 Third place in the Josef Vavroušek Awards (Master’s Category)
📌 Second place in the Science for the Land Competition (Master’s Category)
🔍 Summary: This thesis examines pilgrimage landscapes as spaces for spiritual experience, connection with nature, and historical reflection. Focusing on the Slovácko pilgrimage site of Svatý Antonínek, the study proposes sustainable landscape development concepts that enhance accessibility while preserving cultural and natural heritage.
📖 Bc. Zuzana Rybková
Title: Restoration of Rural Landscape Elements in the Selected Area of the Orlické Mountains
📌 First place in the Science for the Land Competition (Bachelor’s Category)
🔍 Summary: This study analyzes the rural landscape of Orlické Záhoří, focusing on historical structures, ecological values, and landscape transformations. It proposes a landscape restoration strategy that enhances biodiversity while maintaining the region’s traditional character. The findings include recommendations for preserving historical field patterns, natural corridors, and aesthetic qualities of the local landscape.
📷 Photo Credit: Award-winning thesis visuals, Science for the Land Competition archives.