Drahoš reappointed head of Czech Academy of Sciences

Prague, Feb 13 (CTK) - President Vaclav Klaus yesterday reappointed Jiri Drahos as head of the Czech Academy of Sciences (CAV).

Drahos will now serve his second term of office.

Drahos said he would like to change the funding of science and was planning to establish a forum for the cooperation of academics and industrialists.

Drahos said he would also seek an amendment to the law on the support to research.

"I would like the assessing method that harms the CAV to be deleted," Drahos said.

Physical chemist Drahos, 63, has been heading the CAV since 2009.

Last December, the CAV academic senate proposed him for another four years. His first term ends at the end of March.

Klaus went on to appoint new rector of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague Jan Hancil.

Born in 1962, Hancil will replace Ivo Mathe. Hancil's term of office ends in 2017.

Hancil has vowed to widen the autonomy of the school's faculties and to advertise the school through its outstanding graduates.