A ceremony to present the Ta Quang Buu awards was held on Thursday in Hanoi as part of activities marking Viet Nam Science and Technology Day.

Dr Nguyen Sum, associate professor of Quy Nhơn University, and Dr Phan Thanh Sơn Nam, professor of the Polytechnique University of the Hồ Chí Minh City National University, were honoured with the awards for their work in two areas -- math and chemistry -- respectively.

The work of Nguyễn Sum was titled “On the Peterson hit problem, Advances in Mathematics” and that of Phan Thanh Sơn Nam was called “Propargylamine synthesis via sequential methylation and C-H functionalization of N-methylanilines and terminal alkynes under metal-organic-framework Cu2(BDC)2(DABCO) catalysis.”

A representative from the Ministry of Science and Technology said the ministry received 30 entries for the awards and finally the two mentioned above were selected for the honour.

Meanwhile, in his address, Deputy Prime Minister Vũ Đức Đam called on scientists to make further efforts to keep pace with global technological developments, especially the fourth industrial revolution.

“We need to inspire students and university graduates. We also need to create a favourable environment to enable scientists to dedicate themselves to science and innovation," Dam said.

A series of activities celebrating Viet Nam Science and Technology Day 2017 were also held in many localities throughout the country.