Honoring the scientific creativity of young Vietnamese in Australia
On the morning of December 18, at the headquarters of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the final round and award ceremony of the AURORA competition took place. This is a scientific research award for Vietnamese researchers in Australia in 2025 with the theme “AURORA 2025 – Shaping the Future of Vietnam-Australia Research”.
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The event was organized by the Vietnamese Student Association in Australia (SVAU) in collaboration with the Australia Innovation Network (NIC AU).
Attendees included Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hai, Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment; Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission; Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese; Mr. Phan Viet Phong, Director of the Department of Science and Technology, Central Propaganda and Education Commission; Mr. Tran Phi Vu, President of NIC AU Academic, along with representatives from businesses and experts in the manufacturing and technology sectors.
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| Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Nguyen Trung Kien delivering the opening speech. (Photo: Canh Tieu) |
In his opening remarks, Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien emphasized that this year's AURORA competition is not only an academic playground to honor the creativity and research efforts of young scientists but also demonstrates the increasingly strong link between science and practical issues in national development.
According to him, the competition is the result of effective collaboration between research organizations in Australia, the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia, the overseas Vietnamese community, and domestic enterprises.
“Vietnam's ministries and management agencies will continue to accompany, proactively commissioning research from students and young scientists, thereby directing research activities to align with business needs and national development strategies,” Chairman Nguyen Trung Kien emphasized.
He also affirmed the crucial role of the business sector in proposing practical problems and providing resources for scientific projects aimed at sustainable development.
It is hoped that Vietnamese students and young scientists studying and researching in Australia and other global scientific centers will develop research projects aimed at solving practical issues of the country's economy and society.
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| Mr. Le Thanh, Chairman of Tan Mai Group, expressed that domestic enterprises are ready to connect with the Vietnamese scientific community abroad. (Photo: Canh Tieu) |
During the program, Mr. Le Thanh, Chairman of Tan Mai Group, shared insights on the operations of manufacturing enterprises in Vietnam.
“Although the digital economy with technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet, or big data is rapidly developing, the field of biological product manufacturing has not yet matched its potential and actual conditions,” he stated.
According to Mr. Thanh, sectors such as agriculture, processing, and textiles have significant room to increase value through the application of science and technology, particularly in transitioning to biological materials, deep processing, and developing health-oriented products.
Mr. Le Thanh believes that when research students and young scientists bring international projects to Vietnam, they not only bring knowledge but also open opportunities to connect with top professors and academic networks worldwide. For businesses, this is a crucial resource to access new technology and implement applied research.
Notably, the Chairman of Tan Mai Group expressed that domestic enterprises are ready to connect with the Vietnamese scientific community abroad to form sustainable cooperation networks.
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| Dr. Tran Phi Vu, President of NIC AU Academic, emphasized that science should not remain confined to laboratories but should become a driving force for national development. (Photo: Canh Tieu) |
Representing the organizers, Dr. Tran Phi Vu, President of NIC AU Academic, presented a keynote report titled “The Essential Role of Basic and Applied Science in Forming Integrated Technology Systems: Perspectives from Developed Countries”.
The report highlighted the organic relationship between foundational and applied research in building technology systems for economic and social development, while suggesting approaches to foster more effective connections between researchers, businesses, and policy-making agencies.
Dr. Tran Phi Vu emphasized that science should not remain confined to laboratories but should become a driving force for national development.
With the theme “Aurora” – dawn, the competition aims to bring research projects beyond academic boundaries into production life, policy-making, and Vietnam's sustainable development path.
According to him, this year's competition is designed as an open space for young scientists to present, validate ideas, and gradually perfect solutions with practical application value.
Mr. Vu also expressed hope that this competition will connect research results with ministries, departments, and businesses to promote practical implementation, where outstanding projects will be linked with Ho Chi Minh City's science and technology incubation ecosystem and the National Innovation Network of Vietnam.
Additionally, the program will serve as a bridge between scientists and authorities in policy advocacy activities, particularly enhancing the role of businesses in commissioning scientific research.
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| Ms. Nguyen Thanh Hai, Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Committee on Science, Technology and Environment, and Mr. Huynh Thanh Dat, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, congratulating contestant Huỳnh Minh Anh for winning the AURORA 2025 Championship. (Photo: Canh Tieu) |
Following the keynote report, five outstanding research projects were presented to the Jury, covering various fields such as climate change, sustainable agriculture, environment-ecosystems, and biomedical technology.
This year's final round projects clearly reflect an interdisciplinary research orientation and the ability to connect science with specific development challenges.
Assessing the professional quality and scientific spirit of the competition, Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Thanh Dat, Deputy Head of the Central Propaganda and Education Commission, noted that this year's projects clearly reflect the trend of combining academic and practical research, aligning with the Party and State's orientation for science, technology, and innovation development.
After the contestants' presentations, the Jury conducted direct critiques, focusing on the scientific basis, novelty, research methods, and application potential of each project.
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| With the project “Optimizing Wheat Rhizosheath on Acidic Soil to Enhance Drought Resistance and Nutrient Absorption Efficiency”, contestant Pham Thi Thanh Huyen won second place. (Photo: Canh Tieu) |
In the final results, the organizing committee awarded first prize to contestant Huynh Minh Anh with the project “Soft Electrode Semiconductor Material Silicon Carbide for Cell Monitoring and Cancer Treatment”.
Second place went to Pham Thi Thanh Huyen with the research “Optimizing Wheat Rhizosheath on Acidic Soil to Enhance Drought Resistance and Nutrient Absorption Efficiency”; third place was awarded to contestant Luu Thi Trang with “A Comprehensive Model for Microplastic Treatment in the Mekong River Basin – from Survey to Technology Testing”.
Finally, two consolation prizes were awarded to contestant Nguyen Ha Ninh with the topic “Developing a Fire Ignition Prediction Model to Minimize Forest Fires in the Context of Climate Change”; Ninh Duc Bao with the project “Treating Dye in Textile Wastewater Using Agricultural By-products from Durian Peels”.
In his closing remarks, Chairman Nguyen Trung Kien expressed confidence that Aurora will continue to develop towards building a closely linked network between scientists, businesses, and management agencies; thereby facilitating the early transformation of research results into specific application values, contributing to the country's socio-economic development.
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| Contestant Luu Thi Trang won third place in the competition. (Photo: Canh Tieu) |
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| Consolation prizes were awarded to contestants Nguyễn Hà Ninh and Ninh Đức Bảo. In the photo is contestant Ninh Duc Bao receiving the prize. (Photo: Canh Tieu) |
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| Launched in April 2025 with three rounds, the AURORA competition – a scientific research award for Vietnamese researchers in Australia in 2025 – has gathered outstanding research projects representing key fields, showcasing the academic capabilities, innovative thinking, and contribution spirit of the Vietnamese research community in Australia. Through presentations, critiques, and professional exchanges, the program has created a high-quality academic exchange space, connecting researchers, experts, businesses, and management agencies. |
