Behind the first prize photo of the "Technology from the heart" photo contest

The photo not only captures students' interest in robots, but is also a vivid demonstration of the STEM training trend that is increasingly spreading in schools, helping to connect students with the world of technology right from the first steps.

In a space almost packed with students and strange equipment at Viet Anh Primary and Secondary School (Di An Ward, Binh Duong ) in May, photographer Bui Van Van accidentally captured the moment a group of primary school students excitedly interacted with a robot. This is a science and technology exhibition, an extracurricular activity commonly seen in many schools in Vietnam in the trend of bringing science and technology into the training program from the smallest levels.

Behind the photo that won first prize in the photo contest — Representative of the Organizing Committee at the opening ceremony of the photo exhibition Technology from the heart at Tao Dan Flower Garden, Hanoi .

This photo, taken by chance, "captured" the current STEM trend and won first prize in the single photo category in the Technology from the Heart photo and video contest.

“I learned about Technology from my heart through the introduction of friends, and just thought that the science and technology exhibition at Viet Anh school would be a good opportunity to find inspiration for my work. Technology is not an area that I usually take photos in,” said photographer Bui Van Van (Thuan An ward, Ho Chi Minh City).

“Seeing the kids do it makes me feel… behind the times, I feel amazed at how quickly they update technology,” the photographer shared.

Robots are becoming an effective tool in education, because the interaction, design, programming and control of robots is almost an “integrated” subject of scientific and technological knowledge and practical applications. For example, designing a robotic arm requires programming joints to operate simultaneously accurately, calculating load capacity, appropriate gripping mechanisms for each object, etc. The interactive visual nature of this technology also attracts students more than theoretical or paper lessons.

STEM training has become a trend in Vietnam with a series of STEM Festival events taking place annually since 2015, appearing in both border and mountainous communes. Along with that, a series of robot teams, from high schools across the country, compete in domestic and international competitions.

In early October, at the National Innovation Center, a ceremony was held to honor teams with high achievements in STEM and robotics tournaments. “These are the qualities of the high-quality human resource generation that our country needs to realize its aspiration for rapid and sustainable development, soon becoming a developed, powerful, and prosperous nation in the new era, the era of national growth,” Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said, assessing the skill sets that STEM and robotics training brings to the young generation.

And a testament to the appeal of STEM training is the photo “The joy of getting to know robots” - the joyful faces and smiles of the group of students when the robot completed its task.

“Each group of students is like a technology project, they are passionate about exchanging, discussing, pressing buttons, fixing errors and then cheering when a detail works as expected. I only take photos based on the emotions of a photography enthusiast: the eyes, smiles and of the students when they directly experience science and technology,” said Mr. Van.

The photo of Mr. Bui Van Van is not just a simple moment, but a mirror reflecting the strong development trend of science and technology in modern society. It is proof that technology does not only exist in laboratories or large companies but has infiltrated every classroom, opening up creative opportunities for all young generations.

From the Heart Technology competition, the works have spread images of technology close to life. Like this winning photo, each work is part of a larger story about the connection between technology and people. These photos not only capture moments, but also reflect the power of technology to create revolutionary changes in society.

The first-ever Technology from the Heart photo and video award was jointly organized by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Military Industry and Telecommunications Group (Viettel) in 2024. This year, the award was organized under the theme Vietnamese Creativity - The Road to Prosperity, contributing to spreading the spirit of innovation, creativity, application of science and technology and national digital transformation in the spirit of Resolution 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo.

This year's awards received 1,131 single photo entries, 229 photo series entries and 122 video entries.

“The joy of getting to know robots” won first prize in the single photo category, and was judged to have inspired the joy of experiencing technology. “In an era of constantly developing technology, for me, the topic of science and technology has become a new source of inspiration as well as a new opportunity to explore and introduce to everyone,” Mr. Van shared.

The award ceremony will be held at the National Press Center, No. 5 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi, at 4:00 p.m. on October 23, 2025. Immediately after the award ceremony, the Organizing Committee will display 61 of the most outstanding works of the Award, at Tao Dan Flower Garden, Hanoi.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Chuyen-dong-van-hoa/dang-sau-buc-anh-giai-nhat-cuoc-thi-anh-cong-nghe-tu-trai-tim-i785795/