Remembering teacher Chu Pham Ngoc Son

Nhớ thầy Chu Phạm Ngọc Sơn- Ảnh 1. — Prof. Dr. Chu Pham Ngoc Son speaks at the 7th Congress of Ho Chi Minh City Chemistry Association, term 2023-2028 - Photo: HCMUSTA

* Editor's note: Upon hearing the news of Professor Chu Pham Ngoc Son's passing, Professor Le Ngoc Thach - former lecturer of the Chemistry Department, University of Natural Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - sent Tuoi Tre an article about his teacher. We respectfully introduce it to our readers.

From student to employee

I got to know you when I studied with you for the 1st physical chemistry certificate in the 1968-1969 school year. That was my second year studying at the University of Science (Saigon University of Science).

Fate brought me to become his employee in the 1969-1970 school year, at the lowest level: part-time supervisor (préparateur mi-temps) - a teaching support staff without a bachelor's degree, only receiving a salary once every few months.

At that time, he was the head of the chemistry department. I still remember his office and his desk, on the first floor, now block A, on the right wing when going up the stairs, the innermost room. When I was the head of the organic chemistry department, I built two long experimental platforms on both sides of the room and converted it into a research room for essential oils.

I still remember, the cabinet door, the drawer under the teacher's desk was always "wide open", inside were all the keys to the chemical and equipment warehouse. Always "wide open" so that we, the experimental group, could get the chemicals and equipment from the warehouse at any time. That was the teacher's personality, not concerned with formalities, always putting the results of work serving students above all else.

Leave good things for life

He participated in my thesis evaluation board as a member of the board. On the day I defended my thesis, he read a comment. In addition to the professional part, I remember the main idea was that those of you who worked at the school before 1975 and stayed at the school after 1975 persevered in trying to complete your thesis, which is very commendable.

Especially in my case, my supervisor (Mr. Le Van Thoi) passed away before the time I defended my thesis. Listening to him speak, I wanted to cry when I remembered my teacher who was not present on the day my thesis was completed. Before presenting, I asked the council and the guests to take a minute of silence to remember my beloved teacher and colleague.

Many of my recently compiled books such as "Exercises on basic organic stereochemistry"; "Organic chemistry (main functional groups) volume 1, volume 2 and volume 3" were reviewed by the teacher. The teacher reviewed very carefully! The quality of these books is largely thanks to the teacher, especially the nomenclature and chemical terminology.

He was very good at both English and French, so the comparison tables of English/French/Vietnamese terms, which I usually put at the end of the above books, were edited for me by him.

Phase transfer catalyst, an important green catalyst in green chemistry, the precursor of ionic liquid, I first learned about it thanks to my teacher. After returning from France, he immediately introduced this new type of catalyst to everyone.

The chemistry department's collaboration with Professor André Loupy's laboratory at the University of Orsay (Université Paris-Sud) was organized and connected by him. Luckily, I was the first person selected to do postdoctoral work at this most prestigious university in France.

Everyone has to leave. The precious thing is that teachers leave good things for this life, contribute to building the country to develop more and more, those are the things that everyone will be grateful for and remember forever. Teacher Chu Pham Ngoc Son is the teacher who taught me such things!

Goodbye, Teacher!

GS.TS Chu Phạm Ngọc Sơn (thứ hai từ phải) cùng các giảng viên Trường đại học Khoa học tự nhiên (Đại học Quốc gia TP.HCM) - Ảnh: USHCM — Prof. Dr. Chu Pham Ngoc Son (second from right) with lecturers from the University of Natural Sciences (Ho Chi Minh City National University) - Photo: USHCM

Teachers and scientists attached to the country

Professor Chu Pham Ngoc Son is a famous scientist and teacher in Vietnam, a teacher with many initiatives and contributions to science and technology and to the development of Ho Chi Minh City.

He was born in 1936 in Saigon, originally from Hung Yen province. In 1954, he studied at Saigon University of Science (the predecessor of the University of Natural Sciences - Ho Chi Minh City National University today). After passing the PCB physical chemistry and biochemistry certificate and the SPCN physical chemistry and natural science certificate, in 1955, he worked as an assistant and experimental engineer in the school's chemistry department.

In 1957, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in physics and chemistry and was retained as a lecturer at Saigon University of Science. In 1958, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. In 1959, he successfully defended his master's thesis and was sent to the University of Delaware, USA, to do research.

In 1962, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis in organic chemistry. Returning to Vietnam, he returned to Saigon University of Science as a lecturer. From the end of 1962, he began teaching chemistry and then a number of other subjects in the following years. He was also invited to teach at many other schools.

After 1975, he stayed in Vietnam, continued teaching, and was a lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Science (now the University of Natural Sciences - Ho Chi Minh City National University).

In 1981, Mr. Chu Pham Ngoc Son was awarded the title of professor of chemistry by the State. In 1987, he became the director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Experimental Analysis Services and the chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Science and Technology Associations. He worked there until his retirement in 2001.

During his career, Professor Chu Pham Ngoc Son has published more than 200 scientific reports in specialized journals, with 5 works put into production; published many textbooks and monographs on general chemistry and chemical thermodynamics.

Professor Chu Pham Ngoc Son also once told his students: "The things I want to convey to my students and, if allowed, to the young Vietnamese scientists are simply summarized in the following phrases: respect teachers, love students, passion for research and teaching, and attachment to the country."

In addition to his outstanding achievements in the lecture hall and laboratory, he also made significant contributions to the country and Ho Chi Minh City as a National Assembly delegate for three terms (8, 9, 10); Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, member of the National Assembly's Committee for Science, Technology and Environment...

He was awarded by the State the Third Class Labor Medal, Medal for the Cause of National Unity, Medal for the Cause of Education, Medal for the Cause of Science and Technology, Medal for the Young Generation, Commemorative Medal for the Cause of Mass Mobilization...

Never left the profession, teaching

MSc. Phung Quan, Head of Organization and Administration Department, University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City, said that Prof. Dr. Chu Pham Ngoc Son is the teacher of many laboratory technicians, instructing many generations of students, trainees and postgraduates at universities.

"Professor Chu Pham Ngoc Son is a person who is always passionate about chemistry, an excellent captain of many generations of students. Despite his old age, he continues his research work, contributes and serves society, and helps solve social hot issues in health care and food safety.

Mr. Son has never left his profession or teaching. Even though he was assigned to manage the Laboratory Analysis Service Center and served three terms as a National Assembly delegate, he still spent time teaching, teaching graduate students, guiding doctoral students, and reporting at domestic and international chemistry conferences. He teaches his students to be passionate about scientific research," Mr. Quan shared.

Funeral information of Professor Chu Pham Ngoc Son

Professor Chu Pham Ngoc Son was born on April 10, 1936 and passed away at 2:02 a.m. on August 11. His body was laid to rest at the Funeral Home of Thong Nhat Hospital (No. 1 Ly Thuong Kiet, Ward 7, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City).

- Encoffin ceremony: 7am August 14

- Funeral: starts at 9am on August 14

- Memorial service: 7am on August 16

- Funeral ceremony: 8am on August 16

- Burial at: City Policy Cemetery (Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City).

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nho-thay-chu-pham-ngoc-son-20240812085312058.htm