Speech by Madam Nguyen Thi Binh, Former Vice president of Vietnam, President of Kovalevskaia Prize in Vietnam

Dear distinguished guests, ladies and gentlements,

Today in the joyful atmosphere of the whole country for the 30^th years anniversary of the South liberation and National unity, the Committee of the Kovalevskaia Prize in Vietnam celebrates the 20^th years foundation of the Prize, marking the progressive and stable steps of the contingent of female scientists in Vietnam.

On behalf of the Committee of the Kovalevskaia Prize in Vietnam, I warmly welcome (congratulate) and send wishes of good health to Party and Government leaders, distinguished guests and the whole groups, individuals of female scientists who gain the prizes since 1985.I also warmly welcome 19 outstanding female students who represent the universities in the whole country to attend this celebration.

Dear distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen’s,

Kovalevskaia Prize bears the name of the eminent Russian Doctor Mathematician, the greatest female scientist of the 19^th century- Sophia Kovalevskai.

In 19...the International Fund for Kovalevskaia Prize was established with the foundation and initial financial contribution from the couple prof.dor Ann and Neal Koblitz. The Fund has supported 8 developing countries of Peru, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Cuba, South of Africa, Mozambique and Vietnam, the Prize Fund and provided the scholarships for female scientists to encourage them in studies and researches in basic sciences. Up to now there are 80 female scientists from different countries who get the Fund Prize.

For the 20 passing years, the Committee of Vietnam Prize has worked hard and seriously in considering, selecting and awarding the Prizes for 28 individuals and 12 groups of the most outstanding female scientists in the field of the natural science. The groups and individuals to be introduced to the Committee were carefully selected from the grass root up to the ministerial level and were appraised and voted by the Scientific Council of the Ministry of Science and technology.

We are very proud that for the passing years individuals and groups of female scientists with their talents, capacity and efforts have fulfilled hundreds of studies and research themes and applied the science and technology into various areas such as: mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, medicine, education, industry, agriculture, fuel and Gas, food processing, aquaculture...They lead many scientific themes at the Government and Ministerial levels. They study and research quietly in the laboratories, in factories, in fields and in the cooperation with international friends.

Especially, their research outcomes are applied into practice with the high economic efficiency. They are the new products of biotechnology, foodstuffs-technology, pharmaceutical technology, vaccine production, water preventive paint, safe transportation paint, reproductive oil, and waste oil. These are the new process of technology in industry of weaving, cotton threats, comprehensive threats, silk, in aqua cultural processing, the applicable researches in corrode and protecting metal, solar energy. The research outcomes are also the food products with high quality, easy absorb of children and elderly, increase of the land fertile, and are the species of vegetable, rice, silk worms, contributing in increase of products and quality of agricultural exports.

They are the authors and co-authors of many study books, textbooks, and reference books for students and post-graduate students...

The successes of study themes and scientific application from 28 individuals and 12 groups of female scientists for the 20 passing years are the continuous and unceasing process of their sacrify. Some of them forget their own happiness to devote their love for science; many of them quietly fulfill their research which outcomes bring happiness to many families.

Besides the work of studies and scientific application, they train hundreds of talents to the country and assist their colleagues at work. They are also the good managers and leaders of ministries, branches and enterprises. From their researches, many of them become successful entrepreneurs; some of them are recognized as professors, outstanding teachers, People’s doctors, and labor heroes in renovation.

It is confirmed that the outcomes from researches and scientific application into practices of the female scientists gain the high economic values and bear the deep humanity, contributing importantly into the success of the renovation of the country.

Dear distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen’s,

Besides the activity of awarding annually to scientists, every 2 years, the Committee organizes the get-together of outstanding female students in the field of natural sciences from universities in the whole country with the purposes of widely introducing the Prize and encouraging students to follow the ancestor female scientists.

We warmly welcome 19 outstanding female students from universities in the whole country to attend this anniversary of 20^th years of Kovalevskaia Prize. I wish all students to follow the traditions of Vietnamese women, becoming the true scientists for their contribution to the national construction.