L'Oréal Award – UNESCO For the Development of Women in Science to Honour Outstanding Female Scientists in 2022

08/12/2022

In the afternoon of 25/11/2022, at Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, the L'Oréal Award Program – UNESCO For Women in Science held the Award Ceremony for Women in Science 2022 for 3 Vietnamese women scientists who had potential research projects for health and benefits for the community, at the same time honoring Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van, a young female scientist, was awarded the L'Oréal Prize - UNESCO International Rising Talent in Paris on June 6.

Attending the ceremony was Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Chairman of L'Oréal Science Council – UNESCO For the Development of Women in Science in Vietnam; Mr. Benjamin Rachow, General Director of L'Oréal Vietnam; Mr. Christian Manhat, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam and scientists from research institutes and universities.

Since 2009, the L'Oréal – UNESCO Programme for the Development of Women in Science has been introduced to Vietnam with the aim of supporting the use of wisdom, creativity and passion of female scientists in Vietnam. During the past 13 years, the program has honored 35 outstanding women scientists in Vietnam for their research that is considered to be of important scientific significance, contributing to improving and changing the lives of the community and helping them continue to pursue their passion for scientific research.

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, shared that the L'Oréal Award – UNESCO for the Development of Women in Science is an opportunity to honor, motivate and encourage women scientists throughout the country to strive for outstanding achievements in scientific research and apply research results to serve the life, serve the cause of building and develop the country in the period of international integration. Pursuing this thorny and challenging science, female scientists face more difficulties than their male colleagues, but with a passion for exploratory research, diligence and skillful time arrangement, female scientists of Vietnam have overcome many difficulties to rise and achieve meaningful research results. On behalf of the L'Oréal Scientific Council – UNESCO For the Development of Women in Science in Vietnam, Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh would like to congratulate the honored female scientists in 2022 for their success and hope that Vietnamese female scientists will continue to be passionate and continue to pursue the scientific path to contribute to the progress of Vietnamese science.

Prof. Acad. Chau Van Minh, President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Chairman of L'Oréal Science Council – UNESCO For the Development of Women in Science in Vietnam, speaking at the ceremony

In 2022, the L'Oréal - UNESCO Prize for the Development of Women in Science honors 3 outstanding young female scientists and they will receive a 150 million VND research scholarship to continue developing the first-stage project for the next in-depth research:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha - Head of Natural Chemistry Department, Institute of Chemistry of Natural Compounds, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Phuong Nhi – Deputy Dean of Faculty of Agronomy, in charge of Science & International Cooperation, Faculty of Agronomy, Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry.
Dr. Ha Thi Thanh Huong – Head of Department of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City.

Awarding the L'Oréal Award– UNESCO Prize for the Development of Women in Science to 3 Outstanding Female Scientists in 2022

Congratulations Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van, a young female scientist, was awarded the L'Oréal Prize - UNESCO International Rising Talent in Paris on June 6

Launch of L'Oréal Science Council – UNESCO For the Development of Women in Science in Vietnam in 2023

Also within the framework of the ceremony, the L'Oréal Prize - UNESCO For the Development of Women in Science organized a scientific workshop to share scientific research topics of award-winning female scientists with female students of sciences. Science students met with Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Dung, Head of Environmental Technology Department, Institute of Environmental Technology, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, through the topic of using nanomaterials to kill bacterial and viral pathogens for humans and pets; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang Thi Dong Quy, Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, University of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, with the content of green nanocomposite polymer materials synthesized from biomass and recycled sources and the topic of winning the International Green Energy Award, Sustainable energy in the future of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van, Head of Science, Technology and External Relations Department, University of Natural Resources and Environment, Ho Chi Minh City.

This is an opportunity for female science students to be updated on scientific research fields, learn about experiences to overcome challenges in the path of scientific research from leading young scientists in Vietnam to continue pursuing their passion for scientific research.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha, Head of Natural Chemistry Department, Institute of Natural Compounds Chemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

Herbs now not only play an important role in traditional disease therapies in Eastern countries, but in modern medicine, herbs are also used in direct disease therapies according to traditional medicine methods, and at the same time as a base material for synthetic or semi-synthetic processes of complex medicinal products. The remedies of the northern mountainous people of Vietnam in supporting osteoarthritis pain are effective, safe and have few side effects, including the famous leaf bath remedy of the Red Dao people in Ta Phin commune, Sapa district. Currently, the aforementioned bath remedy is being confirmed through the practical experience of locals and tourists to Sapa.
The research of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha aims to add modern scientific evidence to this remedy to contribute to the preservation of ancient remedies of the Red Dao ethnic people; help indigenous people to store and develop precious medicinal plants, serve public health and contribute to the development of the circular economy for ethnic minority communities.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Phuong Nhi, Deputy Dean of Faculty of Agronomy, in charge of Science & International Cooperation, Faculty of Agronomy, Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry

Tea is a plant with year-round characteristics that bring value to human health. However, in the research and development of tea trees for socio-economic development in the Central region, scientific knowledge of green tea variety characteristics in these areas is still very limited.
Dr. Phan Thi Phuong Nhi has applied the molecular directive method in assessing the diversity of gene sources, thereby creating a valuable source of knowledge about the characteristics of tea varieties being grown in the Central region, especially the identification of T-fly tea (the type of tea that was once a popular drink in the Hue court), contributing to affirming the name of T-fly tea as a specialty of the ancient capital of Hue.
Her project is important in assessing the genetic diversity of tea species, identifying the level of species to ensure the quality of tea, thereby preserving precious and endemic materials, contributing to preserving the intangible cultural value of Hue capital. The delicious taste of tea is created by the indigenous tea variety "T fly tea", combined with the typical sub-climate in the Indian mountains, the natural water source and alluvial soil accumulated annually from Hung Binh River in Nam Pho Can village, giving users an unforgettable feeling when enjoying the natural strong aroma, the sweet and mild acrid taste of this tea.

Dr. Ha Thi Thanh Huong, Head of Department of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, International University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

Dr. Ha Thi Thanh Huong was honored for her research project on early detection of Alzheimer's disease using the plasma biomarker p-tau 217.
The project of Dr. Thanh Huong focuses on using the promising plasma biomarker for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's, the phosphorylated tau protein (p-tau). P-tau is an important component that activates the formation of the intracellular plexus, which is an important pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In Vietnam, there has been no research directed towards the development of a combined immunochemical and nanoparticle test for early diagnosis of AD using plasma samples. Therefore, the project of Dr. Ha Thi Thanh Huong aims to apply a hypersensitive assay that has been proven to work effectively against p-tau 181, a low-blood AD biomarker of significant research significance. By applying electrochemical principles, this method has great potential to provide high accuracy with minimal detection and quantitative limits, ensuring even the slightest change in p-Tau levels in blood samples to distinguish AD patients from control groups.
The research team of Dr. Huong has also connected with leading dementia hospitals in Vietnam, including University Hospital of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hospital 30-4, as well as molecular diagnostic research teams from the University of Natural Sciences, Ho Chi Minh University of Technology, facilitating future cooperation to implement a very scientifically significant research direction and practice in Vietnam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van, Head of Science, Technology and External Relations Department – University of Natural Resources & Environment, Ho Chi Minh City

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van was nominated by the World Scientific Council for the 2022 World Young Scientist Award for Research on hydrogen fuel cell technology, a focus area for the future of clean energy. The research helps optimize fuel cell operations to improve efficiency and enable sustainable hydrogen energy production, avoiding the burning of fossil fuels and reducing carbon emissions.

Translated by Phuong Ha
Link to Vietnamese version

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