"Growing vegetables on the rooftop" wins international science gold medal.
Contributing to the Vietnamese team's achievement of 7 gold medals and 2 silver medals at the 2013 International Young Innovators in Science and Technology (IEYI) held in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) were two 11th-grade students from Hanoi, Nguyen Chau Anh and Nguyen Dang An.
With their project, the two "teenage scientists" hope that a "system for growing clean vegetables on rooftops in urban areas" will be widely adopted, so that more and more people can eat clean vegetables and ensure their health.
Illustrative image. (Source: thucphamsieusach.com)Nguyen Chau Anh, a student in class 11 Chemistry 1 at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students, and Nguyen Dang An, a student in class 11 T1 at Thang Long High School, said that the idea for a "System for growing clean vegetables on rooftops in urban areas" originated from simple complaints from parents who daily complained about not knowing which vegetables were clean when buying them at the market, feeling uneasy about the potential health risks.
Because they lived near each other and were the same age, Chau Anh and Dang An had been friends since childhood, making it easy for them to share and understand each other. Most importantly, they shared a burning passion for scientific research. Therefore, initially, they nurtured the idea, then secretly discussed and developed a direction for the topic, working together to realize it. With the small amount of money they had saved, they accumulated enough to buy materials to make models.
However, due to a lack of funding, Chau Anh and Dang An also had to seek assistance from their families. When presenting their idea to their parents, they received both moral and material support. In addition, a great motivation came from the encouragement and support of their teachers and friends at school, which helped them complete the project within seven months.
According to Nguyen Dang An, the idea was clear, but implementation encountered numerous difficulties. The students had to invest considerable thought and effort to find solutions. Therefore, in addition to their studies, they spent a significant amount of time researching materials, experimenting, and discussing with each other daily, sometimes even arguing, to find the best solution for growing vegetables on the rooftops of high-rise buildings in urban areas.
Chau Anh said that after researching, she found that many high-rise buildings now have rooftop spaces, so they took advantage of that space to design and build vegetable beds, then filled them with soil to grow vegetables such as water spinach, cabbage, kohlrabi, and some creeping vegetables.
To enable the vegetables to survive in harsh environments, the two "scientists" designed a canopy, drainage channels, and automatic sprinklers that operate at predetermined times. This ensures both sufficient light and water for the vegetables to grow and thrive.
On May 11th, in the capital of Malaysia, the "Rooftop Vegetable Growing System in Urban Areas" model was honored with a well-deserved gold medal. The organizers also awarded a gold trophy for the model's outstanding idea in the same category.
With radiant faces and confident, intelligent conversational skills, Nguyen Chau Anh and Nguyen Dang An humbly stated that this was an unexpected and surprising result.
Besides scientific research, both students are excellent in their studies. Teacher Pham Quy Thai, Nguyen Dang An's homeroom teacher, proudly spoke about his student: "Dang An excels in all subjects, grasps lessons quickly, and gets along well with his classmates. In particular, An clearly demonstrates the qualities of a scientific researcher, always calm and proactive in seeking knowledge."
Teacher Thai added that the students' project won second prize in a competition organized by the Vifotec Vietnam Foundation in 2012.
Nguyen Chau Anh, who was the top-scoring student in the entrance exam for the Chemistry specialized class at Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students, has consistently been an all-around excellent student throughout her years of schooling. She is currently the class president and a member of the school's debating club.
Chau Anh and Dang An both dream of becoming environmental scientists. To realize their dream of expanding their knowledge base, these two friends are investing a lot of time in improving their English skills and focusing on preparing for the university entrance exam.
The idea, stemming from everyday life and winning an international award, brings pride not only to family, friends, and teachers, but also to the entire nation. This is the greatest achievement for both students, and it will serve as a foundation for Chau Anh and Dang An to continue their studies, strive, and contribute to the country's science and technology.
According to (VNA) - VT
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