News

Researchers’ Night at CERGE-EI

11 September, 2026

On Friday, September 25, 2026, CERGE-EI took part in Researchers’ Night, opening the doors of Schebek Palace to the public. The program began at 3 PM and included three lectures, ciphers, a family game, and an opportunity to explore the second floor of CERGE-EI’s historic building in the center of Prague.

This year’s Researchers’ Night focused on the theme of communication. At CERGE-EI, the program presented economic research in an accessible way and highlighted how information, beliefs, and perceptions can influence individual decision-making.

The program included three lectures addressing topics related to economics, behavior, and decision-making. Designed for a general audience, the talks required no previous knowledge of economics.

LECTURES

15:00 – Michal Bauer: Misperceptions, facts, and our decisions
Michal Bauer explored the mistaken beliefs people routinely hold about facts that matter for their choices, including how much education pays off, whether experts agree or disagree on important issues, and perceptions of different social groups. He looked at when providing accurate information can change what people believe and how they act.

16:00 –  Miroslava Federičová a Maria Šimůnková: Chytré hlavy nestačí: Sociálně-emoční schopnosti žáků a dovednosti učitelů podle PISA a PIAAC (in Czech)
The lecture addressed the social-emotional skills of Czech students and the literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills of Czech teachers. Drawing on PISA 2022 and PIAAC data, the speakers compared the results with relevant international and domestic groups.

17:00 – Ole Jann: The Economics of Truth and Lies (in English)
Ole Jann examined the role of truth and deception in human communication, asking why people sometimes tell the truth, sometimes lie, and sometimes fail to communicate at all.

GAMES

Visitors also took part in interactive activities. A series of ciphers offered an opportunity to test logical thinking and problem-solving skills, while the family game Find the Symbols provided an activity for children and their families.

The event welcomed visitors interested in economics, research, decision-making, puzzles, and the history and architecture of Schebek Palace.

Find the photo gallery here.