A scientist's aspiration is a matter of thought

Talking to the Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Tuat, former Deputy Director of the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, stated that promoting scientists’ internal resources, passions and aspirations in the agricultural industry is an issue to think about in the current time.

VAN: Dear sir, you said that the passion and aspiration of scientists is a matter of concern today. But of course, we cannot call for passion and dedication when they have to live in hardship and struggle. Over the years, many research units in the agricultural industry have also had lots of complaints. What do you think about this matter?

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Tuat: Over the years, scientists have been complaining about poverty and struggles, but I don't see it as it is. In fact, scientists who are qualified, have real enthusiasm, work hard and dedicate themselves to their work are still living well within their capability, research results, and scientific labor results.

Doing science or anything is the same, no one can start their work and achieve something, winning right away. Especially when doing agricultural science, you have to be more persistent, you have to set up more plans and strategies for yourself. There are these studies, sometimes it takes 5 years, 10 years, or even longer to bear fruit, to have a product, but it is impossible to make a product and get good results right away.

The problem here is whether they are willing to utilize the conditions and resources that the state has invested in to promote their capability, to study hard, to invest brainpower and to rise in terms of knowledge.

Great scientists, especially in agriculture, have to stick with reality and proceed practically. If you don't live with reality, if you don't go out to search, experiment, and adjust during research, it's impossible to succeed.

VAN: Many research units of the agricultural sector have long complained that there is a lack of qualified staff and "brain drain" because staff, especially young cadres, quit their jobs and work outside. In your opinion, is the fact that they leave research institutes because of their low income and difficult life?

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Tuat: To tell the truth, over the years, research institutes have also had screenings or self-screening.

I think this is very normal. Because researchers leave the institutes to work for businesses, even if they work for foreign businesses in Vietnam, they are also contributing their intelligence, labor, and brainpower to Vietnam’s economy in general, for Vietnam's agricultural industry in particular. It’s not like they have moved abroad that we have to be afraid of "brain drain".

In the market mechanism, let it affect scientific activities by itself, and scientists also have to self-eliminate. Those who can survive in research institutes must, first of all, be substantive, responsible, and doing works means doing works. For those who can't stand it, let them find their own path.

I think the agency that directly manages the research units, the research units themselves need to allow a mechanism to flexibly adjust research topics right in the process of implementation, in order to promptly adjust accordingly, promoting the best effect. Don’t being rigid, because having adjustments to the topic during the process doesn’t mean the state's money is lost anywhere.

More focus on basic research

In essence, basic research in agriculture is not purely academic but serves as a direct foundation for application research. Therefore, between basic research and practical application research should be reviewed to group together, on the basis of close association with each other.

Thanks to the connection between basic research and application research, scientific and technological advances have been introduced to serve the requirements of local agricultural production in our country, helping the country overcome numerous difficulties on its own during the war as well as during the embargo period, especially for agricultural inputs.

Focusing on gaining resources for basic research will help us proactively respond to on-site requirements in all situations and industry incidents.

(Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Tuat)