The 15th Vietnam National Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology opened on August 9 in the central coastal city of Nha Trang with the participation of nearly 450 experts and students from Vietnam and around the world.

In his opening address, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat stated that Vietnam has recorded certain achievements over recent years in nuclear research, development, application and training.

He said that the country has overcome many challenges to enhance its nuclear research capacity and create several products to serve socio-economic development.

Dat informed that nearly 200 reports from scientists have been selected for discussion at the conference.

After the opening session, a plenary session was held with the presentation of 20 papers by speakers who are leading experts from Vietnamese and foreign research institutes, universities, hospitals and other nuclear energy organisations.

Dr In Cheol Lim from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Dr Tran Chi Thanh from the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute and Professor Jozef Misak from the Czech Republic Nuclear Research Institute discussed the current research results and development orientations of nuclear energy and technology in their respective countries.

As part of the conference, there was a roundtable between the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute and the Dubna Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, on the research results and cooperation prospects between the two sides.

After the plenary session, seven sub-committees of the conference are scheduled to report on different contents, such as nuclear power technology and safety issues, fundamental nuclear physics and the application of radiation in healthcare, industry and agriculture.

Since 1996 the Vietnam National Conference on Nuclear Science and Technology has been held every two years to announce the latest results on nuclear research, application and teaching in Vietnam and the world.

This year’s conference will run until August 11.