Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (right) and Minister of Science and Technology Huỳnh Thành Đạt (left) bestowed the Tạ Quang Bửu Awards 2024 to Dr. Nguyễn Thị Kim Thanh and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trần Mạnh Trí. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and Minister of Science and Technology Huỳnh Thành Đạt handed over the Tạ Quang Bửu Awards 2024 to two scientists in recognition of their studies in physics and environment at a ceremony on Wednesday.

The laureates are Dr. Nguyễn Thị Kim Thanh from the Institute of Physics under the Việt Nam Academy of Science and Technology, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trần Mạnh Trí from the University of Science under the Việt Nam National University, Hà Nội.

Thanh is the author of a research paper published on the Physical Review Letters, one of the world’s three leading physics journals. The research showed breakthrough findings important to the development of quantum computer technology.

She is the fourth female scientist to be granted the Tạ Quang Bửu Awards so far.

Meanwhile, Trí authored three works published on world leading scientific journals in the fields of environmental engineering, toxicology, health, and genetic mutation, helping resolve the globally urgent issue of environmental pollution caused by the spread of synthetic chemicals.

This year, the noble awards, named after famous scientist Prof. Tạ Quang Bửu (1910 - 1986), were presented on the occasion of the Việt Nam Science and Technology Day (May 18) and the 65th founding anniversary of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MST).

First granted in 2014, the awards aim to encourage and honour scientists with remarkable achievements in natural and technical science research, helping promote the integration and development of Vietnam’s science and technology.

In 2023, the MST Minister issued a circular expanding the awards’ coverage to those in social sciences and humanities.

As many as 97 entries were submitted to the 2024 awards, doubling the numbers recorded in previous years. They comprised 76 in the field of natural and technical science and 21 in social sciences and humanities. There were 71 nominations to the main award and 26 to the one for young scientists.

So far, the MST has presented the awards to 18 scientists who are authors of outstanding scientific research works and four young ones. — VNS