Ms. Xuan Thuy is always concerned with research that contributes to improving the environment and people's lives - Photo: D. NHAN
Associate Professor Dr. Le Thi Xuan Thuy, a lecturer in the Environmental Science Faculty at the University of Technology (Da Nang University), holds four environmental patents and dedicates herself to inspiring a passion for scientific research in her students.
In addition, her solutions and inventions contribute to environmental protection and benefit the people.
Research for the community
In 2012, after completing her doctoral program in life sciences and environment at Tokushima University (Japan), Dr. Xuan Thuy returned to Da Nang and worked at the Faculty of Environment, University of Technology (Da Nang University).
From here, the young lecturer began his journey of igniting the passion for environmentally friendly inventions alongside his students.
Recounting her inventions and those of her students and collaborators, Ms. Thuy shared that the multi-stage water filtration device is her most significant invention.
Many years ago, noticing that her family's tap water was contaminated with sediment, Ms. Thuy spent a lot of time surveying and evaluating the water tanks of more than 500 other households in Da Nang City. From this, she discovered that most of the household water tanks had a layer of sediment at the bottom.
Ms. Thuy quickly formed research groups with students to create multi-stage water filtration products, hoping to help households access cleaner water.
Ms. Thuy's solution was to create a device to hold materials such as quartz sand, cotton, activated carbon, etc., for water filtration. The device is divided into several separate compartments, making it easy to replace and clean the filter materials and saving costs.
Through numerous tests, the device has been proven to filter out dirt, separate heavy metal ions, silt, etc., resulting in cleaner, safer water comparable to other water filters on the market, but at a much lower price – starting from just 500,000 VND.
Creating a product that reaches even the most disadvantaged and low-income people is the goal that Thuy and her colleagues are striving for.
Along with the project titled "Multi-layer groundwater filtration device," Thuy and her research teams have successfully completed various projects in all three environmental fields: water, soil, and air.
Among them, three other works stand out and have also been granted protection by the Intellectual Property Office: a method for treating wastewater contaminated with heavy metal ions using magnetic materials coated with gamma-polyglutamic acid (Gama-PGM), a multi-layer earthworm farming device for treating agricultural waste, and a container for burning votive paper.
Promoting research activities among students.
In addition to teaching, Ms. Thuy has dedicated many years to research and invention projects related to the environment for her students, trainees, and graduate students. Notably, she is willing to invest her own money in the initial stages of student research.
"Integrating scientific research topics with competitions or awards from various organizations, giving students the opportunity to receive certificates of merit and cash prizes, is also a way for them to feel recognized for their efforts and gain more motivation for their research," Ms. Thuy said.
Instead of letting their inventions remain just on paper, Thuy and her students sought to bring their research to remote areas where people faced problems with water resources and economic hardship.
Initially, the project focused on treating saline water for residents in Ly Son island district, followed by treating alum-contaminated water for residents in Tam Hai island commune. Upon hearing Nguyen Duc Tri (25 years old), a former student of Da Nang University of Technology, recount the plight of many households in Ly Son island district who were using saline water, Ms. Thuy encouraged her student to seek out and assist the local people.
"The students have already learned the procedures and methods at school. When they go to the island, my role is simply to guide them on how to utilize the resources and materials that the local people already have to minimize costs, making the proposed solutions more accessible to them," Ms. Thuy said.
People's lives have improved.
Mr. Tran Anh Minh, a resident of Ly Son island district, said that although everyone knows the water they use is saline, they still accept it because no one has helped them solve the problem completely.
"The water, after being treated by student group led by Duc Tri, has significantly reduced salinity. This water treatment project has greatly improved my family's life. Before, people had to carry bulky water containers, incurring considerable costs. Using the filters, however, allows us to stay at home and only costs about a quarter of what we did before," Mr. Minh said.
Lieutenant Dung's water filterSource: https://tuoitre.vn/giang-vien-lam-loc-nuoc-gia-re-cho-nguoi-dan-20240813002957311.htm
