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Professor Jaroslav Vlček (JV) and his former student David Kolenatý (DK) now stand side by side in the same laboratory. Though more than thirty years apart in age, they understand each other perfectly. At the Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (UWB), they study nanomaterials formed by plasma processes and show that science can bridge generations and strengthen ties between the university and the region where they both work.

Your work is connected with materials research and plasma physics. In your opinion, how can this field most influence future technologies?

DK: We develop nanomaterials with unique properties that are inexpensive and accessible. These materials can open new applications and make renewable energy use more efficient. Simply put, renewable energy must be stored somewhere to be used when needed. Renewable sources are available, but not always at the right time—sunlight doesn’t shine continuously, and the wind doesn’t always blow. Hydrogen is an ideal, or at least a very promising, energy carrier. Electricity from renewable sources can be used to split water, and the energy is thus stored in hydrogen, which can then be stored, transported, sold, traded, or even used to fuel vehicles.

JV: The physics of plasma discharges is crucial for creating thin-film materials that cannot be made by other methods. Such materials are used, for example, in mobile phones, computers, and military aircraft. They are both cost-effective and environmentally efficient and enable unique properties found nowhere else.

Pilsen has a long tradition in engineering and technical fields. How can your research contribute to the region or Czech industry?

JV: Mainly by educating independent and hardworking experts who understand the principles of new technologies and materials. Our PhD graduates often lead research in Czech and international companies, contributing to the development of industry both in the region and abroad.

DK: Exactly. Our research and our training of students and PhD candidates can benefit the region. Graduates find positions in professional and leadership roles, especially in companies that require expertise in physical engineering.

Your collaboration has lasted for many years – from David Kolenatý’s student days until now. When did you first realize that your relationship was evolving from supervisor and student to a partnership of colleagues?

JV: During the PhD program, a student naturally depends on their supervisor, who helps identify the gaps in global research we should address. David Kolenatý is a very talented person; he defended his dissertation with me in 2018. After that, he spent two years in the Netherlands and one year at the Academy of Sciences. Since then, our relationship has become a collegial partnership.

DK: Yes, we worked on a shared topic during my PhD studies. Later, I pursued different subjects, but we’ve stayed in touch and continue to discuss science. Our offices are next to each other, which allows for constant cooperation (laughs).

David Kolenatý returned to UWB after gaining experience abroad. What new perspective did his time in the Netherlands bring to your joint research? And conversely, what remains of the “Pilsen school” of physics?

JV: David is very talented and works well in teams. That’s why I recommended him for a position in a company in the Netherlands, where he could gain experience in a different field—specifically, hydrogen production from water—which broadened his research perspective.

DK: I value the experience from the high-tech industry the most, including management and communication with customers. From the Plzeň school, I’ve kept my deep understanding of physics—particularly plasma and solid-state physics.

You are both physicists, but you grew up in very different eras of science and technology. How has the approach to research changed from when you began, Professor, compared to the younger generation today?

JV: I studied at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University in Prague, in the 1970s. The equipment was poorer then, and the focus was on pure physics. David studied applied physics and physical engineering with an emphasis on ensuring that even fundamental research has practical outcomes.

DK: And above all, digitalization is everywhere now—almost all information can be found online.

Every teacher–student relationship evolves over time. What is, in your view, the most challenging and also the most rewarding aspect of watching a student grow into an independent scientist? And David, what helped you most along this journey?

JV: During his PhD studies, David kept improving, and after returning from abroad, he became a successful colleague. He will lead his own students and PhD candidates and manage his own research group.

DK: On my path to independence, I value Professor Vlček’s lessons the most—especially discipline, motivation, and perseverance.

When you look at the next generation of students interested in physics who are coming to the faculty today – what advice would you give them to find not only success but also meaning in science?

DK: Be persistent and determined to try new things.

JV: If I were to give advice, which I do only rarely, I would say everyone should choose what they truly want in life—and, above all, be happy. If someone wants to study with us and succeed, they should understand the fundamental principles of why technologies and materials work as they do, and strive to uncover the hidden mechanisms behind them. I truly wish that the new generation of my collaborators—some of whom are very talented—will be successful in the future. And David Kolenatý is among them.