Female scientist wins VinFuture Prize 2024: "Don't be afraid to move forward"

On the morning of December 7, on the sidelines of the exchange between scientists   Winning the VinFuture Prize 2024, Professor Kristi Anseth had an interview with the press.

VinFuture 2024 Prize-winning scientists interact with students. Photo: Den Phu

At the beginning of the discussion, Professor Kristi Anseth - a scientist from the US who won the Special Prize for Women Scientists, said that she felt very surprised and happy because this was a recognition for women doing scientific research. Professor Kristi Anseth, at the VinFuture 2024 award ceremony on the evening of December 6, you thanked your husband and children, so could you share more specifically about the support of your family that motivated you to strive and develop your scientific research career? My husband is also a university lecturer, so we also have something in common: teaching and educating, from which we support each other a lot and share ideas. As for my 17-year-old daughter, who is in her final year of high school, she is also very interested in scientific research.

Professor Kristi Anseth talks to the press on the morning of December 7. Photo: Phu Den

There are many problems in the world today, so we need to find ways to solve those problems, so we need the presence of scientists, especially female scientists. The VinFuture Prize has honored female scientists, which has been a great motivation for us in the research process. Being a female scientist will face more difficulties than men, so can the professor give advice to young female students who are pursuing their passion and research? We can see that female scientists have many opportunities, but also many challenges. My advice is to find a mentor like yourself, when the mentor is a female scientist who is both successful in scientific research and can take care of the family. Another advice is that we should not be afraid to move forward. Professor, your research has been able to save millions of lives. So in the future, do you intend to change anything? At the same time, does the professor intend to cooperate with Vietnamese scientists on regenerative muscle tissue? We have made a lot of progress in the field of biomaterials, such as being able to regenerate tissues or muscles in case of illness or injury. But the complex problems that need to be solved in the brain, kidney transplants, etc. are becoming more and more complicated.

Kristi Anseth - American scientist won the VinFuture 2024 Special Prize for Female Scientists. Photo: VinFuture

On the Vietnamese side, I see that the research environment is developing very well, many research facilities on cells and cardiovascular are being built. Currently, cardiovascular problems in Vietnam are emerging, this development will open up opportunities for cooperation and exchange with modern medicine. At the same time, Vietnam has a young generation that will promote cooperation to help us solve the problems I just mentioned above, not only in Vietnam but globally. Professor, in daily life, muscle damage and atrophy are inevitable, so what advice can you give to help people protect their health from the beginning, avoiding having to replace them? In fact, prevention is also one of the factors that must be considered first, the quality of muscle tissue aging is normal. Therefore, we must exercise regularly. From the age of 30, muscle tissue will begin to age, if exercised, muscle tissue will regenerate. Along with that, diet, stress reduction in life and problems related to infections... if controlled will prevent aging and damage to muscle tissue. So, is the professor willing to cooperate, share and research with young Vietnamese scientists to create works that have a great impact on life? Of course, we have many opportunities to work together, so I also need to have more trips to Vietnam to exchange with students. Especially the exchange between Vietnamese students and American students, from which we can exchange innovative and creative ideas. Thank you, professor! Source: https://laodong.vn/cong-nghe/nha-khoa-hoc-nu-doat-giai-vinfuture-2024-khong-so-hai-de-tien-len-1431834.ldo