In the garden of the Augustinian monastery in Brno, the restored Mendel greenhouse has been opened

Photo: Radek Miča, News from MUNI

Brno - Representatives of the city, region, and church today afternoon opened the restored Mendel Greenhouse in the garden of the Augustinian monastery in Old Brno. Gregor Johann Mendel conducted experiments with peas here, during which he discovered the laws of heredity, thus laying the foundation for a new scientific field - genetics. The greenhouse, built for 38 million crowns primarily of glass and steel, has risen on the footprint of the original greenhouse where Mendel worked in the mid-19th century. The design of the greenhouse was created by the studio Chybík + Kristof. It will serve as a multifunctional facility for lectures, training, and cultural and social events.

"The abbey was an important center of culture and education in Brno during Mendel's time. I am glad that the restored greenhouse can become a legacy not only of Brother Gregor and his era but also a place for dialogue between science and faith," said the general prior of the Order of Augustinians, Alejandro Moral.

"Johann G. Mendel, despite suffering from significant stage fright in his youth, became a beloved high school teacher with excellent pedagogical skills. His reason, enlightened by faith in God, managed to brilliantly connect the world of mathematics and botany, thus bringing to humanity the discovery we know as Mendel's laws of heredity. The ability of his analytical thinking is a practical example of the connection between science and faith," stated the Bishop of Brno, Pavel Konzbul.

The South Moravian Governor Jan Grolich (KDU-ČSL) believes that the greenhouse and the abbey area have the potential for inscription on the UNESCO lists.

The founder of genetics, Gregor Johann Mendel, studied mathematics, physics, and natural sciences at the university in Vienna. As the first in his work, he applied mathematical methods in biological research, namely biostatistical methods. Most of his work was carried out behind the walls of the Augustinian abbey in Old Brno. Here he was also ordained as a priest and after the death of Abbot Nappa, he himself became the abbot. A beehive that Mendel had built has also been preserved in the abbey's garden. This year marks 200 years since his birth.