VinFuture's USD 3 million prizes is awarded for the invention of connecting global network technology - changing the way of communication and working and laying the foundation for modern economic and social development.

The VinFuture Global Science and Technology Award Ceremony on December 20 gathered a large number of world-renowned scientists. Two scientists who won the Nobel Prize in Physics, Professor Gérard Albert Mourou and Professor Sir Kostya S.Novoselov FRS, the winner of the Millennium Technology Prize in Physics, Professor Sir Richard Henry Friend, along with many famous names, have made great contributions to the revival and reconstruction. the lives of millions of people during and after the pandemic were present.

Nearly 600 guests who are researchers, experts, prize owners, and the scientific community... came from 8 pm and stayed for more than 2 hours during the award ceremony at the Hanoi Opera House.
In the second year of its organization, VinFuture showed outstanding "heat" in terms of quantity and quality, with nearly 1,000 projects from 71 countries on 6 continents being nominated (almost double the number of 599 projects). nominations received in 2021). The awards seek and honor highly applied works, and important inventions that help solve humanity's challenges and have a global impact that benefits millions of people, with 4 awards worth up to $4.5 million.

Speaking at the event, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the difference between the VinFuture 2022 Awards compared to the previous season is the comfort and safety when the Covid-19 pandemic is almost under control. He reminded and expressed gratitude to the team of scientists of Dr. Katalin Karikó - the "mother" of mRNA technology, the foundation of the Covid-19 vaccine. The work demonstrates the impact of more than 150 countries benefiting from this study. This is also the study that was honored with the main award last season.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue spoke at the event.

He assessed the outstanding difference of VinFututre in its global impact and inspiration to the scientific community around the world, reflected in the increase in the number of entries. He cited an increase in the percentage of nominated partners coming from Asian scientists with 34.6%; especially the percentage from Africa up to 12.4%, up more than 6 times compared to 2021. "The award brings hope for scientific works that are useful to the lives of millions of people, towards a more just developed world," he said.

He also affirmed that science and technology have promoted the outstanding development of human civilization, and emphasized that in the future will be a strong link linking Vietnamese scientists to the world, as well as a bridge to Researchers and inventors around the world to realize great scientific aspirations to serve humanity.

Right after the gratitude part to the members of the Award Council and the Preliminary Council, the winners of the award categories were revealed in turn, dotted with emotional footage that marked the research and journey of each researcher. science.

The whole audience held their breath at the moment of announcing the main award - the most important category of VinFuture - honoring the breakthrough invention in connecting global network technology, which has completely changed the way of communication and working. of people in the world and laid the foundation for modern economic and social development. VinFuture Grand Prize worth 3 million USD named 5 scientists including Prof. Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee; Dr. Vinton Gray Cerf; Dr. Emmanuel Desurvire; Dr. Robert Elliot Kahn and Prof. Sir David Neil Payne with the work "making the Internet and the global network a reality".

The VinFuture main award recognizes the invention of the World Wide Web, the Internet, and the fiber-optic Internet becoming the dominant communication tool worldwide. Billions of people enjoy the fruits of research, using it to easily get information, exchange, and connect every day.

Professor Timothy John Berners-Lee (67 years old), a British scientist, invented the global network World Wide Web. He wrote the first web browser, led the design, and established three important Internet standards - HTML, HTTP, and URL.

Two American scientists, Dr. Robert Elliot Kahn (84 years old) and Dr. Vinton Gray Cerf (79 years old) are considered the "father of the Internet" when leading the design and implementation of transmission control and communication protocols. Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) - the basis for the current Internet. Today's internet, based on fiber optic communication, was enabled by the research of Erbium Doped Fiber Optic Amplifiers by two scientists David Neil Payne (78 years old, British) and Emmanuel Desurvire (67 years old, France). ).

On the center stage of the tribute, there were only 4 scientists. Dr. Robert Kahn was unable to attend due to health reasons. The group of scientists who created the technology that binds millions of people were moved when the entire audience stood up and applauded.

"I am very honored to receive the award. This is a recognition of the efforts of so many of our colleagues. The advent of the global Internet helps people still work during the Covid-19 pandemic, which is what shows the success of software wireless security protocol, the connection of millions of kilometers of fiber optic cable. When you are at home during the pandemic, you still communicate and work by having a fiber optic signal amplifier. designed by my colleagues", Professor Sir David Neil Payne shared when receiving the award, and thanked the VinFuture Foundation, the university he has been with for 60 years, and his wife who endured for him to devote to science. . While Dr. Emmanuel Desurvire said he is just one of the laser and laser cable makers globally. He is grateful that "without curiosity, nothing can be done in science".

Besides the main prize, VinFuture also awarded 3 special prizes to scientists from developing countries, female scientists, and scientists in pioneering new fields, each worth USD 500,000.

The special prize for scientists from developing countries was awarded to Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, for his low-cost water purification system to remove Arsenic from groundwater. Prof Pradeep discovered metal nanoparticles can be used to break the bonds that bind and transport arsenic in groundwater. This link-breaking technology effectively cleans groundwater at a very low cost, helping millions of affected households.

The special prize for scientists from developing countries was awarded to Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai.

Special prize for female scientist Professor Pamela C. Ronald, University of California, Davis, USA, for her basic research on rice varieties that are resistant to flooding, and creating new high-yielding varieties. The rice variety researched by Professor Ronald is particularly suitable for growing conditions in Laos, Bangladesh, and India and can be further applied to rice cultivation in other countries. This is a breakthrough discovery in the field of rice planting and harvesting.

Prof. Pamela C. Ronald (left) received the special prize for female scientists.

The special prize for scientists in a new field was awarded to Dr. Demis Hassabis (UK) and John Jumper (USA), for their work on AlphaFold - an artificial intelligence system that predicts the 3D structure of proteins. Two DeepMind scientists developed AlphaFold 2, which uses deep learning to predict protein structure. With AlphaFold, artificial intelligence (AI) is proven to accurately predict the shape of proteins with precision down to the atomic level, at scale, and in minutes. The team has produced and made publicly available structural databases of more than 200 million proteins empowering thousands of scientists to solve problems affecting all communities, countries, and the world, allowing everyone to benefit.

During the award ceremony, because the two prize holders were busy returning home early, Professor Leslie Gabriel Valiant was the recipient.

Professor Leslie Gabriel Valiant accepted the award on his behalf and shared the two authors' speeches.

Interspersed with each announcement and awarding part is the unique art performances of the world's leading artists. Talented artist Dong Quang Vinh appeared in a very different role as a strong player with the bamboo band New Vitality. The cheerful and clear melody of the Rooster Crow and the Turkish March captivated many audiences. "Disney legend" Christina Aguilera sent 3 English songs with the message to always have faith in ourselves and shine when we are ourselves. Dance performance imbued with national identity A glimpse of Vietnam performed by Meritorious Artist Linh Nga and the dance troupe. The VinFuture honoring night ended with a performance by young violinist Bui Cong Duy and the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra conducted by Conductor Honna Tetsuji.

The award is initiated by the VinFuture Foundation in 2020 and is awarded annually for breakthrough scientific and technological inventions that have the potential to create meaningful changes in people's lives. After 2 seasons, 16 scientists were honored.

Via: vnexpress.net