I.D.: Alexey, Wiktor, first of all, thank you very much for agreeing to this interview and your willingness to share some thoughts about liquid crystal research in your countries, the Czech Republic and Poland, respectively.
Liquid crystal activities have been quite vibrant over the last decades in both countries. What is the reason for this increased interest?
A.B.: As in any basic science, the increase of interest is very much conditioned on the potential of further practical application. Extraordinary properties of LC have already made them inevitable in the modern world. Their self-assembling and light–matter interaction phenomena provide a promising base to creation of artificial materials (possibly containing organic molecules) with controlled emergent properties.
I think the liquid crystals’ potential is still not fully discovered and the relevant new liquid crystal properties will give a rise to new types of materials.
LC science is interdisciplinary by its nature. The successful solutions require a joint effort of physicists, chemists, theoreticians and engineers and the LC perspective is conditioned on the breakthroughs made in other disciplines.
W.P.: From my point of view an increasing interest in liquid crystalline materials and applications registered over the last years in Poland has been stimulated by activity of companies and institutes introducing innovative products and applications. Recent activities at the development of liquid crystalline materials and advanced applications among the other were devoted to: new class of glasses for 3D technology, precise photonic elements for polarisation optics, new class of active glasses for the eye protection, photonic elements for precise beam steering and interference optics, holography, tuneable metamaterials as well as a new class of tailored liquid crystals of extremely high and extremely low refractive index anisotropy as well as high refractive indices. These activities, connected with a financing of R&D, result in the successful development of scientific groups and increasing number of PhD students, synthesis of new classes of LCs, mastering of the technologies of fabrication of photonic elements. Moreover, these activities have been exposing completely new possibilities at mesogenic materials synthesis and applications, which results in numerous proposals that have been successfully approved.
The long-lasting cooperation between Czech and Polish groups is stimulated by a synergy resulting from a complementary potential (scientific and technological) of both sides. The crucial factor is constant exchange of knowledge and personal exchange. This is done via the series of Czech–Polish Seminars which is organised alternatingly in the Czech Republic and in Poland every 2 years (even years) and during a cycle of conferences entitled Conference on Liquid Crystals - Chemistry, Physics and Applications (odd years) in Poland. The stimulating role of the Polish Liquid Crystal Society should be recognised as well.
I.D.: How much was due to military research in the founding times? How much is it today?
A.B.: Our world is far from being ideal and military applications have been a driving force of many discoveries. However one must admit that without that we have no modern technology developed.
W.P.: The impact of the military research aspects is scarce nowadays. Since a decade, only a single project has been done as military research; nevertheless, there is a constant interest of the development of the dual-use photonic technologies incorporating functional photonic elements like beam steering, beam shaping and tuneable filters.
I.D.: What is the main source of funding for the liquid crystal community in the Czech Republic and Poland? How do the funding mechanisms work? For example, is there a special budget for young and starting researchers? Who pays for the PhD students? etc.
A.B.: Based on advice of the Research, Development and Innovation Council, the Government of the Czech Republic distributes the expenditure on research, experimental development and innovation. The main research bodies are the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (ASCR) comprising research institutions and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS) comprising universities.
Thus, the fundamental research either at an academic institute or at university is financed primarily from the state budget. In addition to basic institutional financing there are several target-oriented possibilities. For instance, the Czech Science Foundation (CSF) supports research projects selected on the basis of public competition. However, liquid crystals are not positioned as a particular discipline, which means that we have to compete either in the Materials Sciences and Engineering section or in Condensed Matter and Material Physics. Naturally each section comprises a lot of other disciplines and usually the competition is extremely strong with success rates of less than 10%.
Another possible source of funding is the MEYS, which carries the National Research Programme and provides financing of international collaborations, again on a competitive basis. There is also the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TACR); however, it supports applied projects only and one of the prerequisites is participation of a firm or industrial company.
Unfortunately, industrial companies do not tend to invest into fundamental investigations, R&D, and implementation of scientific achievements into the applications remains rather limited. The reason is that the majority of industrial research is carried by international corporations with laboratories settled in other countries, which makes it almost impossible to get cooperation between industry and science in the Czech Republic.
To obtain a postdoc position at the institute is very difficult, as the institutional budget is rather limited. In our days, a young researcher may apply for the so-called starting CSF grant. Academy of Sciences has a special programme to support talented young researches. PhD students usually have a stipend and are partially employed by the institute.
W.P.: In Poland, the main sources of funding for the liquid crystal community are two domestic agencies financing fundamental research (National Science Center (NCN)) and R&D projects (National Center of Research and Development (NCBiR)) in frames of consortia and individual advanced projects, student projects and infrastructure projects. The minor financing (mainly for personal exchange and scholarship funds), but important is available from the Polish Academy of Sciences, University and under local administration grants. There is a continuous cooperation with EU agencies (i.e. ASTAR), which finances R&D projects and basic research and personal exchange projects (COST).
The main part of funds is obtained from grants distributed by NCN and NCBiR under open contest of proposals. A proposal can be placed according to a dedicated topic or the topic proposed by research team or individuals (team, staff, PhD students, MSc students). University funds for sustainable development are important for the financing of the infrastructure upkeep.
Young researchers can apply for the funds awarded by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) and NCN. Each year FNP is organising a competition START in which 130 winners receive annual scholarships of 3000 PLN (about $900), while NCN arranges PRELUDIUM and finances maximum 3-year research projects up to a maximum of 150,000 PLN (about $45,000).
I.D.: Has there been a close cooperation between liquid crystal groups of both countries over the last decades? To what advantage?
A.B.: There is a traditionally strong collaboration between researchers from The Czech Republic and Poland. Our LC groups are now tightly collaborating for over more than two decades. As I already mentioned, modern basic research cannot survive unless it is a joint effort and we are strong because we are together. I believe both groups are benefiting from the collaboration. I would say about one-third of our research is made in collaboration with Polish colleagues.
W.P.: The long-lasting cooperation of liquid crystal groups from Czech Republic and Poland is fruitful for both sides. Since more than 20 years, we cooperate at material synthesis and materials study. It results in many papers concerning new materials, their structures, physical and electro-optical phenomena as well as in personal exchange of professors and students visiting mutually Prague, Warsaw, Poznań and Wrocław. This stimulated the development of ferroelectric LCs, photosensitive LC, dielectric and structural studies, development of scientific instrumentation and knowledge.
I.D.: The main groups seem to be those of Warsaw and Prague. How large are they? How diverse is their research? Are people collaborating within a group? What are the main research topics?
A.B.: The Prague group counts about 20 people working at the Institute of Physics, ASCR and Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague. The research is mainly focused on the synthesis of new LC materials (non-chiral and chiral, rod-like and bent-shaped, low molar mass and macromolecular) and study of their basic properties. In our group, we put special efforts into dielectric spectroscopy as a quite powerful tool for the investigation of liquid crystalline materials possessing polar smectic mesophases.
W.P.: Polish Groups in Warsaw are located at Military University and Technology (MUT), Warsaw University (WU) and Warsaw University of Technology (WUT).
The approximate varying numbers of persons (including Staff + PhD Students + Technicians) of cooperating groups are as follows:
MUT IAP – 20 (topics: materials study, technology, display and photonic applications)
MUT ICh – 25 (topics: material synthesis, engineering and basic study)
WU – 8 (material synthesis and study)
WUT – 10 (technology, photonic applications), so about 63 people in total.
There is a long-lasting tradition of a close cooperation between all groups and the cooperation of Warsaw groups exhibits indications of a cluster. There exists a mutual exchange of materials, scientific instrumentation and knowledge.
I.D.: Where are the other researchers located? University? Are there national science centres?
A.B.: There were several other groups working on LC, but today only our two groups are active. There are national research centres, but they do not focus on LC science.
W.P.: There are very active groups in Kraków (Institute of Physics at Jagiellonian University), Wrocław (Department of Chemistry at Wrocław University, Department of Electronics at Wrocław University of Technology), Poznań (Institute of Molecular Physics of Polish Academy of Sciences and Department of Applied Physics at the Poznań University of Technology) and several scattered persons and small groups paying interests in LC science and technology. All these groups cooperate. The platform of the cooperation is the Polish Liquid Crystal Society (http://www.ptc.uj.edu.pl/PLCS/home.php).
I.D.: To what extend are the groups of both countries involved in EU projects and European collaborations?
A.B.: We have long-lasting collaborations and are participating in numerous bilateral projects with many foreign colleagues, for instance from Hungary, Italy, Germany, Russia or Serbia.
W.P.: Scientific groups from the Czech Republic and Poland have been involved in scientific EU programmes. These are programmes for scientific studies, applications (with participation of representatives of the Industry and Innovative Companies) and personal exchange. The financial contribution of EU funds in the budget of polish groups varies from 5% up to 50% of the total budget.
I.D.: There is a lot of activity in both countries with respect to conference and meeting organisation on the national and the international level. Why?
A.B.: Despite a huge number of modern communication means (i-net, etc.), conferences, workshops and personal meetings of different type remain the main platform for exchange of knowledge and experience. They are especially valuable for PhD students and young researchers as they are given a unique opportunity to present own results and to get rich feedback.
W.P.: It is a good tradition to organise conferences gathering scientists and students from many countries. It has a stimulating impact on young scientist. Organising conferences tightens interpersonal relations and supports initiating of new projects, sharing ideas and experiences.
I.D.: How is the situation concerning modern equipment? Are there any significant problems with purchases and running costs?
A.B.: I should admit that none of the Czech grant agencies can finance high-cost equipment, creating a modern laboratory with up-to-date characterisation facilities, cleanrooms, etc. The only way is to obtain the money from the institutional budget. Another possibility is to apply for EU funds. The running costs are partially covered by the institute budget and partially by the grants.
W.P.: All groups located in Warsaw are well equipped; however, a full set of instrumentation is available under cooperation with neighbouring institutions (i.e. CEZAMAT – Center of Advanced Technologies and Materials). Running cost is high. Not having grants we have some problems with financing of the costs of upkeep.
I.D.: How are the mechanisms of career progression? In many countries, there is a lack of medium-level positions between receiving a PhD/being a postdoc and becoming a full professor. How the situation in Poland? How in the Czech Republic?
A.B.: I think there is no significant problem of that type. On the contrary, due to the reorganisation taking place at the beginning of the 1990s many talented people left the Academy. This caused a very small number of medium-level scientists – the research community consisted of experienced scientists and PhD students. The gap between generations has decreased naturally with time and now we have all positions proportionally distributed. It is difficult to predict how it will be within the time period of 10–20 years; however, the staff policy of our Institute tries to keep the proper balance.
W.P.: The scientific career at educational institutions in Poland is connected with acquiring scientific degrees: PhD, DSc (habilitation) and Professor (full). Scientific degrees promote for receiving position at University, respectively: assistant (with MSc, PhD), adjunct (PhD, DSc), University professor, (DSc), professor (with Professor degree). In the last few years, the Polish government institutions effectively support candidates for promotion who place applications and manifest scientific record proven at the up-to-date level of scientific performance. There exists an efficient system of grants and stipend funds which support career development at all levels. Our institutions take part at numerous programmes of personal exchange, which help to develop skills and exchange new inspiring ideas.
I.D.: Dear Alexey, Wiktor, thank you very much for taking the time for this interview and providing the international liquid crystal community with an interesting insight into the working of research in our field in the countries of the Czech Republic and Poland.