DEVOTED SCIENTIST: Cover of the art book for children called 'Đặng Văn Ngữ - Tận Hiến Cả Cuộc Đời' (Doctor Đặng Văn Ngữ - All-life Devotion), a work printed by the Kim Đồng Publishing House. Photo courtesy of Kim Đồng Publishing House.

HCM CITY A collection of art books for children featuring well-known Vietnamese scientists has been printed by the Kim Đồng Publishing House.

The books portray the life and career of those honoured for work in different fields such as mathematics, mechanics, physics, chemistry science and technology.

Highlighted works introduce famous scientists Trần Đại Nghĩa and Tạ Quang Bửu and Dr Đặng Văn Ngữ, who devoted their lives to the country and people.

The books include Đặng Văn Ngữ - Tận Hiến Cả Cuộc Đời (Dr Đặng Văn Ngữ - All-Life Devotion), a publication that tells the story about late medical doctor Đặng Văn Ngữ, who successfully researched a method to manufacture penicillin.

Ngữ graduated from the Indochina Medical University (now Hà Nội Medical University) in 1937. He worked as an assistant to the French physician and professor Henry Galliard, dean of the Department of Bacteriology at the school.

Ngữ had further study in Japan, and became the President of the Patriotic Vietnamese Diaspora Society in Japan in 1945.

In 1949, he returned to Việt Nam and joined the war of resistance against French colonial rule.

He worked as the lead lecturer in bacteriology at the Medical School located in Tuyên Quang Province’s Chiêm Hoá District. During this time, he worked to produce antibiotic penicillin used for Vietnamese resistance fighters and people.

He founded the Vietnamese Institute of Malaria - Bacteriology and Insects, and became its first director in 1955.

He researched ways to prevent and treat malaria, a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects vertebrates and Anopheles mosquitoes.

He was killed by an American bombing while researching malaria in an area under control by the South Việt Nam liberation forces in Thừa Thiên Huế Province1967.

For his contribution, Ngữ was awarded the Hồ Chí Minh Prize by the State. Several streets in cities and provinces across the country were named after him.

BOOK LOVERS: The Kim Đồng Publishing House, one of the country's leading publishers, has worked with distributors to expand the habit of reading among children and teenagers. Photo courtesy of Fahasa.

"I love reading books about Vietnamese scientists. I learn many things from their life and career. I dream of becoming a natural scientist in future," said Bùi Xuân Trường, a fifth-grade student of the Phú Nhuận Primary School in HCM City.

According to a representative of the Kim Đồng Publishing House, Việt Nam’s history shows several outstanding scientists and doctors in different fields who dedicated themselves to the country’s independence and development. “We hope our books will help children improve their knowledge and respect for their older gennerations,” he said.

The Kim Đồng Publishing House, one of the country's leading publishers, has 60 years in the industry. It has worked to expand the habit of reading among children and teenagers. VNS