Malina has had a great interest in archaeology and anthropology since childhood. After finishing secondary education he enrolled for a study of archaeology at the Faculty of Arts of Masaryk University, graduating in 1967. In 1969 he performed his first archaeological experiment. With this experiment and his consequent work in experimental archaeology he became a founder of this scientific discipline in Czechoslovakia and this discipline also led him to pursuing his goals in anthropology.
Anthropology
Leadership
Through experimental archaeology Malina came to understand the complexity of human nature and shifted his research and occupational interests to anthropology. In the beginning of the 1990s, together with Jan Beneš and Vladimír Novotný, he co-founded the Department of Anthropology of the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University, which directly picked up on Vojtěch Suk’s Anthropological Institute which was, due to ideological reasons, strictly limited and reduced during the years 1948–19891. Together with his colleagues, Malina strongly supported the idea of anthropology as a holistic, integral scientific disciplines, which studies man from every possible point of view. After the passing of the first head of the Department Jan Beneš in 1999, Malina became the head of department1.
Academic and scientific degrees, duties
Malina was awarded the PhD in 1968, and in 1993 he was awarded the degree docent – associate professor of anthropology. In 1994 Jaroslav Malina was awarded the scientific degree Doctor Scientiae, and in 1995 the academic degree professor of anthropology at the Masaryk University2. He teaches several courses: Introduction to Anthropology, Anthropology of Ethnicity, Anthropology of Antiquity, Anthropology of Sexuality and others. He also manages the Anthropological Seminar, where invited specialists present the newest or the most interesting concepts or findings in anthropology and related disciplines. During the years 2001–2009 twelve post-gradual doctoral students graduated under his supervision; currently he supervises fifteen doctoral students and several bachelor and masters-level students.
Scientific work and publications
In his scientific work Malina deals with the subjects concerning experimental and sociocultural anthropology and archaeology, petroarchaeology and philosophy of science. He has published many scientific studies, essays and books, both in former Czechoslovakia and in the Czech Republic as well as abroad. Among his writings are:
Kámen a hlína jako ekofakt a artefakt ve vývoji životního prostředí , 1991
První císař , 1994
Čína z antropologické perspektivy , 2005
Slovník antropologie občanské společnosti , 2006
Slovník pro studenty antropologie , 2008,
Antropologický slovník aneb co by mohl o člověku vědět každý člověk 2009, with a teamof authors
In 1993 he initiated an extensive scientific and artistic project to produce a book in five volumes and an associated exhibition titled Kruh prstenu: Světové dějiny sexuality, erotiky a lásky od počátků do současnosti v reálném životě, krásné literatuře, výtvarném umění a dílech českých malířů a sochařů inspirovaných obsahem této knihy . After the preprints of the four volumes published in 1999–2003 the work started to be published in its final form in 2007. In 2000 the long-time scientific and educational project Panoráma biologické a sociokulturní antropologie: Modulové učební texty pro studenty antropologie a "příbuzných" oborů in the framework of which and under his editorial leadership with the contributions of many significant specialists 40 volumes were published. He also edited scientific-educational books going back to the mysteries of the distant past and human creativity:
In 1993 he co-founded the Universitas Masarykiana Foundation, became its president4 and also president of the Karel Engliš Prize Committee and that of the Universitas Masarykiana Foundation Prize Committee. The Foundation supports the following six foundation editorial lines5, which Malina founded and serves as an editor:
Beletrie
Heureka
Miscellanea
Osobnosti
Scientia
Scintilla
The Universitas Masarykiana Foundation, working in this framework, has produced more than sixty volumes. Within these editions not only accomplished authors can publish, it also gives an opportunity to starting authors, works on the history of fine arts and other publications which otherwise would otherwise not have a chance to be published.
Awards and acknowledgements
Malina was awarded the Rector of Masaryk University Prize for the outstanding scientific work, the City ofBrno Prize, 3rd prize and Recognition of Honor at the 18th book fair Libri in Olomouc for the books Vladimír Preclík a Vincenc Makovský, The CERM Academic Publishing House Prize for the book of the year - První císař: Tvůrce Číny a osmého divu světa and Kruh prstenu, professor Josef Hynie Prize for the best publication in the scientific discipline in the year 2007 and others.
Memberships
Malina is a member of several academic and institutional commissions for biology and anthropology at the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University3. He is also a member of domestic and international panels and institutions.
