On the morning of 6/3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with female leaders and managers from central agencies, where he presented the Kovalevskaia award 2025 to outstanding female scientists.

Professor Tran Thi Viet Nga was recognized for her expertise in water and wastewater treatment engineering. Her research aligns with practical needs in environmental protection, energy security, and climate change adaptation. She has led 14 out of 21 scientific and technological projects across various levels, including 2 state-level projects, 6 ministerial-level projects, and 3 international cooperation initiatives funded by the governments of Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Currently, Professor Nga leads the international SATREPS project, which utilizes Japanese official development assistance (ODA) funds from the Japan international cooperation agency and the Japan science and technology agency. Running from 2023-2028, this project aims to develop a water supply system adaptable to polluted water sources in Vietnam. She also spearheads the initiative to restore Hanoi's inner-city river systems, including the To Lich, Lu, Set, and Kim Nguu rivers. Professor Nga serves as a visiting professor for postgraduate programs at several international universities and organizations, such as the university of Tokyo and the United Nations university in Japan, the university of Dresden in Germany, the university of Southampton in the United Kingdom, and the university of Brescia in Italy. She has supervised 5 doctoral students and 30 master's students in infrastructure and environmental engineering.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented the Kovalevskaia award 2025 to Professor Doctor Tran Thi Viet Nga, on the morning of 6/3. *Photo: Nhat Bac*

Beyond the individual recognition for Professor Tran Thi Viet Nga, the Kovalevskaia award 2025 also honored a team of female scientists from the department of food engineering, school of chemical and life sciences, Hanoi university of science and technology. Their collective work, titled "Application of biocatalysis to enhance the value of Vietnamese agricultural products," focuses on developing health-benefiting foods from domestic ingredients. These projects leverage biocatalysis, including enzymes and microorganisms, and explore utilizing food industry byproducts to increase value, promoting a zero-waste production model and a circular economy.

The Prime Minister presented the Kovalevskaia award 2025 to a team of female scientists for their cluster of works titled "Application of biocatalysis to enhance the value of Vietnamese agricultural products." *Photo: Nhat Bac*

The Kovalevskaia award is named after the Russian mathematician Sophia Kovalevskaia (1850-1891). Over the past 40 years, from 1985 to 2025, the award has recognized 22 teams and 57 individual female scientists for their highly applicable works in natural and basic sciences.

During the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnamese women consistently strive to contribute to their families and society, actively participating in scientific research and national development. He urged agencies to continue facilitating women's involvement in scientific research, enabling deeper contributions to development goals, especially in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green transition. The government leader also suggested exploring the establishment of a "talented, creative, and dedicated women" award, to be presented annually on 20/10, to honor the contributions of Vietnamese women.

Vu Tuan