Prof. Jim Cronin: Follow the passion for science!

If you are passionate about science, follow that passion. This is the message Professor Jim W. Cronin, the scientist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1980, wants to send to young people who love Vietnamese science.

Prof. Cronin is giving a presentation . (Photo: M.Son)

On the afternoon of August 4, Prof. Cronin gave a presentation, exchanging extremely interesting topics of material and anti-matter before a large number of Vietnamese professors, scientists and students. Wei Nhu Kom Tum lecture hall, 19 Le Thanh Tong Hanoi, with a capacity of 350 people, no longer has an empty seat! After the discussion, VietNamNet reporter had a short discussion with Prof. Cronin.

Reporter : His presentation on material and antimatter has attracted many young Vietnamese. However, many of you wonder if they pursue the path of basic science research, will it benefit them and the country?

- Prof. Cronin: The most important thing is that salary and study opportunities, teaching at universities will be very good. Because it is considered to be satisfied when doing scientific research as inventions and inventions, at the same time, scientists must also live and have families needing care. For a country, ignoring such studies will also ignore the future applications that those studies bring.

- What should Vietnam do to build a more advanced science than it is today?

- First, it is necessary to give young Vietnamese students the opportunity to be well trained not only in foreign countries but also in the country. Second, I am not an expert in this area but I understand that there must be scientific research opportunities for good students in Vietnam, otherwise they will leave elsewhere. Because these students are as smart as other students in the world and are interested in scientific opportunities everywhere.

It is extremely important that the Vietnamese government needs to support some basic research. It is not necessary to support many basic studies of this type because your country has many other needs.

- What message do you want to convey to Vietnamese scientists and young people who are interested in physics in particular and science in general?

Prof. Cronin interviewed the press after the presentation. (Photo: Minh Son) - If you have a passion, follow that passion. I know it will be very difficult if the country does not fully support you. However, if you really care about a certain area of ​​science, pursue it.

- It is known that he considered himself the luckiest person on the planet. Why so?

- Oh that's because I can do what I want to do and I recently succeeded. I don't have any bosses other than myself. So, why am I not the luckiest person on the planet? . (Laugh)

- Being the founder of Pierre Auger International Project and came to Vietnam twice to cooperate with Vietnamese young physicists to participate in the Project. This time to Vietnam, do you intend to support more for Pierre Auger group of Vietnam?

- Of course, that's why I came to Vietnam this time. I also had a talk with the Minister of Science and Technology and learned that the Ministry of Science and Technology has accepted this project as an official project, prioritizing in the field of basic research. This is a welcome development compared to the past. I think it is important to invest more money to purchase some research equipment for the cosmic ray lab in Vietnam.

- Thank you Sir!

Minh Son (done)