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Professor Christian Hanus appointed honorary doctor of MU
Professor Christian Hanus, a world-renowned expert in the field of cultural heritage, the environment, monument preservation, and architecture, was ceremoniously appointed honorary doctor of Masaryk University at the suggestion of the Faculty of Education
Professor Christian Hanus is one of the world's leading experts in the field of cultural heritage, the environment, monument preservation, and construction, with a special focus on architecture and engineering. After completing his engineering and doctoral studies at ETH Zurich, where he specialized in monument preservation and sustainable architecture, he joined the Danube University in Krems in 2007. He became a professor there in 2013 and in the following years also served as dean of the Faculty of Education, Arts, and Architecture.
At Danube University in Krems, he created the Restoration and Revitalization program, which focuses on the restoration of historic buildings using a sustainable and multifaceted approach. He also founded the Center for Architectural Heritage and Infrastructure and the Center for Cultural Heritage Protection, which are dedicated to monument preservation, the reconstruction of historic cities damaged by earthquakes, and international cooperation in the field of cultural heritage protection.
Professor Hanus has led a number of national and international projects, such as the European Heritage Awards Archive. He is actively involved in Europa Nostra Austria and is a member of the Industrial and Technical Heritage Committee. His expertise and experience have led him to advise UNESCO and the Austrian government on world heritage, particularly in its evaluation and protection.
His research laboratory, Sustainable Building Cultural Heritage (Nachhaltiges Baukulturelles Erbe), has recently gained international recognition. The team led by Professor Hanus focuses on the qualitative and quantitative assessment of the so-called "virtues of old buildings" and their significance for contemporary approaches in construction. These professional activities have a significant impact on international programs that respond to climate change and strengthen the resilience of not only historic buildings.
As the dean of the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University emphasized in her speech at the honorary doctorate award ceremony:
“Professor Hanus's focus on sustainability and his openness to international cooperation are values that fully correspond to Masaryk University's mission and open up opportunities for significant future collaboration.”
Professor Hanus is also active in the Czech Republic, both academically and practically. He is a long-standing member of the Scientific Council of the Faculty of Education at Masaryk University and a member of the disciplinary council of the doctoral study program Theory of Art and Gallery Education at the Faculty of Education, Masaryk University. He also collaborates with a number of other Czech universities and institutions, such as the Faculty of Architecture at Brno University of Technology, the University of Pardubice, the Technical University of Ostrava, and the National Heritage Institute.
He is involved in a number of important projects with Masaryk University. One of them is Scola Telč – an international multidisciplinary summer and winter school focused on the preservation and development of the historic center of Telč, which connects students and doctoral students from various fields and countries. Professor Hanus also participated in the ComPaRe and Interreg projects, which focused on the use of cultural heritage for regional development and participatory reconstruction of urban structures.
Professor Hanus's significant and long-term cooperation with Masaryk University, his international reputation, and his extraordinary contribution to sustainable heritage preservation, architecture, and education are values that justify the awarding of an honorary doctorate in pedagogy from Masaryk University to this important figure.
In his ceremonial speech, Professor Hanus praised his long-standing ties to Masaryk University and emphasized their importance for his own professional growth:
“The awarding of an honorary doctorate fills me with deep gratitude, humility, and immense joy, especially given my long-standing relationship with Masaryk University, which has manifested itself in joint projects in the areas of research and teaching, cooperation, and participation in the governing bodies of your institution.”
Professor Hanus's focus on sustainability, his openness to international cooperation, and his ability to connect theory with practice are values that are consistent with the mission of Masaryk University. His appointment as an honorary doctor of MU is an expression of recognition of his extraordinary scientific, pedagogical, and cultural activities, as well as confirmation of the potential for further cooperation, particularly in the area of sustainability, which is one of the university's strategic priorities.
