The Science and Technology Journalists' Club has announced Vietnam 's top 10 science and technology events in 2014. The events are chosen based in six fields, including mechanism andpolicy, social sciences and humanities, fundamental research, appliedresearch, international cooperation and honouring scientists. 1. Decrees and Circulars issued to enhance the implementation of Law on Science and Technology The Ministry of Science and Technology submitted six decrees to thegovernment on the instruction of the implementation of the Science andTechnology Law. These are meant to create mechanisms and policies toboost the development of science and technology in the country. The Lawon Science and Technology, approved by the National Assembly in June2013, came into effect on January 1, 2014. 2. First-ever Vietnam Science and Technology Day (May 18) held The National Assembly approved the Science and Technology Law, whichstipulated that the Vietnam Science and Technology Day will becelebrated every May 18. This year, the event was organised for thefirst time by the Ministry of Science and Technology under the theme:"Science and Technology – The motivation for fast and sustainabledevelopment." 3. Successfully organising an international symposium entitled "Underwater Archaeology in Vietnam and Southeast Asia "
The Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences cooperated with the centralprovince of Quang Ngai in organising an international symposiumentitled "Underwater Archaeology in Vietnam and Southeast Asia " inOctober. The participating scientists affirmed that Vietnamhas great potential in terms of sunken cultural treasures. In addition,the scientists revealed that the country has faced many difficulties inthe research, preservation and promotion of the treasures. 4. Manufacturing steel and unburned materials from red mud
The Institute of Chemistry , under the Vietnam Academy of Scienceand Technology, carried out a national research project on steelmanufacturing and unburned material production using red mud in themanufacturing process of alumina in the Central Highlands. The researchwas part of the National Programme of Scientific and Technological forSocio-Economic Development, known as Tay Nguyen 3 Programme, beingconducted from 2011–15. 5. Successfully producing Rotavin-M1, an anti-diarrhea vaccine for children Vietnam becomes the second Asian country and the fourth nationin the world to successfully conduct research on and produceanti-diarrhea vaccines for children. The vaccine was created by the Centre for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (POLYVAC). 6. Agricultural Genetics Institute given Outstanding Achievement Awards The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) presented theOutstanding Achievement Award to the Agricultural Genetics Instituteunder the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The institutedeveloped rice and mutant soybean varieties that improved local farmers'livelihoods. The awards were given to honour the teams ofscientists "who have helped increase food security by using radiation todevelop better crop varieties". 7. Application of stem cell technology in cancer treatment at Hue Central Hospital Doctors of the Hue Central Hospital conducted research on theapplication of stem cell technology in breast cancer and cervical cancertreatment. They used stem cell transplants to successfully treat apatient suffering from last stage cervical cancer. The operationindicated the success of the research. 8. US–Vietnamese cooperation in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes Vietnam 's Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan andUnited States Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear officially signed abilateral agreement on using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes on May6. The agreement aimed to adjust the commercial transactionsconducted in the nuclear energy field. It was also drafted to create alegal framework for the cooperation between Vietnam and the UnitedStates in research, development and application of nuclear energy. 9. Professor Chau Van Minh elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus Professor Chau Van Minh, Director of Vietnam Academy of Science andTechnology, was elected as a new foreign member of the National Academyof Sciences of Belarus . He was recognised for his contribution inthe field of chemistry. 10. Three Vietnamese scientists listed in the World's Most Influential Scientific Minds Three Vietnamese scientists have been recognised as among the World'sMost Influential Scientific Minds list compiled by the multinationalmedia and information firm Thomson Reuters. They are ProfessorDam Thanh Son, Professor Nguyen Son Binh and Associate Professor NguyenXuan Hung. Son currently teaches physics at the University of Chicagoin the United States . Binh has researched and taught atNorthwestern University 's chemistry faculty, also in the UnitedStates. Meanwhile, Hung is a lecturer at the University of Scienceunder the Vietnam National University - HCM City.-VNA
