On the morning of August 6th, 2014, at the Employee Training and Recreation Center of Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City, the Lawrence S. Ting Foundation and Phu My Hung Development Corporation, in cooperation with the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications of University of Natural Sciences – Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, organized the “Workshop and Donation of NHV-CAM set to connect microscopes to computers”. The workshop attracted the participation of 150 teachers from junior-high, high-schools, and universities in Southern Vietnam.

Researched and applied since 2008, the NHV-CAM set – developed through the cooperation of our foundation and the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications of the University of Natural Sciences has brought positive impact on both education and healthcare industries. Besides enabling students to observe and study small cells on computer screens, it is also an effective tool for keeping medical records in hospitals.

At first, this device only had three functions and were mainly used for experiments and helped to change the teachers’ perspective on the efficacy of experimental teaching. In particular, the device has proved its practical worth for teaching biology in schools giving students the opportunity to study more effectively and helping teachers save time while giving even more to students. After six years of innovative research, the device has now been upgraded to include seven functions and can be applied in the fields of health, agriculture, archeology, aquaculture, and soil improvement, etc.

During the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Huong Viet, a lecturer on the Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, presented the seven functions of the NHV-CAM set, instructing teachers to install and use the programs. He created a friendly environment for teachers who were using this device to have the opportunity to exchange, share, and learn their experiences as well as giving suggestions and recommendations to improve the device’s effectiveness. We in total awarded 82 NHV-CAM sets, valued at an amount of VND 410 million to 82 junior high and high schools from Binh Thuan to Ca Mau.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai Hong, a teacher at Rach Kien High School (Long An), said: “My students and I are very excited to receive this equipment. Biology will become more lively and intuitive for students helping them be more eager about learning. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Lawrence S. Ting Foundation and the Phu My Hung Development Corporation for sponsoring this meaningful program. It encourages and brings more excitement to both teachers and students in their teaching and learning journeys.”

Mr. Phan Manh Huynh, a teacher from Le Quy Don High School (Long An) also shared that, with the NHV-CAM, students are now able to observe teachers’ activities through computer screens without having to glue their eyes to the microscope making the lesson much more vivid.

Ms. Lam Que Chi, a Biology teacher of Nguyen Thien Thanh High School, Tra Vinh, said: “The NHV-CAM is really a great assistant for both teachers and students. Thanks to the set, students can have easier access to samples and homework becomes more understandable as it is less theoretical thereby increasing their interest in learning and research. As a result, in the 30/4 Southern Olympic Contest organized by Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted, Le Thanh Loan, a student from class 11A3 of our school won the Gold Medal in Biology.”