The last farewell to Prof. Schmidt will take place on Thursday, November 18, at 1 pm in the Petrov Cathedral. The funeral ceremony is open to colleagues, students, and friends from Masaryk University/Faculty, and other people who wish to come to pay tribute to his memory.

There are two Condolence books available for the faculty members to express their condolences or expression of sympathy with the recent passing of the second post-1989 rector of Masaryk University and dean emeritus of the Faculty of Science professor Schmidt. One book is available in front of the bursar’s office at Kotlářská; the second one is in front of the dean’s office at Campus Bohunice – pav B17, 4th floor. The books will be available through November 22, 2021, and will be delivered to the family afterward.

"Prof. Schmidt was an important personality of the Faculty of Science, and his passing will be a significant loss to the Faculty. Until his last moment, he was actively working for the Faculty of Science and helped its further development in the broadest sense of the word. I am deeply saddened by his departure.  For me, prof. Schmidt was a great moral and ethical authority with a great insight not only in the natural sciences. I had the privilege of receiving valuable advice from him, which I will always keep in mind during my tenure as the dean of the Faculty and beyond. Honour to his memory!", said the current Dean of the Faculty of Science of MU, Tomáš Kašparovský, who last month awarded him the Medal of Honour for his lifelong contribution to the development of natural sciences.

Professor Eduard Schmidt was born on 11 December 1935 in Uherské Hradiště. In 1958 he graduated from the Faculty of Science of the MU in physics, and in 1966 he received the degree of Doctor of Science in experimental physics. Professor Schmidt's pedagogical, academic and scientific career is closely linked to Masaryk University. He began his professional career at the Department of Experimental Physics of the Faculty of Science of the University, then named after Jan Evangelista Purkyně. He was professionally involved in solid-state physics for several decades - as a researcher and teacher.

After 1990 Eduard Schmidt held several academic positions.  He was the Dean of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University for two years; from 1992, he served as the Rector of Masaryk University for six years. In the next six years, he contributed to the development of the University as the Vice-Rector for Research and Development. He also served as a member of the scientific boards of several institutions, was on the board of the Brno University of Technology, and was a member of the Czech Government Council for Science and Research.

As an outstanding scientist, teacher, and rector, Eduard Schmidt influenced many generations of young people not only in his field of science. He was a highly active member of many cultural and social organizations, and his activities both at the University and outside the University fulfilled the ideal of education in an exemplary way. For his leading role was Professor Schmidt, also awarded the Brno City Prize in 2012 and was a recipient of the Gold Medal of Masaryk University.

"I am deeply saddened by the news of Professor Schmidt's passing. In him, Masaryk University has lost an important personality, an outstanding scientist, expert, and teacher, who has unquestionable merits in the development of Masaryk University. All of his successors in the rector's office are building on his work. For me personally, he will remain a great inspiration. Honour to his memory!" said the current Rector of Masaryk University, Martin Bareš.

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