Science, homeland, my reasons for living
(VOV) – Science and homeland are my reasons for living, says by Professor Jean Tran Thanh Van, who has authored more than 300 scientific research projects and 100 books on physics.
Jean Tran Thanh Van was born in 1936 in Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh province. He attended secondary school in Hue, graduated as a Bachelor of Physics in Paris, France, in 1957, and earned his Doctorate of Physics there six years later.
Among his research and theory, Professor Van’s work on atomic physics has earned his spurs in the international academic world.
He has lectured at Paris University and served as a senior and honorable researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (French National Centre for Scientific Research).
He was once awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honour and has been appointed an academician and honourable scientific doctor by the Russian Academy.
The American Institute of Physics has praised Professor Van’s efforts to promote the development of a modern Vietnamese scientific community through international seminars at the Rencontres de Moriond, the Rencontres de Blois, and Meeting Vietnam.
Together with Professor Nguyen Van Hieu, Professor Van has co-sponsored the atomic and astrophysics conference called “Meeting Vietnam” in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City a few times.
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Van says international meetings help bring domestic scientists closer to global leaders in their chosen fields.
He is also founder of the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE), an institution gathering not only young researchers from Vietnam but also emerging scientists from many countries and territories including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Bangladesh.
The international fame enjoyed by Professor Van and his wife Professor Le Kim Ngoc has never overshadowed their focus on their homeland. The couple sold Christmas cards to raise funds for SOS villages in Da Lat, Dong Hoi, and Hue. They have done everything possible to encourage the Odol Vallel Fund to grant scholarships for outstanding but disadvantaged Vietnamese students.
In late May, Professor Van presided over the 25thRencontres de Blois, a gathering of 144 delegates representing 27 countries and territories such as the US, UK, Germany, Italy, Russia, Sweden, Spain, Japan, Canada, India, Belgium, Brazil, and Poland.
Van has proposed building an International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE) on 18.3ha on land in QuyNhon City’s Ghenh Rang ward at a cost of a US$6 million. Work is expected to start in August 2013, coinciding with the 9th “Meeting Vietnam”.
Van regards the centre as a bright spot in the region to join the ranks of other world-leading physics research institutions and provide fresh impetus for the promotion of Vietnam’s image in the international arena.
(Source: VOV)