Hopefully the laureateship would become true and motivate Vietnamese science to soar to a new height.

An inadequate science

Vietnamese students have always claimed top prizes at the International Olympiad contests and won respect from academics in other countries.

Many local educators were delighted at Vietnam’s 12th position in rankings published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently. The organization also placed Vietnam above the U.S. regarding math. This has spoken volume about Vietnamese people’s brightness, and the country’s scientific and educational strides.

However, in the basic research area, Vietnamese scientists still find Nobel awards in science a far-fetched dream. There are many reasons behind Vietnamese intellectuals’ failure to realize their Nobel dream, but the main reason is the country’s inadequate science, and inefficient scientific investment.

It can be said that Vietnam currently boasts substantial scientific and technological infrastructure, including hi-tech parks, institutes, research centers and State management agencies in science and technology from the central to grassroots level.

Every year, the government spends considerable sums to invest in infrastructure facilities and conduct programs, projects and scientific research at different levels.

However, research efficiency remains limited, as the results from many programs and projects still fail to be applied to reality.

Local science intellectuals are bulging with a staggering number of professors and doctorate holders. However, in today’s context, many ponder what they are doing. They have conducted limited breakthrough research and hold few globally-registered patents.

Training and rewarding local academics remains inadequate, with the management mechanism sluggish to change.

Vietnam abounds in talented, dedicated people who are ready to contribute to the country’s growth.

The mechanism should undergo massive changes so that the country can make the most of the talent of such internationally-recognized researchers as Professors Ngo Bao Chau and Dam Thanh Son, and the future generations.

I aspire that in the next 20 years, along with notable socio-economic strides, these weaknesses would all be solved. The science sector would then properly cater to basic requirements of a modernized, industrialized country. This would also provide a solid foundation for the local science sector to emulate those of advanced countries in the region and the world, and make breakthroughs in basic science to step towards their Nobel dream.

Necessary solutions

I think fundamental measures should be adopted to realize this dream.

First, let’s discuss measures to improve policies and the financial mechanism, and facilitate the flourishing of basic sciences.

Such measures include order placement and tendering in scientific research, offering flat rates based on research results, and saying no to ineffective investment.

State budget sums should be earmarked for research in fundamental sciences in a way that organizations and individuals would be held accountable for the use of such sums.

It’s also desirable that the State issue policies to gather and encourage the leading scientific intelligentsia, and create auspicious conditions so that they can make a decent living through their profession and contribute wholeheartedly to the cause.

Secondly, steps should be taken to build a robust scientific research system and a relatively stable research environment.

Efforts should also be made to reshuffle centers, research institutes and university facilities to allow the establishment of modern research centers. If this issue fails to be solved drastically, an auspicious research environment would be out of the question.

Thirdly, pooling a robust, star studded scientific staff which follows breakthrough, less-taken trends, is another key requisite.

It’s urgent that priorities be identified, and leading scientists, such as Professor Ngo Bao Chau in math and Professor Dam Thanh Son in physics, be assembled and harnessed.

Also needed are programs to look out for scientific talents, including budding young ones and those boasting inventions which are of huge significance.

Due attention should also be paid to universities’ training quality, particularly in fundamental science research, as the schools serve as an incubator for the country’s scientific human resources.

Fourthly, investment in scientific research should be enhanced. Such countries as the U.S., Germany and Japan, who have won several Nobel prizes, have poured whopping sums into the science sector for a long time.

That does not mean generous investment would guarantee Nobel wins, but with effective investment, we have the right to pin our hopes on a brighter prospect for the country’s science sector.

Among the State’s investment policies, investment in human resources is the most decisive. Constructing a research institute or modernizing the infrastructure are tough, but the tasks would be feasible in a short period of time thanks to investment policies and loan mobilization.

However, building a closely knit community of topnotch scientists is a demanding and long-term issue, which requires worthy investment and persistence.

I believe that if these conditions are realized, Vietnamese scientists would take home unexpected wondrous accomplishments in a future not far away.

NGUYEN DINH PHUONG (32)

Source: Tuoi Tre Newspaper