“I often connect series of events and draw up some disjointed ideas. I try to think of one or several applications for those principles, then think if these apps can be utilized in reality. After that, I just need to create a complete idea from those needs. And the research process begins,” San said.

He said that the initial ideas often come suddenly and sometimes appear in dreams. However, nine out of 10 ideas are abstract and irrational, while only one is applicable.

Hoang San, a student at the Hue City High School for the Gifted, says some of his innovative ideas appear in dreams or come to him unconsciously.

San’s parents said since childhood, San has had a special passion for learning about the sky. At that time, the boy avidly watched the sky every night and constantly asked his relatives about the stars or moon.

San said the sky is ‘karma’ that led him to scientific research. He began reading many books about science and scientists. When he was in sixth grade, he started using the internet. 

At that time, Hoang studied basic astronomy and became familiar with famous scientific research work, including the Theory of Relativity. In the same year, he carried out first experiments to create a telescope.

The sixth grader then began saving money for his scientific research and two years later, generated the first three reflectors. He established the Hue City Astronomy Club, connected with the national astronomy community, and interacted with friends with the same passion in SE Asia.

Before San entered the 10th grade, he had created 13 telescopes with different designs. In addition to astronomy, San also did research in many other fields such as energy, environment and machinery.

At first, he learns about the matter carefully to master basic knowledge and ideas then appear. He proceeds further in what he is interested, completes theoretical design and carries out experiments before finding final results.

Asked about the biggest difficulties he has ever faced during scientific research, San said the difficulties come when experiments repeatedly fail. However, he said the failure doesn’t matter for him. There is one thing that may make him shrink –  lack of money.

San said sometimes he doesn’t have money for research and cannot do anything else except try to complete the project in theory. In general, San uses money he receives from previous projects but the funds always run out quickly.

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