From a vague student to "Doctor with passion for venomous snakes"
After graduating from the Faculty of Biology at the University of Natural Sciences in 2005, Nguyen Thien Tao felt uncertain about the path of scientific research. But fortunately, he had the opportunity to meet domestic and international researchers and experts, including Professor Nikolai Orlov - his first foreign teacher, who opened a new horizon for him.
The first time he followed the professor on a field trip to the Central Highlands in 2006, he spent 40 days eating and sleeping in the forest to collect research data and... get acquainted with snakes when he was assigned to be a field research assistant for Professor Nikolai Orlov. Born into a farming family, familiar with the fields, and having come into contact with snakes, frogs..., Nguyen Thien Tao was not afraid of difficulties and was very excited to have the opportunity to learn from experience, learn English, and he was highly appreciated by Professor Orlov after this trip.
During his days of camping in the forest, Tao not only learned how to identify snakes, but also felt the limits of his own endurance. “At first, I was not very impressed with him, but after a few days of working with him, I realized that he had the qualities, was hard-working and could be trained to follow this research direction,” Professor Nikolai once commented about him. This was also the turning point that brought him onto the path of serious scientific research.
Since that trip, Dr. Tao has accompanied Professor Orlov on all field research trips throughout Vietnam and neighboring countries. These trips have ignited his deep passion for the world of venomous snakes - a field that is both dangerous and interesting.
Sticking with venomous snakes, helping to save lives
Every day, Associate Professor Dr. Tao’s phone is always busy with messages from friends, colleagues and people interested in venomous snakes. Each message usually includes a picture of the snake, the location of the recording, and the bite marks on the bodies of unfortunate victims asking him to identify the species, support and advise.
During his research journey, he has been completing the construction of a database of venomous snake species in Vietnam. This not only helps to quickly identify snake species but also serves as an important foundation for orienting the development of antivenom serum production in the future. Dr. Tao emphasized: “In a country with a diversity of snake species like Vietnam, every year thousands of people are unfortunately bitten by venomous snakes. Developing domestic serum production not only reduces costs but is also the best way to support and save many lives.”
He and his research team have collaborated with the Poison Control Center of Bach Mai Hospital and many other partners to conduct research on the epidemiology of venomous snakes, the composition of snake venom toxins, and develop serum production on a laboratory scale. Despite many difficulties, he believes that this is a necessary direction to protect public health.
Not only a scientist, Dr. Nguyen Thien Tao is also a dedicated teacher, always inspiring new generations of students. “I wish to awaken potential and support young people who are passionate about scientific research to become better,” he shared.
In 2018, Dr. Tao was honored as a young member of the World Academy of Sciences, representing Vietnam in the field of biology. This was an opportunity for him to connect with international scientists, as well as learn and collaborate on scientific research projects.
Biodiversity research journey and conservation mission
Dr. Tao believes that each species of living thing, and specifically snakes, that exist on this earth have their own mission and are important links in the natural ecosystem. He is always troubled when receiving images of snakes that are unfortunately crushed to death by humans. “Not all snakes are poisonous, and they do not naturally attack humans,” he affirmed.
In addition to researching venomous snakes, discovering new species for science, studying their phylogenetic relationships, analyzing their genomes and evolution, Associate Professor, Dr. Tao also participates in biodiversity conservation programs, building conservation models for rare, precious and endemic species in Vietnam.
His scientific publications have received great attention from the domestic and international community, helping to improve understanding of wildlife conservation in Vietnam. In 2022, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thien Tao was honored to receive the Vietnam Environmental Award from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Despite his many achievements, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thien Tao still humbly acknowledges that his journey has only just begun.
“My research team and I hope to continue updating data on venomous snakes in Vietnam and cooperate with colleagues to develop some antivenom serums. This is the best way to support unfortunate victims of venomous snake bites, especially poor patients, to protect public health,” he shared.
With his passion and tireless perseverance, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thien Tao is gradually realizing his great aspiration. He is not only a “snake doctor” but also a person who wishes to contribute and inspire the generation of young Vietnamese scientists to devote themselves to the community and nature conservation.
(Posted on the special edition of Lao Dong Xuan At Ty)
