Dr Bethan Mason from the Institute of Vertebrate Biology of the Czech Academy of Sciences has been named one of this year’s recipients of the Otto Wichterle Award, a prestigious distinction presented by the Czech Academy of Sciences to outstanding early-career researchers. She received the award on 24 June 2026 from the President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Radomír Pánek.
Established in 2002, the Otto Wichterle Award recognises exceptional young scientists who have achieved outstanding results in their respective fields. The award also includes financial support to help recipients further develop their independent research careers.
Bethan Mason’s research focuses on the interactions between primates, their gut parasites, and the surrounding ecosystem. Combining extensive fieldwork in Africa and Asia with modern metagenomic approaches, she investigates the ecology and evolution of host–parasite interactions, particularly in endangered African great apes, including gorillas and chimpanzees. Her work contributes to a better understanding of how human activities and environmental change influence parasite transmission and the health of wild primate populations.
The President of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Radomír Pánek, highlighted the importance of supporting talented researchers at the beginning of their independent scientific careers, emphasizing that the Otto Wichterle Award aims to help promising scientists pursue ambitious research and strengthen Czech science.
Congratulations to Bethan on this well-deserved recognition, and we wish her continued success in her scientific career!
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