Tran Dai Nghia Award for cliff-hanging lake and medium voltage switchboard

On May 16, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology awarded the 2025 Tran Dai Nghia Prize to two outstanding scientific works that have been widely applied.

Ta Lung hanging lake, in Meo Vac district ( Ha Giang )

One of the two projects receiving the Tran Dai Nghia Award 2025 is "Hanging lake technology to capture water from cliffs" by a group of scientists including Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Cao Minh, Dr. Vu Van Bang, Engineer Nguyen Chi Ton (of the Institute of Earth Sciences) combining geological and hydrological sciences, successfully tested in 2002 in Dong Van (Ha Giang).

The lake hanging halfway up the mountain collects underground water from the cliffs, helping people overcome their "water thirst" that lasts 6-8 months each year on the plateau at an altitude of more than 1,000m above sea level.

To date, 125 hanging lakes have been built in the Ha Giang stone plateau and more than 30 hanging lakes are under construction.

The work "Research, development, production of medium voltage electrical cabinets" by authors Pham Dinh Thang, Doan Ky Ba, Bui Van Dam (Asia Industrial Engineering Joint Stock Company) is also highly appreciated because in the context of industrialization and modernization, it requires a large source of energy, especially energy infrastructure.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung and the authors received the Tran Dai Nghia Award 2025 - Photo: VIETNAM ACADEMY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Speaking at the award ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said that the award is not simply a scientific title, but also a great source of inspiration for the younger generation. It is an affirmation that Vietnamese science is fully capable of mastering technology, innovating and accompanying the country's development in the new era, the era of national development.

"We are living in an era where science and technology are key drivers for development. In that context, the Tran Dai Nghia Award has a special meaning: it is not only a tribute to the past, but also an encouragement to the present and an opening to the future," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

Representing the group of authors who were awarded, Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Cao Minh shared that to conduct a scientific research project, it may only take a few scientists, but to bring a solution that is practically verified and replicated in production requires the contribution of many people. He expressed his gratitude to those who helped the group of authors successfully apply the project in real life.

Proposal to award the annual Tran Dai Nghia Award

At the press conference about the award on May 15, Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, said that the Tran Dai Nghia Award has very strict criteria and judging process, with judges being leading scientists.

One of the criteria that is emphasized is scientific content and applicability. In particular, whether it was created early or recently, the work must demonstrate its application value and positive impact on various areas of life. "There are works that when awarded the prize, the authors are already old, have a long history of scientific research, and some have passed away," said Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha.

The Tran Dai Nghia Award is a noble award of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, held every 3 years to honor domestic and foreign scientists with outstanding research works in the fields of natural sciences and technology such as mathematics, mechanics, information science and computers, physics, chemistry, life sciences, earth sciences, marine sciences, environmental sciences and energy, etc.

In 2025, 5 projects were nominated by specialized councils in 4 research fields and 2 out of 5 projects were selected for awards.

The Tran Dai Nghia Award was established in 2015, but has only been presented three times. At the award ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung suggested that instead of once every three years, the award would be presented once a year.

VINH HA

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/trao-giai-thuong-tran-dai-nghia-cho-ho-treo-tren-vach-nui-va-tu-dien-trung-the-20250516155922973.htm