Based on such criteria as the quantity of articles published in international journals, published scientific works, past and current research activities, and the model role for young researchers, the Scientific Board of L’Oréal – UNESCO in Vietnam selected the three excellent female scientists, namely Associate Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van – Head of the Science-Technology and Foreign Relations Department in the Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) University of Natural Resources and Environment; Dr. Tran Thi Hong Hanh – main research student in the Institute of Marine Biochemistry under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; and Dr. Pham Thi Thu Ha – Deputy Director of the Research Institute of Heredity and Genes in Ton Duc Thang University (in HCMC).
Dr. Tran Thi Hong Hanh is appreciated because of her continuous efforts in research for the integrated use of chromatographic fingerprinting and advanced devices to evaluate the component and quality of herbal medicine.
Her work aims at presenting the chemical structure and content of a researched medicine material to be the basis for the quality evaluation process of current medicine materials in the market. Her research result can also be used to evaluate the component of functional foods originated from herbal medicine.
This is extremely useful since a large quantity of medicine materials in Vietnam is imported, much of which are illegal and with unknown origin. It leads to quality uncertainty. Thanks to her method, the issue is basically addressed.
Associate Prof. Dr. Ho Thi Thanh Van is honored because of her research about Nano Pt-Mo alloy catalysts for Nano-structured Material Ti0, 8W0, 2O2 to improve CO endurance ability and reduce cost for fuel cells using methanol.
Her research will allow the wider use of methanol fuel cells to gradually replace fossil fuel, and thus alleviating the global warming issue due to CO2 release. It is expected that her research result will be commercialized in the near future.
Dr. Pham Thi Thu Ha is awarded because of her research about high-performance salt-tolerance rice through molecular marker. These rice types will be then introduced to saline provinces in the Mekong Delta region.
Her research is especially meaningful to help poor farmers in saline areas to escape poverty, greatly improving their living standards. Meanwhile, this enables Vietnam to increase rice productivity for exportation.
The three above scientists received a research scholarship worth VND150 million (approx. US$6,500) to continue their work, in hope of creating more valuable products for Vietnam.
On this occasion, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep from the International University of the Vietnam National University – HCMC also received an award for being an outstanding young female scientist in Asia in 2018.
