The quiet witness to the rich history of the Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, is a large complex of the institute buildings located Na Rokosce (Prague 8 – Libeň). Its basic outlines are almost unchanged and have been preserved until now protected as a national heritage.
The institute occupied buildings of the former Vydra´s Foodstuffs Factory in Prague – Libeň, bought and adapted gradually for its research actions. Original owner of the factory was a manufacturer and researcher Mr. František Vydra (*1869 - † 1921). In 1895 he founded a factory to produce chicory. After a failure due to a production error he followed Kathrein´s recipe for malt coffee being the first in this country to produce and introduce ray coffee.
In 1898 he moved his plant to Prague into a building of an old sugar refinery in Libeň and his production was gradually extended and included foodstuffs and various delicacies like fizzy candies, than various soup tins, fruit juice, wafers, baking powder, children flour, mustard etc.
In the years of 1909 – 1912 the factory was completely rebuilt and considerably enlarged. During the World War One and in the following years he experimented with caramelization of malt to exclude astringent and bitter substances in the production of dark bier. The outcome of his effort was malt preparation named Maltovin which proved to be successful in practical tests in several breweries.
The current large premises of the institute were redesigned into their present form at the beginning of the 20th century with the support of the entrepreneur and researcher František Vydra (1869-1921), who built his foodstuffs factory here.
History
1927
The Institute was founded under the name Institute for Scientific Research of Coal. The research was mainly related to the chemistry of coal and chemical processing of solid fuels. Its founder and first director, Dr. Hans Tropsch, was a co-discoverer of the well known Fischer-Tropsch synthesis of liquid fuels from coal.
1947
The new articles of incorporation enacted the change of the Institute’s name to Institute for Scientific Coal and Mineral Research (ÚVVUN) due to the fact that its research scope had been extended.
1948
The Institute was renamed The State Institute of Fuels.
1958
The Mining Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (CSAS) was founded as a basic research centre for mining sciences. The staff, equipment and research programmes were taken over from previous institutions with already thirty years of research tradition. The Mining Institute developed montane and mining sciences and reached the world excellency.
1967
Scientific journal „Reports of the Mining Institute“ was founded, later (1970) renamed „Acta Montana“
Laboratory of Elementary Analysis. Institute for Scientific Research on Coal, 1930.
View of the Mining Institute in 1966
View from the tower to the east Institute for Scientific Coal Research, 1930
1970
The Mining Institute was significantly reorganized. Gradually, individual departments were established, aiming at various aspects of research in geomechanics, geotechnics, mineral processing, coal and coke refining, groundwater hydraulics, etc.
1978
After a series of mining accidents in Ostrava coal mines, a branch of the Mining Institute was established in Ostrava. This branch later became today's Institute of Geonics, ASCR.
1979
The Mining Institute and the Geological Institute of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences were merged under the new name: The Institute of Geology and Geotechnics of the CSAS.
1990
The Institute of Geology and Geotechnics was again divided into two independent institutes: The Institute of Geotechnics and the Geological Institute.
1992
After the formation of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, the Geotechnical Institute changed its name to current „Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics ASCR“.
More about the history of the Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics of the CAS and its predecessors in the publication SCIENCE BELOW ROKOSKA HILL
Map of the institute
