Assoc. Prof. Jan D. Bláha, Ph.D.

I graduated both in Geography and Cartography (M.A.) at the Faculty of Science, Charles University, and in Cultural Studies (M.A.) at the Department of Theory of Culture, Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague. At the Faculty of Science in Prague I also completed my PhD. in Cartography, Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing (PhD.). At present, I am the chairman of the North Bohemian branch of the Czech Geographical Society.
The aim of my activities is to highlight the humanistic dimension of cartography, which is often perceived as a purely scientific and technical discipline. I integrate my interest in the visual and aesthetic function of cartographic works into my research on the visual component of didactic aids with a focus on the mapping skills of students. In relation to this, I also focus on visual communication. The second area of my professional interests is culturally oriented geographic-anthropological research on the cultural complex of Central/East Asia and Melanesia (a series of fieldwork: Papua New Guinea, Philippines, India, Altai) and research on the relationship between culture, space and its (carto)graphic representation. A final important area is the application of mental maps in various research projects, including innovative approaches to regionalization.

• 2005 Charles University, Prague (Cartography and Geoinformatics, Mgr.)
• 2006 Charles University, Prague (Cartography and Geoinformatics, RNDr.)
• 2008/9 study internship ERASMUS (Research Unit Cartography, TU Vienna, 6 months)
• 2012 Charles University, Prague (General Theory and History of Art and Culture, Cultural Studies, specialization Cultural Anthropology, Mgr.)
• 2013 Charles University, Prague (Cultural Studies, specialization Cultural Anthropology, PhDr.)
• 2013 Charles University, Prague (Cartography, Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing, Ph.D.)
• 2019 University of Ostrava (Political and Cultural Geography, Associate Professor/Habilitation)

• 2003–2005, 2017–2019 external cooperation (cartographic publishing house Kartografie Praha)
• 2005–2012 teaching (2005–2009), research (2006–2012) (Faculty of Science, Charles University)
• 2007 external teaching at the Department of Geography (Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice)
• from 2010 Department of Geography (Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem)
• 2012–2020 cooperation in the realization of the Geography Olympiad competition
• from 2012 creation of maps for professional publications
• 2016 cooperation in the preparation of the “Head Hunters” exhibition, preparation of a publication on foreign field research (National Museum Prague)
• 2016–2020 research (Faculty of Civil Engineering, CTU in Prague)
• 2018–2021 research (Faculty of Arts, Palacký University, Olomouc)
• 2018–2022 Vice-dean for External and International Relations (Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem)
• 2023– research (Faculty of Civil Engineering, CTU in Prague)
• 2023– evaluator for the fields of Sociology and Earth Science (National Accreditation Bureau for Higher Education)

• 2013 research stay within the NeoCartoLink project (Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Leipzig, 1 month)
• 2014 research stay within the NeoCartoLink project (Research Unit Cartography, TU Vienna, 1 month)
• 2015, 2016, 2018 a 2019 field research (Papua New Guinea, province Morobe, a total of 7 months)
• 2017 field research (Altai Republic, 2 weeks)
• 2019 field research (Philippines, 2 weeks), field research (India, Uttarakhand, 10 days)
• 2023 expedition field research (Papua New Guinea, province East Sepik, 2 weeks)

• ANDĚL, J., BIČÍK, I., BLÁHA, J.D. (2019). Makroregiony světa: Nová regionální geografie. Praha: Karolinum, 326 s.
• BLÁHA, J. D. (2017). Vybrané okruhy z geografické kartografie. Ústí nad Labem: UJEP v Ústí nad Labem, 160 s.
• BLÁHA, J. D., NOVÁČEK, A. (2016). How Central Europe is Perceived and Delimited. Mitteilungen der Österreichischen Geographischen Gesellschaft, 158: 193–214.
• BLÁHA, J. D., ŠTĚRBA, Z. (2014). Colour Contrast in Cartographic Works Using the Principles of Johannes Itten. The Cartographic Journal, 51(3): 203–213.

Other publications are available on the personal website.

• IGA/SGS UJEP č. 2023-53-001-2 (2023–2024). Critical spots in undergraduate cartographic education: analysis and initial interpretation of the results of a longitudinal study.
• TA ČR (2019–2022). Implementation of map skills in geography within lower secondary education.
• GA ČR (2016–2018). Visual geographical information and its role in geography teaching and learning.
• IGA/SGS UJEP (2015–2016). Perception of restructuring territories in the context of different forms of commodification.
• GA UK (2009–2011). Mental maps: object and means of evaluation.
• GA UK (2006–2008). The application of aesthetics in the expressive means of cartography.
  
  For the above-mentioned project, the main researcher, information about other projects are available on the personal website.

• The Czech Geographical Society (from 2007), chairman of the North Bohemian branch / member of the Main Committee (from 2014)
• Art and Cartography, Commission of International Cartographic Association (from 2008), representative of Czechia in the commission (2011–2014)
• Use and User Issues, Commission of International Cartographic Association (from 2013)
• European Society for Oceanists – ESfO (from 2014)
• American Anthropological Association (from 2018)
• Czech Cartographic Society (2005–2013, 2023–)
• editorial boards of professional journals – Kartografické listy (from 2014), Geografické rozhledy (from 2017)