Professor Ngo Bao Chau: "Integrity is essential in scientific work."

Professionalism starts with the process.

According to Professor Ngo Bao Chau, professionalism in scientific activity must first be demonstrated in the research process, which is especially important for young scientists. The Fields Medal winner also shared that he was very fortunate to have studied and grown up in schools with a tradition of learning and research, and to have been guided early on by excellent and dedicated teachers in scientific research, so that he had the opportunity to "correct mistakes as they arose." These skills gradually "sink in" and become increasingly proficient. For countries with advanced science, adhering to research procedures is essential and a basic skill, but in Vietnam, some researchers have neglected or have not properly recognized the importance of adhering to these procedures.

Based on his personal experience, Professor Ngo Bao Chau divides the research process into 10 stages, including: defining the research scope – identifying the research problem – updating information on the research status – finding solutions to the problem – developing a research plan – summarizing what has been done – writing the paper – sharing and soliciting feedback – revising the paper – submitting for publication.

He also acknowledged that finding a research problem that is novel, timely, and suitable for one's own field and research capabilities is sometimes not easy. The advice he shared with young scientists was to regularly attend scientific conferences and presentations by experts in various related scientific fields to stay updated on the latest research directions and to listen to what the scientific community is researching and discussing. “Sometimes direct exchanges on the sidelines of conferences with speakers can bring you new information and ideas – when sharing becomes more intimate and easier,” Professor Chau said.

An indispensable step in conducting research is gathering and searching for information, articles, and scientific works already completed that are related to the topic. “You need to read all those research works to see how far previous researchers have gone in solving the problem. Start with classic research to fully grasp the fundamental principles of the problem, then move on to the latest research to explore new perspectives and research methods…” – the mathematician shared.

"Starting to write a scientific paper is the simplest step in the whole process," Professor Ngo Bao Chau remarked. Recounting his personal experience as a young researcher writing his first scientific papers, he said that he meticulously and carefully hand-copied several scientific papers by previous authors with the mindset of learning how they presented their issues. In addition, he also translated some foreign papers into Vietnamese. This work helped the scientist learn early on how to present scientific papers correctly and ensure they met the necessary criteria.

"A common mistake for novice researchers is to send their completed scientific paper directly to the journal they want to publish in," a renowned mathematician stated. The essence of science is collaboration. In fact, this initial product needs to be "interacted" with colleagues, presented at conferences and seminars to receive further feedback and helpful suggestions that will clarify the author's understanding.

“Sometimes young authors always want to submit their papers to the most prestigious journals, but that’s not an effective approach,” said Professor Ngo Bao Chau. “Journal ranking isn’t the most important thing; relevance is what matters!” His advice to young scientists is to submit their papers to journals and experts who understand and accept the issues raised, and who are also serious and meticulous in their peer review process.

Disrespecting the process sometimes leads to regrettable results for inexperienced scientists. A story shared by a mathematician concerns a Vietnamese scientist's paper submitted to a foreign scientific journal, co-authored with two of his students. After the review process, the author received the paper back for revisions as requested by the editorial board. When resubmitting the paper, the author removed the names of the two co-authors. The editorial board subsequently rejected the paper not because of its quality, but because of doubts about the author's integrity. This scientist may have acted this way for various reasons, but it is clear that he disrespected the process and acted unprofessionally – Professor Chau observed.

Science values ​​critical thinking.

Discussing the essential qualities of scientific research, Professor Ngo Bao Chau particularly emphasized honesty in science. With the current open information environment, it's virtually impossible to conceal dishonesty, especially in science. "The most important thing in science is integrity," Professor Chau stated. Because even a single act of dishonesty can destroy a scientist's reputation, rendering all previous efforts and hard work futile.

When asked about the differences in scientific research between Vietnam and other countries, Professor Chau frankly shared: "Science, wherever it is conducted, must respect the characteristics of accuracy, honesty, novelty, and excellence." In the common understanding, scientific research is linked to an individual's passion for their work. However, in countries with advanced science and education, research is considered a creative form of labor, highly professionalized, and becomes a profession, satisfying personal passion while also providing a livelihood. Teaching is a commitment of the lecturer to students and the university, while research is more personal and independent. But when evaluating the ranking of universities and the prestige of professors, scientific research is given top priority.

Professor Ngo Bao Chau also particularly emphasized the importance of critical thinking in science because "only through conflict and debate can we find the truth." Scientists need to be ready to rigorously critique research works; there should be no question of disregarding objective scientific procedures out of deference to friends or personal relationships. The clashes and conflicts that the job demands should not affect personal relationships – only by doing so can a scientist truly be considered professional, respectful of their research, and respectful of themselves and their colleagues.

When asked about the significance of the number of publications and citation rates in assessing a scientist's academic prestige, Professor Chau shared his view: if one only focuses on the quantity of research papers and publications while ignoring other factors, it is a mechanical approach. In reality, the evaluation of a scientist by colleagues and the research community is not based on the number of publications they write, but on the quality and impact of their work.

Discussing the trend of integration and internationalization in scientific research, Professor Ngo Bao Chau argued that, regardless of the scientific field, it is necessary to keep up with the hot and topical issues of contemporary science, integrate and engage in dialogue with international colleagues, and adhere to common research rules, rather than "doing things one way and doing them alone."