We started our day at the Central Bohemian Innovation Center with an engaging presentation pertaining to engineering and entrepreneurship. I am fulfilling a minor in economics in addition to my engineering major, so I was looking forward to this event! Our speaker told us some success stories of young entrepreneurs. I enjoy skiing during the winter, so I found the story about the Combo Ski startup to be really cool and unique. We also discussed some current innovation trends, which include high-tech, sustainable mobility, and advanced materials, all of which are relevant to civil engineering innovation. This lecture enhanced my understanding of the trajectory of startups. It also helped me to understand the relationship between engineers/researchers and businesses, in which the dialogue may be different among the professions. Hearing about the cutting-edge technology that has succeeded economically was very inspiring.
In the afternoon, we returned to Charles University for a beginner Czech Language class. I have been practicing on Duolingo for the last two weeks, so I was curious how much of my knowledge would be put to use! Our teacher was very patient with us, making the lesson interactive and fun. We learned basic phrases, various foods, numbers, and more. I never enjoyed learning languages much in my prior experiences, however, this experience was a lot of fun. Since the event, I have made sure to say “děkuju” to the workers I encounter and other Czechs.
Ahoj!
Swanson School of Engineering 