The Academician Oparin and its marine scientific surveys

Recently, at the Institute of Oceanography (Nha Trang City), scientists from Vietnam and the Russian Federation summarized the results achieved through 9 survey trips by the ship Academician Oparin and opened a 10-year cooperation period. This summary marks 20 years of comprehensive cooperation in marine science and is even more meaningful when it takes place on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation (1950 - 2025).

Many outstanding achievements

Marine scientific research is a traditional area of ​​cooperation between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS). Over the past 20 years (2005 - 2025), scientists from Vietnam and the Russian Federation have conducted 10 joint surveys. Of these, there were 9 surveys on marine biodiversity and biochemistry using the Academician Oparin ship in Vietnam's waters. Recently, in Nha Trang City, the Institute of Oceanography organized a scientific workshop on VAST - FEB RAS Cooperation in marine biodiversity and biochemistry surveys. At the workshop, many outstanding results from the survey program using the Academician Oparin ship during 9 surveys were announced related to biodiversity surveys and the search for active substances in marine species and some other contents related to environmental quality and remote sensing.

Ship Academician Oparin.

Professor, Academician Chau Van Minh - Member of the Party Central Committee, President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology said that since VAST and FEB RAS restarted the joint survey program in 2005, with the journey from the port of Vladivostok (Russian Federation), FEB RAS scientists and the crew of the Academician Oparin Ship have crossed more than 4,000km of stormy seas in the Pacific Ocean 9 times to join scientists from 6 units of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to conduct surveys to explore Vietnam's marine natural resources. Within the framework of the 5 most recent survey trips within 10 years, the Academician Oparin Ship has conducted surveys at 474 stations from north to south of Vietnam's sea, including outpost island areas, collecting nearly 15,000 marine biological samples for research on biodiversity and bioactive substances. Despite the difficulties of extreme and unusual weather conditions at sea, with the high determination of the collective of Vietnamese and Russian scientists, the survey trips all followed the agreed itinerary between the two sides. Thanks to that, a comprehensive and complete set of documents on environmental conditions, biodiversity, and potential of active substances from Vietnam's sea, including remote islands, was collected. This is a very valuable source of scientific documents, contributing to the common understanding of the conditions of Vietnam's marine environmental resources, and the orientation of management, protection and sustainable exploitation.

Vietnamese and Russian scientists on the Academician Oparin ship.

According to Dr. Hoang Xuan Ben - Deputy Director of the Institute of Oceanography , the Oparin Academician Ship is equipped with many modern devices that can dive and collect samples in deep sea areas. With laboratories and modern research technology equipment on board, scientists can immediately analyze marine samples after collection, facilitating the process of scientific research on the sea. During the recent cooperation period, Vietnamese scientists also had the opportunity to study, practice, and conduct in-depth research in offshore areas, and access high-tech equipment on the Oparin Academician Ship to improve their qualifications.

Open a long-term cooperation period

Not only cooperating in research and survey work, over the years, the Russian Federation has also supported Vietnam in training human resources for marine survey and research in Vietnam through sharing knowledge, skills and new scientific discoveries in the cooperation process. In the past 10 years, there have been more than 20 delegations of young scientists from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology to work in the Russian Federation. The two countries have jointly published 64 scientific works, including 33 scientific works in international journals and many other national scientific articles.

Vietnamese and Russian scientists on a survey trip by the ship Academician Oparin.

Dr. Timofey Malyarenko - Head of the Russian survey team on the Academician Oparin Ship said: " We are very pleased and pleased with the results collected and important scientific discoveries during the survey trips between Vietnamese and Russian scientists. These results are clear evidence of the success of marine science cooperation between the two countries and are an important premise for scientists from both sides to build an effective coordination plan for the cooperation roadmap in the next 10 years (2026 - 2035)".

According to Dr. Hoang Xuan Ben, through survey and research trips, scientists from Vietnam and the Russian Federation have discovered many new marine species; found areas with potential sources of development, marine organisms in the reproductive stage, migrating..., from which effective management methods for these areas have been developed. In the next 10 years, based on the research and survey results achieved, scientists from the two countries will select locations and areas with potential for marine biology and biochemistry to conduct in-depth research in each area, apply modern science and technology, establish marine reserves; at the same time, research biochemistry, microbiology and evaluate the potential of biological compounds from the sea, analyze factors related to marine pollution... in order to manage, protect and exploit sustainably in Vietnam's seas. The two countries' academies also agreed on the goals of promoting research depth, increasing international publications, and effectively connecting the resources of the two countries.

Mr. Dinh Van Thieu - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee: The integration process requires Vietnam to expand international relations, strengthen the presence of Vietnam's scientific research force and also create conditions for international scientists to participate in research surveys in the East Sea. With the long-standing friendship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation, on the basis of signed agreements, the surveys have achieved important results, contributing to the orientation of marine research in Khanh Hoa province in particular and Vietnam in general in the coming period. Khanh Hoa province will create all optimal conditions for cooperation activities between Vietnamese and Russian scientists in the future.

THAI THINH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202506/tau-vien-si-oparin-va-nhungchuyen-khao-satve-khoa-hoc-bien-1707e47/