In recognition of exceptional achievements in academia, scientific research, and community service, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union conferred the title of “Ho Chi Minh City Outstanding Young Citizen 2025” upon Võ Ngá»�c Minh Anh, an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Information Technology at VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½. The Youth Union organised the commendation ceremony on 1 January 2026.

During the proceedings, Võ Ng�c Minh Anh emerged as a distinguished figure within the science and technology sector, standing as one of the few female representatives to receive the honour this year. Such a title acknowledges persistent academic and research endeavours whilst affirming the increasingly distinct role and contributions of female students within key scientific and technological disciplines.

In 2025, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Technology, presented Võ Ngá»�c Minh Anh with the “Viet Nam Female Science and Technology Student Award”. This accolade placed the student among the top 20 outstanding female undergraduates nationwide, thereby becoming a source of pride for both VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½ and VNU-HCM.

Throughout the academic journey, Võ Ng�c Minh Anh has maintained an exemplary disciplinary record whilst actively engaging in scientific research. The undergraduate serves as co-author of one paper at a rank-B international conference, lead author of another international conference paper, and contributor to five papers at national scientific gatherings. Notably, the student achieved the title of Distinguished Presenter at the International Student Science Forum 2024, alongside numerous other professional awards in information technology. Such accomplishments demonstrate robust research capabilities and the dedicated spirit of a young scholar.

Parallel to academic pursuits, the student from the Faculty of Information Technology actively participates in voluntary programmes and social welfare initiatives. Võ Ng�c Minh Anh earned the trust to represent the youth by reading the Letter of the First Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Communist Youth Union, for the 2025–2030 term, addressed to union members and young citizens. This milestone signifies the high regard the Youth Union holds for the prestige, fortitude, and social responsibility demonstrated by the young scholar.

The title “Ho Chi Minh City Outstanding Young Citizen 2025” serves as worthy recognition for the comprehensive efforts of Võ Ngá»�c Minh Anh. Furthermore, the award promotes the image of VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½ students as dynamic, creative, and filled with a desire to contribute. Such recognition stands as vivid evidence of the role young intellectuals play in the journey of building and developing Ho Chi Minh City, and the nation.

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On 1 December in Ha Noi, the L’Oréal–UNESCO ‘For Women in Science’ programme presented national fellowships valued at 150 million VND to three distinguished Vietnamese female scientists. Among the laureates, Assoc. Prof. Phạm Kim Ngá»�c (Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½) received acclaim as a prominent figure for pioneering research into semiconductor devices and nanomaterial structures.

Amidst the rapid progression of Artificial Intelligence (AI), traditional computing infrastructure is approaching a critical overload point. The conventional von Neumann architecture, relying upon the separation of processing units from memory, creates a data ‘bottleneck’. Such a limitation results in significant energy wastage and decelerates the AI training process. Consequently, developing AI systems capable of mimicking brain activity—operating with greater speed and energy efficiency—stands as a paramount challenge in modern science and technology.

Addressing these practical demands, the project titled “Research and Fabrication of Memristor Devices and Circuits for Application as Artificial Synapses in Neuromorphic Computing Systems,� led by Assoc. Prof. Phạm Kim Ng�c, garnered high commendation from the Scientific Council for novelty and applicability.

The investigation explores breakthrough solutions in In-Memory Computing (IMC) architecture. A central focus remains the use of memristors—electronic components capable of storing analogue states, mimicking biological synapses, and allowing for high integration within crossbar arrays. To enhance reliability, Assoc. Prof. Phạm Kim Ng�c concentrates on Self-Rectifying Memristors (SRM), constructing the study from the fundamental materials level through to device and circuit fabrication.

According to the Scientific Council, such work paves the way for realising non-von Neumann hardware AI systems. These platforms promise superior learning capabilities, parallel processing, and energy efficiency, mimicking human brain function more closely than ever before. The research serves as a foundation for developing next-generation AI chips, fostering a more powerful and sustainable era of Artificial Intelligence.

Currently serving as Head of the Department of Nanomaterials and Thin Films, Assoc. Prof. Phạm Kim Ngá»�c has acted as Principal Investigator for numerous ministry-level and VNUHCM-level projects. The professor’s academic portfolio includes over 50 papers in prestigious international journals, four patents, and several published monographs. Furthermore, the awardee remains dedicated to mentoring the next generation of researchers in the field of advanced materials, contributing significantly to the development of the materials science and semiconductor industries in Viet Nam.

In a field often considered a ‘domain’ of men, Phạm Thanh Hoa—a fourth-year Materials Science student at VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½â€”has asserted herself through unwavering passion and effort. The student became one of the 20 faces honoured at the Vietnamese Female Students in Science and Technology Award 2025 for her research on environmentally friendly biomaterials.

A Unique Path in Science

Born without a ‘fateful turning point’ that directed her toward scientific research, Thanh Hoa came to Materials Science through thorough investigation and natural enthusiasm. The student particularly enjoys small experiments focused on understanding the structure and properties of matter.

“I realised that materials are everywhere in life, from everyday objects to battery technology, sensors, and biomedical materials. This is a field that is both accessible and capable of creating major societal change,� Hoa shared.

Thanh Hoa’s decision to choose this discipline surprised many people around her. “People hear ‘materials’ and immediately think of cement, steel, and heavy labour, so they worried the work would be too hard for me,� Hoa recalled. Instead of stepping back, Hoa chose to clarify: the research direction she pursues involves polymers and composites—a highly applicable area, ranging from biological packaging to advanced materials. “Once they understood correctly, my family became my strongest supporters,� the student said.

Commencing the four-year university journey, Hoa entered the world of research with rare curiosity and persistence. “Scientific research has no shortcuts. There were weeks when I repeated the same experiment dozens of times, yet the result still would not materialise,� Hoa recounted. Late nights spent on lab duty, and failures where solutions changed to the wrong colour, all became an essential part of the maturation process.

Amidst these difficulties, Thanh Hoa always had the University and especially Assoc. Prof. Hoàng Thị �ông Quỳ as immense sources of support. “This university and that dedicated lecturer not only taught me technical expertise but also the spirit of scientific work: perseverance, meticulousness, and never stopping to question. I remember the warning that science is not for those in a rush, and I gradually understand that in every experiment I perform,� Thanh Hoa stated.

Green Materials and the Aspiration for Sustainable Development

The project that led to Thanh Hoa’s recognition as one of the 20 outstanding national recipients of the Female Students in Science and Technology Award 2025 is ‘Developing Ion-Conducting Membranes from Cellulose.’

The research utilises cellulose—a natural polymer abundant in agricultural by-products such as straw and rice husks—to create a proton-conducting membrane for application in hydrogen fuel cells.

This type of cell generates electricity through a reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water, not CO2. “I want to take advantage of discarded raw materials to create clean energy, both reducing pollution and moving towards sustainable development,� Hoa said.

The greatest difficulty of the project lay not in the theory but in the practice. “On paper, every formula seems perfect, but in the laboratory, the material properties do not always match the desired outcome.� There were periods of continuous experimental failure, causing Hoa to doubt herself. But then, thanks to the support of her teachers and senior group members, the student gradually learned to remain calm, viewing the problem from multiple perspectives.

The spirit of persistence, intellectual curiosity, and focus on practical application helped Hoa’s project receive high praise at the Vietnamese Female Students in Science and Technology Award 2025. For her, the award is not just personal pride but also an affirmation that women can certainly stand firm in the technical and technological fields with enough passion.

Thanh Hoa expressed her gratitude to the University for providing excellent conditions for student research: modern labs, an international collaboration environment, and, crucially, lecturers who always encourage students to question, explore, and discover. For Hoa, the university is not just a place of study but a ‘cradle of serious and open research thinking.’

Phạm Thanh Hoa is a vivid demonstration of a new generation of VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½ female students—elegant, intellectual, and courageous—confidently stepping into the era of green science and technology.

For Võ Ngá»�c Minh Anh, an Information Technology student at VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½, technology transcends mere dry lines of code. The discipline serves as a tool to solve social problems and acts as a bridge to create positive value for the community. The journey of the student recently honoured in the Top 20 of the Female Students in Science and Technology Award is a testament to a spirit of ‘dedication,’ ‘real-world application,’ and a clear philosophy: always prioritising projects that directly benefit the user.

 ‘Answering with Results’

Minh Anh’s passion for technology began in secondary school with the Pascal programming language. She recounted feeling a sense of wonder after ‘writing a few lines of code and seeing the idea run.’ In university, upon encountering AI and Data Science, she realised technology offered a powerful instrument to address social issues in education, healthcare, and equality. Like many female students, Minh Anh once faced the prejudice that ‘engineering is for men,’ but she chose a determined way to overcome this: ‘answering with results.’

Instead of debating, Minh Anh focused on action, personally handling data, training models, and writing reports. The student has competed in contests such as UIT Data Science Challenge (First Prize, 2023), HackHCMC (Second Prize, 2024), and AI Hackathon (Second Prize, 2025). Furthermore, Minh Anh has authored and co-authored prestigious international research papers, including VCED and HORUS.

Moreover, the student actively shares knowledge, encouraging and mentoring younger female students. Minh Anh’s research achievements are closely linked to practical problems in Viet Nam. The most notable work is ‘VCED’—a Vietnamese cosmetics consultation chatbot model, accepted at the FETC 2025 International Conference.

This is not a typical chatbot. The model developed by Minh Anh and her colleagues uses a two-stage RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) architecture. This approach enables the chatbot both to retrieve specialised documentation and to analyse context (such as skin type and habits) to provide precise, natural consultation ‘like a real expert.’ The system was trained using actual Vietnamese data and integrated directly into Messenger to reach users in the most convenient manner.

Additionally, she is a co-author of ‘HORUS’—a multimodal AI system (understanding images, audio, and dialogue) for searching videos using natural language, presented at the MMM 2025 Conference.

A Bridge Between People for Shared Knowledge

Although she has accumulated numerous achievements, the most memorable turning point for Minh Anh was the moment she presented a different research idea at the Ho Chi Minh City International Student Science Forum 2024 (ISSF 2024). This project involved applying the RAG chatbot to support gender equality and legal consultation for women. To achieve these user-focused results, Minh Anh overcame considerable challenges, primarily the lack of resources and limitations concerning computational equipment (GPU). The student firmly believes: “In research, what matters is not how many tools you possess, but how much willpower and intellectual curiosity you hold.”

This journey has been supported by several sources of inspiration. From family, with the teaching that ‘strength lies in daring to move forward.’ From the academic environment, with Dr Lê Duy Tân (International University), who instilled research discipline and data-driven critical thinking. And from the enterprise mentor Lê Anh Tiến (Chatbot Viet Nam), who imparted the spirit of ‘dedication’ and the requirement that a ‘real product’ must serve as the standard for knowledge validation.

The ‘real-world application’ environment at VNUHCM, where students are encouraged to join labs early, closely connect with businesses, and work across multiple disciplines, has facilitated Minh Anh’s growth. She learned the ‘system thinking’ needed to complete the entire cycle: from problem, data, model, and evaluation to deployment, alongside the academic discipline ensuring every result is reproducible.

Currently, Minh Anh is working as a Junior AI Engineer at Ocany Viet Nam. For Minh Anh, the Female Students in Science and Technology Award is not a ‘destination’ but a ‘new starting point.’ She plans to continue delving deeper into multimodal RAG/LLM for the Vietnamese language, developing AI products with social impact, and especially mentoring, sharing resources with female students wishing to pursue AI.

Amidst a societal shift increasingly acknowledging the vital role of women in science and technology, the IEEE NPSS Women in Engineering (WIE) community orchestrated an inspiring engagement in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam. The primary objectives of this initiative were fostering interest among younger generations in pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) and providing a platform for local female scientists. The IEEE NPSS WIE gathering occurred on 18 August 2025, at VNUHCM-Â鶹´«Ã½ (HCMUS). This session functioned as a transversal component of the , held in the same city from 12 – 19 August 2025.

Notably, despite women playing a pivotal role in driving innovation and technological advancement, female professionals continue to face numerous career challenges. To mitigate such obstacles, the event aimed to honor the significant contributions of women in science. The proceedings also focused on raising awareness regarding the necessity of an equitable, supportive environment for women in research. Moreover, the program sought to support female researchers while encouraging younger generations to engage in scientific fields, thereby contributing to an increased female presence in STEAM.

 Attendees at the WIE-Hosted Event at HCMUS.

The WIE session maintained an inclusive policy, welcoming a diverse audience. A total of 104 attendees—87 in person and 17 online—participated, comprising students from the IEEE NPSS School (ages 20-32) and scholars from HCMUS (Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral levels). Members of the general public, including children, also attended. The gathering boasted remarkable diversity regarding knowledge bases and research fields.

The session commenced at 1:00 PM with Dr. Hoàng Thị Ki�u Trang welcoming participants. A lecturer of Faculty of Physics and Engineering Physics, HCMUS and an active IEEE NPSS WIE community member, Dr. Trang served as the local organizer for both the school and the WIE event. Her opening remarks raised awareness of IEEE NPSS WIE activities and transmitted the essence of the gathering to the audience.

Following Dr. Trang, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Physics and Engineering Physics, Assoc. Prof. Trần Thiện Thanh, offered welcoming remarks. Finally, Dr. Martin Grossmann from the Center for Proton Therapy at PSI, Switzerland, and IEEE Senior NPSS CANPS and TNC, highlighted the school’s activities, primary goals, and impact, while encouraging students to pursue their desired careers.

The opening ceremony preceded interventions by six scientists—four international and two local to Viet Nam:

• Dr. Andrea Gonzalez-Montoro (Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute for Instrumentation in Molecular Imaging, I3M, Valencia, Spain) outlined the WIE community’s main objectives and available resources. Dr. Gonzalez-Montoro also introduced the field of medical physics and provided an overview of her academic and research trajectory to inspire a passion for science among young attendees.
• Dr. Agnette Peralta (Professor at the University of the Philippines and former Department of Health member, Philippines) summarized a distinguished career, addressing challenges faced by medical physicists—particularly women—and highlighting the medical physicist’s vital role in ensuring safety and effectiveness in therapeutic procedures. Observing the profound impact on the audience, Prof. Peralta resolved to co-organize a WIE event in Manila, scheduled for September 2026.
• Dr. Cathy Tsai (Professor at the Institute of Nuclear Engineering and Science, National Tsing Hua University, NTHU, and Director of the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy Center) shared experiences researching BNCT. Her presentation served as a source of inspiration for young women to pursue scientific careers, emphasizing the critical role female scientists play in addressing global challenges.
• MSc. Phan Nguyá»…n Ã�i Nhi (Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, HCMUS) showcased community-connected STEAM (SL-STEAM) projects executed with active contributions from undergraduate students in the Department of Mathematics Education and graduate students in Experimental Biology at HCMUS. The initiatives aim to support visually impaired teachers and students through interdisciplinary applications. These projects affirm the role of women in engineering and education, contributing to the advancement of gender equality in STEAM.
• Assoc. Prof. Võ LÆ°Æ¡ng Hồng PhÆ°á»›c (Head of the Department of Oceanography, Meteorology, and Hydrology at the Faculty of Physics – Engineering Physics, HCMUS) reviewed the role of mangroves in coastal protection. Prof. PhÆ°á»›c stressed the capacity of mangroves to serve as natural barriers against erosion, storm surges, and sea-level rise—threats increasingly intensified by climate change. The presentation also discussed the socio-economic benefits of mangrove conservation, illustrating how integrating mangrove protection into broader coastal management frameworks can promote sustainable development while enhancing climate resilience.
• Dr. Cinzia Da Vià (Professor of Physics at the University of Manchester, UK, and Research Professor at Stony Brook University, USA) presented virtually on the main objectives of the . The audience received this talk warmly as the content complemented the previous speaker’s topic. Dr. Da Vià explored the intersection between climate hazards and social inequities, highlighting the role of community-based adaptation strategies and recovery plans led by local communities.

Special commendation is due to Dr. Nguyễn Trí Toàn Phúc from HCMUS, who provided outstanding assistance by performing live translations of speeches into Vietnamese, accommodating local attendees with limited English proficiency. This action demonstrates that language gaps need not be barriers to spreading the mission.

A mid-session intermission facilitated networking, allowing attendees to approach speakers, pose questions, and share testimonies. This break fostered a collegial atmosphere, helping everyone feel comfortable and part of a large international community.

Both the IEEE NPSS School and the IEEE NPSS WIE Event received organization and financial support from the NPSS Educational Committee in collaboration with the local organizing committee from HCMUS. Dr. Trang and the team attended to every detail, resulting in an outstanding occasion. Due to high engagement and interest, the session extended until 6:00 PM.

In summary, the 2025 IEEE NPSS WIE activity in Ho Chi Minh City featured presentations where female scientists shared career experiences. The gathering facilitated interactions between international scientists, local researchers, and participants. Through this initiative, the organizers hope to inspire young women to pursue research or academic careers, while promoting greater public understanding of the contributions female scientists make toward building a sustainable future.

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