Intellectual women and scientific research
Intellectual women are basically trained, have knowledge and qualification, and have made great contributions to the cause of scientific research. Apart from studies, they are also wives and mothers with the vocation of a woman in the family. Now, in scientific research, with passion for science, more and more women have high professional skills. They overcome difficulties to make discoveries and apply new research in life to serve the society. Beside professional work, many women also participate in management and are responsible for important positions such as director and vice director of institutes, head and deputy head of departments, head of projects.
Difficulties met by intellectual women
Despite of proud achievement contributing to the cause of scientific research, female scientists still meet difficulties in life. To become a scientist, women at the same time have to harmonize their family life and striving for their careers. Due to practical conditions, many female scientific cadres have spent much time for their families. They have not enough time to approach information and improve their knowledge. Many women have to sacrifice a part of family happiness for their career, or vice versa. Therefore, women need support from family to keep their mind on their work and contribute their talent to science.
Affirming the role of intellectual women in science
Promoting the noble quality of Vietnamese women in history, intellectual women always show solidarity, are active and creative to determine for research to have works bringing benefit to the community.
To glorify and encourage contributions made by intellectual women in scientific research, programmes and activities such as Kovalevskai, L’OREAL and Vietnamese women awards have been held. Since 2003, two women groups and one individual from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) have been presented the Vietnam women award. Especially since 2009, six young doctors under 40 years old were given L’OREAL award. On the occasion of March 8th 2013, eight female doctors who defended their theses in 2011-2012 received certificates of merit and award of the Vietnamese Women’s Association and the Vietnamese Intellectual Women’s Association.
The Vietnamese Intellectual Women coordinated with the Department of Intellectual Property under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Vietnam-Finland Creation and Renovation Programme, to hold a programme on women with intellectual property and scientific research, in which 12 seminars were organized in a year. Each seminar in different fields helped female scientists make public their practical research programmes. A common forum to study the Law on Intellectual Property would protect the copyright for research of intellectual women, helping society offer the best opportunity, in equality, for women to implement research activities. Thanks to this, women would improve their position.
Taking care of intellectual women with reasonable policies will become an important motivation to encourage women to improve their creativeness. The establishment of the Committee for the Advancement of Women and the Intellectual Women’s Association under VAST showed the care of the VAST party committee and VAST leaders for intellectual women who are working and contributing to the development of VAST in particular and the nation in general.
Translated by Tuyet Nhung
