On the morning of March 8, at the Government headquarters, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with female heroes of the People's Armed Forces, female heroes of labor, female generals; attended the 40th anniversary of the Kovalevskaia Award and the 2024 Award.
The event was attended by 138 delegates including Heroic female People's Armed Forces, Heroic female Labor, and female general; 46 delegates representing individuals and groups of female scientists who have won the Kovalevskaia Award since 1985 to date.
The Kovalevskaia Prize is a noble Prize named after the outstanding Russian female Mathematician of the 19th century - Sophia Kovalevskaia (1850-1891).
The 2024 Kovalevskaia Award was awarded to 2 individuals: Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Minh Tan - Director of the Institute of Natural Compounds Research and Development, lecturer of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering, School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Hanoi University of Science and Technology; Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi My Dung - Deputy Director of the Institute of Nanotechnology, Ho Chi Minh City National University.
These are individuals with outstanding achievements in scientific research and practical application, making important contributions to the development of the unit and the industry, many research results are put into practical application, transferring technology worth billions of VND to enterprises in Vietnam.
Over 40 years of operation (from 1985 to 2025), 22 collectives and 57 individuals have received awards with many outstanding achievements, contributing many initiatives with high scientific and practical significance. This is a vivid testament to the persistent and tireless efforts in studying and research of Vietnamese women.
In Vietnam, the Award has been maintained since 1985 until now, the first female scientist to receive the Award in 1985 was Meritorious Teacher Bui Thi Ty - who received the award while working at Nguyen Hue - Ha Tay High School for the Gifted (now Hanoi City).
Among the female scientists who have won the Award, there is Prof. Dr. People's Doctor Huynh Thi Phuong Lien - Women's Union of the vaccine production area, Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Ministry of Health, representative of the women's collective that won the Kovalevskaia Award in 1999 and Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Tram (also known as Ms. Tram Rice) won the Kovalevskaia Award for individuals in 2000 and was awarded the title of Labor Hero for her persistent and outstanding contributions to the country's medical and agricultural sector.
The youngest female scientist to ever receive the award is Prof. Dr. Le Thi Thanh Nhan, currently Director of the Department of Ethnic Education, Ministry of Education and Training and Prof. Dr. Vu Thi Thu Ha - Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Industrial Chemistry, Director of the National Key Laborator for Petrochemical Refining Technology, won the prize in 2011 at the age of 41.
The event is an opportunity to review the glorious tradition of the nation and pay tribute to the female generals and heroes who have contributed to the struggle for liberation and development of the country; also an opportunity to encourage and motivate female scientists and women who have contributed on all fronts, from economics, science to education, culture and social life.
