Czexpats in Science

Czexpats in Science is a Czech science organisation established in 2018 to connect Czech scientists working abroad with one another and with researchers who have returned to the Czech Republic. Its work addresses the international mobility of researchers and the related challenge of scientific brain drain, while treating the Czech scientific diaspora as a potential source of knowledge, collaboration and institutional development rather than only as a population that has left the country. The organisation combines community-building, information-sharing, public communication and policy engagement. Its online activities have included the Map of Scientists project, which records the overseas workplaces of Czech scientists, as well as blogs describing researchers' experiences in other countries and short articles presenting the work of Czech scientists abroad to a wider audience. In March 2020, the map was reported to cover 290 scientists working in 37 countries. These activities provide visibility for a dispersed community and create channels through which researchers abroad can remain connected to Czech science. Its offline programme has included an annual pre-Christmas gathering of scientists in the Czech Republic, local meetings of Czech researchers in different countries and workshops intended to help Czech students plan and navigate international study or research experiences. The organisation therefore serves several overlapping audiences: established researchers abroad, scientists who have returned, students preparing for international mobility and Czech institutions interested in maintaining links with the scientific diaspora. Czexpats in Science has received support from the Experientia Foundation and the Neuron Foundation for the Support of Science, as well as from private companies and crowdfunding through darujme.cz. It has also cooperated with Czech universities, the research-information portal vedavyzkum.cz and the magazine Vesmír. Beyond networking, it has participated in discussions of Czech science and expatriate policy, including work with the Senate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and participation in the National Round Table on Science Policy in May 2019. The organisation operates in a broader Central and Eastern European context in which the movement of researchers to other countries has raised concerns about the loss of expertise. Comparable initiatives, including Poland's Polonium Foundation and Slovakia's Žijemvedu civic association, reflect a regional shift toward encouraging more circular forms of mobility. Czexpats in Science's approach supports both return migration and continuing contributions from abroad, including collaboration and knowledge exchange that do not require immediate relocation. Publicly available material identifies it as a Czech science organisation rather than a commercial product brand; detailed information about its legal structure, leadership, current programme scale and present operating status is limited.

Czexpats in Science emerged in 2018 in response to the need for stronger links among Czech scientists whose careers had taken them abroad and those who had returned to the Czech Republic. Its underlying concern is the international movement of scientific talent, particularly the possibility that long-term emigration can weaken a country's research capacity. Rather than framing international mobility solely as a loss, the organisation promotes continued contact, collaboration and the eventual circulation of expertise between researchers abroad and Czech institutions. The organisation developed both digital and in-person activities. Its principal online initiative has been the Map of Scientists, a resource showing where Czech scientists work around the world. The map was reported in March 2020 to include 290 researchers in 37 countries. Alongside the map, Czexpats in Science has published blogs about researchers' experiences overseas and short, accessible pieces highlighting the achievements of Czech scientists abroad. These communications help make a geographically dispersed community more visible and provide information for people considering international academic careers. Its offline work has included a recurring pre-Christmas meeting of scientists in the Czech Republic, local gatherings of Czech researchers in different countries and workshops designed to support Czech students undertaking international study or research. The programme consequently combines professional networking with practical guidance on international mobility. It also creates opportunities for scientists abroad to maintain relationships with the Czech research environment even when they are not preparing to return immediately. Czexpats in Science has been supported by the Experientia Foundation and the Neuron Foundation for the Support of Science. Additional support has come from private companies and crowdfunding through darujme.cz. The organisation has cooperated with Czech universities, vedavyzkum.cz and the magazine Vesmír, placing its work within the country's wider science communication and research-policy ecosystem. Its remit has also extended into public policy. Czexpats in Science has worked with the Czech Senate and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on issues concerning expatriate policy and participated in the National Round Table on Science Policy in May 2019. This policy role reflects its broader view that diaspora engagement requires institutional support, not only informal networking. The organisation belongs to a wider Central and Eastern European movement responding to researcher emigration and the effects of increased cross-border mobility. Similar initiatives in Poland and Slovakia seek to make the movement of scientific human capital more circular, supporting returns while also enabling researchers abroad to contribute from a distance. Public references provide substantial information about Czexpats in Science's mission and activities, but do not establish a named founder, a complete leadership history, a detailed legal form or current participation figures.

• 2020

  Map of Scientists reached 290 researchers

  [1]Czexpats in Scienceen.wikipedia.org

  In March 2020, the organisation's map was reported to cover the workplaces of 290 Czech scientists in 37 countries.

• 2019

  Participation in National Round Table on Science Policy

  [1]Czexpats in Scienceen.wikipedia.org

  The organisation participated in a national science-policy round table held in May 2019.

• 2018

  Organisation founded

  [1]Czexpats in Scienceen.wikipedia.org

  Czexpats in Science was established to connect Czech scientists working abroad with each other and with researchers who had returned to the Czech Republic.

A civic science-networking organisation focused on connecting the Czech scientific diaspora, supporting international mobility and encouraging knowledge circulation between Czech researchers abroad and institutions in the Czech Republic.

• Online research-community map

  Map of Scientists

  An online project showing the overseas workplaces of Czech scientists. It provides a visual directory of the Czech scientific diaspora and supports discovery, contact and awareness of researchers working outside the country. In March 2020, it was reported to include 290 scientists across 37 countries.

• Science communication

  Czexpats blogs and science articles

  A collection of articles describing Czech researchers' experiences abroad and presenting the achievements of Czech scientists to a broader audience. The material supports community identity while making international careers and research contributions more visible.

• Educational workshops

  International mobility workshops

  Workshops intended to help Czech students prepare for international study and research experiences. The activities form part of the organisation's practical support for mobility and its effort to build durable connections between younger researchers and the international scientific community.

1. 1Czexpats in Scienceen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Czexpats in Science official websiteczexpatsinscience.cz