On Friday, October 31, 2025, the Mendel Museum hosted the launch of the audiobook What Tumors Teach Us (Co nás učí nádory). The event marked the culmination of Professor Jan Šmarda’s year-long project to spread the legacy of his wife, the renowned biologist and educator Professor Jana Šmardová.
As this was such an extraordinary publication, it was clear from the outset that it deserved to be converted into an audio version , and this has now become a reality.
“I would like to thank the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University and its Department of Experimental Biology and the Institute of Biophysics at the Czech Academy of Sciences for their financial support of this project, along with Radio Proglas for their technical support, know-how and general help ”, said Jan Šmarda at the gala evening.
All those who participated in creating the audiobook gathered at its launch. Radio Proglas moderator Iva Horká read the “overlap” chapters with general humanistic messages , while actor Martin Novotný read the scientific parts of the text. Zuzana Černá directed the production.
During the evening, Jan Šmarda presented the history of the project, while its three protagonists shared their experiences and impressions of the recording process. The audience enjoyed not only excerpts from the audiobook but also several humorous moments and 'howlers' from the studio.
The ceremonial launch was also a tribute to the author of the book herself. Jan Šmarda reminded his wife by personal memories and by projection of set of photographs from various periods of her life. At the end, those present were surprised to hear Professor Šmardová's voice in an excerpt from her autobiographical short story The Journey for the Painting (Cesta za obrazem), which had been ‘revived’ using artificial intelligence by Roman Kabelka.
You will soon be able to find the links to follow the full story The Journey for the Painting as well the audio-video record of the Friday evening´s event on the website www.nadorynasuci.cz,.
You can purchase the audiobook ‘What Tumours Teach Us’ (Co nás učí nádory) at Prof. RNDr. Jana Šmardová, CSc. • Audioknihy Slyš.to
Masaryk University students can take advantage of a 10% discount by using the code BESKIGI.
Photo: Vít Sedlák
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