Affirming the creative mark of youth

(Baonghean.vn) - Over many years of organization, the Nghe An Province Youth Creativity Contest has left a strong mark, stimulating thinking ability and igniting the flame of creativity and scientific research for the province's youth.

Nhcreative products

Meet the “young IT expert” Tran Manh Cuong when the joy of winning the 3rd prize in the 11th National Youth Creativity Contest in 2015 is still exciting. “I participated in the contest with the software product AS2 suite, simulating the main activities of a mobile operating system. This is also the product that helped me win the 1st prize of the 21st Nghe An Provincial Youth Informatics Contest, the 2nd prize of Nghe An Youth Creativity Contest in 2015.” - Tran Manh Cuong excitedly shared.

Cuong said that IT has been his passion since he was a child, starting from the daily work of watching and working with his father - who is an electronics repairman in the area - repairing household electrical appliances, speakers, machines, etc. for the people. But as he shared, everything would have stopped there, if he had not known about the Nghe An Province Youth and Children's Creativity Contest launched by the Provincial Youth Union in coordination with the Union of Science and Technology Associations.

Cuong said: “At the beginning of the 10th grade school year, the Anh Son 2 High School Youth Union announced this contest and widely promoted it, often emphasizing its content and meaning during the flag-raising ceremonies at the beginning of the week. From unfamiliarity to excitement, I spent time researching the contest criteria in more detail, then explored and created useful IT products.”

"Young computer scientist" Tran Manh Cuong (second from right) received second prize in the 2015 Nghe An Province Youth Creativity Contest.

As for the two young authors Hoang Anh Tuan and Nguyen Duc Tuan (class 10A3, Nguyen Truong To High School, Hung Nguyen), the product Automation of aquaculture care process in ponds and lakes was honored to receive the Special Prize of Nghe An Youth Creativity 2015, and the Encouragement Prize of the National Youth Creativity Contest.

Hoang Anh Tuan shared: “Based on daily reality, seeing parents, uncles, and neighbors raising aquatic products but the results are not high because most of them rely on experience and limited care techniques. I thought a lot about a device that automates the care process, reduces labor, increases productivity, and product quality. My friend Nguyen Duc Tuan and I invented this automated device.”

The automated device uses easy-to-find electronic components, does not consume much energy or money, operates on the principle of automatic mechanical control with a timer to spread food for aquatic animals and a remote control to spray disinfectant for ponds. The practical application of the product helped the students receive high praise from the judges of the competition.

Spread from the competition

With its success and influence, youth creativity has not only been limited to the scale of a contest but has truly become a widespread movement, attracting the attention and response of a large number of primary, secondary and high school students.

Over the years, the youth creativity contest has attracted thousands of students and hundreds of creative works, many of which are highly practical inventions. If there are investment and improvement conditions, they will create useful products and improve the quality of life.

A "young creator" is presenting his product at the final round of the 2015 Nghe An Province Youth Creativity Contest.

The contestants are determined to be youth, teenagers, and children aged 6 to 9 years old, under the management of the Department of Education and Training, and the age of team members and union members under the management of the Provincial Youth Union. At the same time, the Union of Science and Technology Associations of Nghe An province is a specialized unit, so the youth creativity movement has the cooperation, contribution, and coordination of departments, branches, and sectors.

In particular, the active participation of the Youth Union at all levels has helped youth creativity become a regular and widespread movement. Every year, the Youth Union has a report evaluating and competing to reward individuals and units that have performed well in the movement. In particular, youth creativity is considered one of the criteria for annual emulation bonus points for branches, school unions, local unions, etc.

Along with that, the Provincial Youth Union coordinates with the Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations to regularly expand communication and promotion activities for the innovation contest. According to Mr. Hoang Xuan Truong - Vice President of the Nghe An Provincial Union of Science and Technology Associations, in 2016, the Union will strengthen coordination with the Provincial Youth Union and relevant departments and agencies to organize forums and seminars on the field of innovation, providing students with a basic, scientific foundation of creative thinking, and creative logic orientation for more practical and successful inventions.

However, it is also necessary to recognize that, despite many efforts, behind youth creativity competitions there is still a “gap” in terms of support for the development and commercialization of creative products. Obviously, the awareness of developing ideas, completing ideas and implementing ideas is a long and difficult process.

On the other hand, after honoring young creativity, it is necessary to promote investment in commercializing products if they have high applicability. It can start with organizations, departments, branches, and sectors strengthening their connections with businesses, companies, etc., creating a foundation to mobilize social resources to support young creators to complete their products and put them into practical application.

Phuong Chi