Prof. Jaroslav Polák is one of the leading scientists in the field of materials physics. His lifetime work contributed significantly to the development of materials science, it influenced the world science in the area and achieved worldwide recognition in the field. The most important contribution to world science material fatigue is experimental work and the development model illustrating the initiation of fatigue cracks in crystalline materials. On 19 January 2017 he took Ernst Mach Honorary Medal for merit in the physical sciences from the President of the AS CR prof. Jiří Drahoš.