This is a very bountiful resource of scientific and technological intellect. Making use of this resource is one of the important functions and missions of VUSTA, with the contact point being the Department of Knowledge Dissemination and Communication, gathering over 50 press agencies and three publishers, and in which the Press holds a major role.
1. The role of the press of VUSTA in building a strong team of scientific and technological intellectuals
As we all know, scientists cannot just conduct research then put their findings in a drawer. Instead, they are to publish it in different channels and be recognized by the scientific management agencies, then transition those findings in order to apply them to production and daily life. The next step is to propagate that research via publications such as books, newspapers or journals. Hence, through this important step, it is clear that publishers and press agencies have a crucial role in this task. It also means that the press holds an especially important role in the process of building and developing the team of scientific and technological intellectuals, which is the key force in the ongoing mission to industrialize and modernize the country.
The press is the main information channel through which the policies of the Party and State regarding scientific and technological development can be delivered, helping the team of intellectuals to stay up to date and readjust accordingly, and shaping research and application to be appropriate with socio-economic development needs.
In addition, the press is also a broad academic discussion forum where scientists can publish the results of their research, share their experience and critique policies, contributing to creating a transparent, democratic and creative scientific environment.
The press not only communicates knowledge but also honors scientists of merit, instilling a sense of in their work and the spirit of dedication, thereby attracting the young generation to science and technology. Through the reflection of difficulties and shortcomings in management, investment and treatment mechanisms, the press also contributes to motivating authorities to complete policies that would create better conditions for intellectuals to fully use their potential. In the context of the fourth industrial revolution, the modern press with the aid of digital technology can act as a bridge between domestic and international research, helping the team of Vietnamese intellectuals integrate deeply internationally.
Hence, the press is not only a tool for information but also a spiritual motivator and a channel for social monitoring, playing an important role in shaping, training and promoting a strong team of scientific and technological intellectuals, meeting the needs of sustainable development of the nation.
Not only that, but the press also plays a role in connecting the “three parties”: the managers, the scientists and the businesses. Through columns, dialogues and special reports, the press helps to bring results of research into practical production, motivating technology commercialization and innovative startups. When scientific and technological achievements are communicated in a timely, accurate and exciting manner, they will encourage the spirit of research and expand the potential for application, while also uplifting the status of Vietnamese intellectuals in international integration. This is an important impetus for the country to develop quickly and with a strong foundation in the period of intellectual economy.
2. How does the Health and Environment Magazine realize that role?
To better take advantage of the role of the press in building the team of scientific and technological intellectuals, the press must not stop innovating its content and delivery formats, while at the same time making use of multimedia, from print media to digital platforms and social media. This will help scientific and technological information to spread quickly and widely.
The Health and Environment Magazine is the press agency of the Institute Of Health and Environment for the Community – a member organization of VUSTA.
According to the stated purpose of operation, aside from the socio-political objective like all other press agencies, Health and Environment also focuses on two main scientific fields as the name would suggest: Health and Environment.
2.1 Objective advantages
- Science and Health are two very “hot” subjects and are expected to remain so for a long time. There are still many issues that are causing frustrations within the public, attracting attention of both scientists and readers.
- VUSTA has a large scientific and technological resource in their scientists, and they have already become valuable assets in the professional activities of Health and Environment. With the directions given by the Directly Managing Institute and close cooperation with other press agencies of VUSTA through its Department of Knowledge Dissemination and Communication, Health and Environmental has truly had a wide-open field to conduct its activities. In addition, VUSTA and the Department of Knowledge Dissemination and Communication frequently hold dialogues and seminars to allow their press agencies to communicate, exchange academic knowledge and connect with their own press activities.
- With its many advantages: An experienced and capable team of journalists, a wide network of contributors across many scientific, technological, health and environmental fields; diverse means of communication such as print media, digital newspaper, video clips and infographics, etc. Health and Environment has not only been able to widely promote the research results of scientists but also contribute to uniting and building the team of scientific and technological intellectuals within VUSTA.
However, we also assert that objective advantages could not be put to use without the subjective effort of the journalists themselves, who help to create the strength of the magazine in uniting and building the team of scientific and technological intellectuals.
2.2 Solutions that Health and Environment has realized:
- Built a network of scientific and technological contributors to create articles on science and technology, or to post about new inventions or research topics of scientists as well as honoring scientists of merit, etc.
- Bult a stable column in print and electronic media to facilitate convenience for both the readers following and the contributors writing. On top of that, there are also in-depth scientific columns to update readers on new issues of science and technology.
We would like to introduce the columns within Health and Environment:
* Print media: 8 recurring columns: Policies, Impressions - Events, Forums - Discussions, Green Life, New Models – Good Methods, For Community Health, Your Physician, Science and Technology and the Environment.
* Digital magazine: Content regarding science and technology in general as well as health and the environment specifically always holds the focus in all of the columns of the digital magazine. Those are The Issues for Today, Health, Environment, Medicine, Life, World, Science and Technology, Expert Discussions and Debate. Within those large topics, smaller topics can be found, helping to make receiving information easier for the reader, as well as making it more convenient for the scientist contributors to send in their articles to be posted.
With those efforts, even as Health and Environment undergoes exceptional financial difficulties, operations can still be done according to the stated purpose, contributing to the general media activities of VUSTA as well as building its reputation and utilize its role in uniting and building the team of scientific and technological intellectuals.
3. Recommendations:
- Under the light of Resolution 57/NQ-TW and the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation 2025 recently passed by the National Assembly, for the first time in the legislative history of science and technology, non-public scientific and technological organizations are regulated with their own article – Article 37. The article ensures the rights and support mechanisms of non-public organizations in scientific, technological and innovative activities. This is truly a massive help for the scientific and technological organizations within VUSTA. We hope that VUSTA can act as a bridge for scientists, the team of scientific and technological intellectuals and the press to contribute more towards uniting and building a strong team of scientific and technological intellectuals.
- Announcement and publicization of scientific results and inventions of the team of scientific and technological intellectuals of VUSTA should be made periodically.
- There should be support for magazines and journals to participate in media projects of programs at National, Ministerial or Departmental levels, etc.
By Journalist Phạm Thị My, Ph.D.
Editor-in-Chief, Health and Environment Magazine
Translated by Nhat Nam
