The Fundamental Science and Society workshop opened this morning in the central Quy Nhon City, with the participation of foreign Nobel laureates and local agencies working in the field.

The participants include Prof David Gross, Nobel laureate in Physics in 2004, Jean-Marie Solvay, president of the International Solvay Institutes, and officials from the Vietnamese ministry of science and technology.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam delivered a speech at the workshop, highlighting the significance of fundamental science in the development of Vietnam in particular and of the world in general.

The two-day workshop will end tomorrow, July 8, after round-table discussions on topics such as basic science in emerging countries, basic science and sustainable development, and basic science and climate conclude.

According to Professor Tran Thanh Van, chairman of Rencontres du Vietnam (Meeting Vietnam), the workshop’s key objects were to understand the impact of fundamental science on our world and the relevance of fundamental science applications in the development of various sectors and society.

The workshop is being held by the science and technology ministry and Recontres du Vietnam at the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education in Quy Nhon City.

Today also marked the 50th anniversary of the Rencontres de Moriond (Meeting Moriond), a model initiated by Professor Vân in 1966 in Moriond, France, for informal meetings and discussions of young scientists. The Meeting Moriond model has contributed effectively to the development of global science in general.

VNS