Public lecture: From elementary particles to the universe
Attending the event were Prof. Dr. Vu Van Truong, Head of the Department of Science and Technology, Phenikaa University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hong Quang, Vice President and Secretary General of the Viet Nam Physical Society, who chaired the event; Ms Nguyen Thi Van Nga, Director of the Institute of Scientific Data and Information, Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology – a partner in organising the 2025 lecture series; together with the speakers, scientists, researchers, and students from Phenikaa University.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Vu Van Truong emphasised that this public lecture continued the series initiated by the Viet Nam Physical Society. It was an opportunity to connect and listen to professors and scientists presenting the latest results, knowledge, and updates in particle physics, relativity theory, and cosmology. He expressed the hope that scientists, lecturers, graduate students and undergraduates would seize the chance to network and form research collaborations, particularly in fundamental science, covering particle physics, relativity, and cosmology.
The first lecture, entitled “The wonderful world of elementary particles”, was delivered by Dr Dao Thi Nhung from the Phenikaa Institute for Advanced Studies, Phenikaa University. She systematically presented the microscopic world of elementary particles, the theoretical frameworks describing them, and the achievements of the Standard Model
Assoc. Prof. Do Quoc Tuan delivers his lecture
The second lecture, “General relativity and quantum mechanics: Two sides of the same coin”, was given by Assoc. Prof. Do Quoc Tuan, also from the Phenikaa Institute for Advanced Studies, Phenikaa University. His presentation not only provided a rigorous overview of General Relativity (GR) and Quantum Mechanics (QM) but also offered a profoundly personal interpretation. He viewed these two theories not as antagonistic entities to be eliminated one by the other, but as “two sides of the same coin” – complementary and inseparable descriptions of the same physical reality. This perspective went beyond merely recounting historical milestones, shaping instead his entire analysis of their interaction.
The final lecture, “The early universe and recent surprising discoveries”, was delivered by Dr. Pham Tuan Anh from the Viet Nam Space Centre, Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology. His talk focused on the reionisation process, the formation of the first galaxies, and the role of modern observational tools such as the Hubble Space Telescope, ALMA, and especially the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Dr. Pham Tuan Anh presents his lecture
At the event, scientists and students engaged in lively discussions, raising questions and opening issues for the speakers to clarify, such as: the technical requirements for observing wider ranges, and the observational limits of telescopes.
The public lecture “From elementary particles to the universe” concluded successfully. Beyond sharing knowledge, it sparked many scientific questions and promised to open the door for further meaningful forums in the future.
Taking a photo
Translated by Tuyet Nhung
Link to Vietnamese version
