Dr. Viet is in the top 10,000 influential scientists in the world on clean water treatment.

Over the years, Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai has contributed to raising the level of Vietnamese science with projects to solve water pollution problems.

Publisher Elsevier has just announced a list of the world's most influential scientists in 2025.

This list is built on the basis of citation data from Scopus, reflecting the level of influence of research works on a global scale. Among the 9 Vietnamese scientists in the top 10,000 most influential scientists in the world , Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai, Deputy Director of the Institute for Fundamental and Applied Science Research (IFAS), Duy Tan University, appeared at position 2,905.

Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai, Deputy Director of the Institute for Fundamental and Applied Scientific Research (IFAS), Duy Tan University. Photo: Duy Tan.

Dedicated scientist solves the problem of water pollution

Dr. Hai's main research direction is the development of advanced materials for application in water pollution treatment and the theory/mechanism related to the adsorption process of pollutants in water. This is a field of great practical application value in the context of climate change and increasingly serious pollution.

He focuses on studying the adsorption mechanism of pollutants, effectively exploiting new materials such as spherical carbon, hydrochar or double-layered hydroxides. Not only stopping at the experimental level, Dr. Hai is also interested in the theoretical basis, understanding the nature of the chemical and physical processes taking place at the molecular level, thereby optimizing the ability to treat pollution.

Dr. Hai checks the arsenic filtration system at Hoang Tay Kindergarten, Kim Bang district, Ha Nam province. Photo: Duy Tan.

Many of Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai's researches have been directly applied in the treatment of contaminated water. He is a core member of the project "Research and application of a new hierarchical arsenic treatment system for drinking water sources in rural areas of Vietnam" sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in collaboration with Google. At the same time, Dr. Hai is also the head of the project "Research on synthesis of advanced materials (spherical carbon/double-layered hydroxide) for application in the treatment of contaminated water" sponsored by the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED).

The research results of this topic have been published in Science of The Total Environment, a leading prestigious ISI journal in the environmental field.

Building internal strength and international connections, the key to Vietnamese science

According to data from Google Scholar, his scientific articles have received over 100,000 citations, while the Scopus database recorded about 8,500 citations. This is an impressive number for Vietnamese scientists in the environmental field, confirming the real influence of his works. Notably, nearly 70% of his publications were published in Q1 (Web of Science) journals, the group of journals with the highest quality and reputation.

Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai (4th from right) received the 2019 Golden Globe Award. Photo: Duy Tan.

Dr. Hai also pays special attention to international cooperation. He participates in and leads projects with young professors and doctors from many countries such as Australia, France, England, Taiwan, Turkey, Brazil, Algeria, etc. Thanks to that, research results are not only applied domestically but also spread, making an impression in the global scientific community.

Sharing about the path for Vietnamese science to confidently reach international level, Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai said that there needs to be systematic and sustainable strategies. According to him, the top priority is still to develop internal research capacity through the formation of strong domestic research groups. This is the foundation for Vietnamese science to stand on its own and create quality works. However, some specific fields require support in advanced technology from developed countries, so international cooperation still plays an important role.

Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai was introduced in the journal Science of the Total Environment.

According to Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai, to build a strong Vietnam, the scientific community needs to promote the spirit of "Unity is strength", in which young scientists cooperate and learn from the previous generation to create high-quality works, aiming for international publication and practical application.

Multidisciplinary collaboration is also a key factor in expanding the scope and improving the quality of research. In addition to international publications, a scientist’s reputation is also affirmed through his or her participation in the editorial boards of prestigious academic journals.

Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai graduated with a major in Land Management from Can Tho University in 2003, then continued his graduate studies and received a Master's degree in Soil Science. In 2017, he successfully defended his thesis and was awarded a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Chung Yuan Christian University, Taiwan, under a full scholarship program for excellent international students provided by the school. He is currently the Vice President of the Institute for Fundamental and Applied Science Research (IFAS), Duy Tan University.

In 2023, he was in the top 10,000 influential scientists in the world and was awarded the title “Rising Star of Science” by the website Research.com. This event was voted as “10 outstanding Science and Technology events in 2023”.

In 2019, he was one of 10 typical faces receiving the Golden Globe Award for Science and Technology (in the field of Environmental Technology).

In addition, Dr. Hai is currently a member of the Editorial Board of a series of prestigious international journals in Web of Science such as: Water Science and Technology (IWA), Chemosphere (Elsevier), Biochar and Environment, Development and Sustainability (Springer), Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology (Wiley), Separation & Purification Reviews (Taylor & Francis), Green Processing and Synthesis (De Gruyter), Adsorption Science and Technology (SAGE). He also participates in the editorial board of Science and Technology Development Journal (VNU-HCM) and Vietnam Journal of Science, Technology and Engineering (Ministry of Science and Technology).

Talking to Knowledge and Life, Hero of Labor, Meritorious Teacher Le Cong Co, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Duy Tan University, said that the achievements of Dr. Tran Nguyen Hai are proof of serious research efforts that will be recognized by the international scientific community. This is also a great source of encouragement for scientists, especially young scientists, to have more confidence and effort.

"Duy Tan University will always accompany and create a favorable environment for lecturers and scientists to fully develop their potential and contribute to science and the country," Mr. Co shared.

Source: https://khoahocdoisong.vn/ts-viet-lot-top-10000-nha-khoa-hoc-anh-huong-the-gioi-ve-xu-ly-nuoc-sach-post2149055127.html