A scientist from IRAFM spoke in a public debate on fundamental social issues

The mission of scientists today lies not only in research and scholarly work, but also in making an active and meaningful contribution to public debate on major social issues. This mission was convincingly fulfilled by M.Sc. Zahra Alijani, PhD, from the Institute for Research and Applications of Fuzzy Modeling at the University of Ostrava, when she spoke on March 18, 2026, as part of the One World International Human Rights Film Festival, which connects film with public debate, education, and open discussion of social issues. Following the screening of the documentary Projet přes překážky (Cutting Through Rocks) and the subsequent press conference, Dr. Alijani joined an online audience discussion, which proved highly successful and provided a valuable space for debate on the film′s central themes. In her contribution, she sensitively yet persuasively presented both Sara Shahverdi′s story and the broader struggle of women against deeply rooted patriarchal norms in rural Iran. The audience responded to her remarks with great interest and a large number of thought-provoking questions. Dr. Alijani was able to steer the discussion, concisely, clearly, and with considerable impact, toward the most important issues of women′s empowerment, civic courage, and efforts to bring about social change from the ground up.

Updated: 25. 03. 2026