معرفی
Marián Halás is a Professor and Deputy Head of the Department of Geography at Palacký University Olomouc's Faculty of Science. He has been affiliated with the university since 2006, progressing from lecturer to full professor. His academic career began at Comenius University in Bratislava where he earned his PhD and worked as a lecturer from 1997-2006 before moving to Olomouc.
Halás completed his academic qualifications through a clear progression: MSc (1997) from Comenius University in Bratislava in Mathematics and Geography, PhD (2003) in Human Geography from the same institution, Associate Professor (2008) in Regional Geography, and finally Full Professor (2019) from University of Ostrava in Political and Cultural Geography. His habilitation focused on 'Possibilities of geography in identification, approximation and planning of organisation of spatial elements' and his professorial lecture addressed 'Gerrymandering and nationalism in administrative geography – lessons from Slovakia'.
Professor Halás specializes in spatial analysis and regional geography, with particular expertise in functional regions, spatial interactions, and settlement systems. His research combines theoretical frameworks with empirical analysis of spatial patterns using innovative data sources, especially mobile phone location data. He has developed methodologies for analyzing spatial uncertainty in regional systems and temporal dimensions of urban dynamics. His work bridges human geography with practical applications in urban planning and regional development policy.
The analysis of Halás's recent publications (2017-2025) reveals a clear research trajectory focused on spatial interactions, with increasing sophistication in methodology and data sources. Early work (2017-2019) established foundations in functional region analysis and spatial uncertainty, while more recent publications (2020-2025) leverage mobile phone data and big data approaches to examine temporal dimensions of spatial interactions. His research shows strong continuity in core themes while progressively incorporating more advanced analytical techniques and contemporary data sources.
Halás has successfully led multiple research projects, primarily funded by the Czech Science Foundation and internal university grants. His current research (2024-2026) focuses on 'Structures of spatial interactions: role of distance and spatial patterns,' continuing his long-standing investigation into spatial organization principles. He has supervised numerous student theses and contributed to academic community service through editorial board memberships for journals like Moravian Geographical Reports and Geographia Cassoviensis.
As an active educator, Halás teaches courses including Fundamentals of Human Geography, Municipal Economy and Policy, Population and Settlement Geography, Regions and Regional Taxonomy, and Spatial Analysis and Spatial Interactions. His teaching reflects his research expertise, connecting theoretical concepts with practical applications in spatial analysis and regional planning. He maintains regular consultation hours for students on Monday mornings and is deeply integrated into the academic community through his departmental leadership role and participation in scholarly societies.
