The Vietnam Science and Technology Journalists Club has recently announced 10 outstanding science and technology events in 2018, covering aspects of science policies, social science and humanity, research of application, international integration and outstanding scientists.This is the 13th year in a row the club has voted the list through the perspective of journalists specializing in the field of science and technology.
Specifically, 10 outstanding sci-tech events in 2018 are as follows:
1. Field of science policies: Digital Vietnamese knowledge system put into operation
On January 1, 2018, in Hanoi, the "Digital Vietnamese knowledge system" project was launched. The project aims to share knowledge, encourage creativity and connect the community for Vietnam’s future.
The system is set up to build a comprehensive knowledge system in all fields, contributing to promoting and help people to learn and master knowledge, enhance creative research and application of scientific and technological advances.
It is expected to lay a foundation to gear up Vietnam's entrepreneurial innovation movement.
Snow ice machine from sea water for preserving seafood during offshore fishing
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Dr. Tran Dinh Phong, director of the Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi, and his group won the Ta Quang Buu Award in 2018 for their research project in the physics field entitled “Coordination polymer structure and revisited hydrogen evolution catalytic mechanism for amorphous molybdenum sulfide”.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, when clean energy has become one of the world’s most concerned issues, scientists are researching to make artificial leaves which use solar energy to produce hydrogen from water.
However, the research results have been far from become widespread as catalyst for this chemical reaction is platinum, a rare and expensive material. The research of Dr. Phong and his collaborators successfully demonstrated the structure and mechanism of amorphous molybdenum sulfide, an easy-to-fabricate, low-cost material as an alternative to platinum for the hydrogen evolution reaction from water.
Dr. Phong’s research is a considerable step in the race to find solutions to clean energy and reduce CO2 emissions.
3. Field of applied research: Viettel's real-time billing system won international business gold prize
Viettel Group’s online charging system called vOCS 3.0 won gold for best new product or service of the year in telecommunications by International Business Stevie Awards in London (the UK) on October 21 in the category "Best product or service of the year".
Viettel’s vOCS 3.0 is appreciated by the judges for its creativity and impacts on the number of large users. Currently, Viettel's vOCS 3.0 has been put into use in 11 countries around the world with 170 million mobile subscribers.
4. Snow ice machine from sea water for preserving seafood during offshore fishing
The Center for High-Tech Development under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology successfully made a machine which could produce ice from seawater.
The machine freezes seafood fished overseas with ice made from seawater. The machine preserves the catch at lower storage temperature compared with ice made from fresh water, with faster icing time, thus improving seafood quality, reducing post-harvest loss and contributing to protecting the environment.
This is the result of a research project conducted by Master Le Van Luan and his colleagues. The project has been certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as a technical advance in the field of fisheries.
5. Vingroup launched the Support Fund for Science and Technology Applications
On August 21, Vingroup launched the Support Fund for Science and Technology Applications with the aim of providing assistance for research projects in computer science, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, automation, nanotechnology, renewable energy and next-generation materials.
The fund has an investment of about VND2,000 billion (US$86 million), which is significant in the field of science and technology of a large enterprise.
6. Investing to build A Chau Hi-tech Electrical Equipment factory project
On November 1, the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park Management Board granted an investment license to A Chau Industrial Technology Joint Stock Company to build the A Chau Hi-tech Electrical Equipment Factory.
The event marked a turning point in the field of manufacturing, integrated development, operational management, monitoring of energy system automation. Vietnam is among the first two countries receiving high technology transfer from Schneider Electric Group - a leading multinational corporation in energy management and automation.
For the first time, Vietnamese scientists discovered the relics of prehistoric humans in volcanic caves
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On July 13, in Hanoi, a high-level Forum and International Exhibition on Industry 4.0 took place (Industry 4.0 Summit 2018). The event attracted 2,000 delegates, including 11 ambassadors and representatives of international organizations, more than 50 leading experts in the region and the world, domestic and international enterprises.
This is a large-scale international event chaired by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. This forum aims to help build policies for Vietnam to participate in the Fourth Industrial Revolution in a proactive and effective manner.
On September 11-13, the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in 2018 (WEF ASEAN 2018) with the theme "ASEAN 4.0: The spirit of enterprise and the Industrial Revolution 4.0" was held in Hanoi and rated as the most successful regional conference.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuen Phuc attended the conference with heads of ASEAN countries, senior leaders of partner countries, about 1,000 delegates representing multinational corporations, ASEAN enterprises, and 800 domestic enterprises.
8. Honoring the scientist: Prof. Dam Thanh Son received 2018 Dirac Medal and Prize.
On August 8, Dam Thanh Son from the University of Chicago was named one the three winners of the 2018 Dirac Medal and Prize by International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), together with Subir Sachdev of Harvard University and Xiao-Gang Wen of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
They received the honor for their independent contributions toward understanding novel phases in strongly interacting many-body systems, introducing original cross-disciplinary techniques.
Dam Thanh Son and two colleagues used extensive knowledge from various fields such as materials science, black holes and cold atoms to study a variety of objects, thereby proving the value of the approach across the field.
9. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep honored among the world’s young talented scientists
Nguyen Thi Hiep was selected to be part of the International Rising Talents Program of the L’Oreal-UNESCO For Women In Science Awards, revealed on March 21 in Paris for her contributions to regenerative medicine.
Hiep’s work focuses on biomaterials such as bio-glue, bio-tape and needleless suturing for wound repair that can be used by patients at home. Her most recent project involves the development of a gel which is mainly formed by cross-linking hyaluronic acid (which contributes significantly to cell proliferation and migration) and chitosan (useful in tissue regeneration). It could be added other ingredients such as silver and curcumin nano-particles for different uses.
10. Fields of social science and humanity: Relics of prehistoric humans found in the volcanic caves in Krong No, Dak Nong.
For the first time, Vietnamese scientists discovered the relics of prehistoric humans in volcanic caves, finding another type of residence, a newly found way of adaptation of prehistoric residents in Basalt red soil of the Central Highlands and is a turning point for the study of anthropology in Vietnam.
This is the first remains discovered in volcanic caves in Vietnam and Southeast Asia and rare in the world. The results of the excavation provided convincing scientific arguments for the reconstruction and reproduction of prehistoric humans. At the same time, the results contribute more grounds for the establishment of the Global Geopark in Dak Nong province.
