ASSOC.PROF. DR. NGUYEN DAC HY
“ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION IS THE SOURCE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANKIND HAPPINESS"
At a ripe old age, with radiant and ruddy strokes of simple happiness but full of content on his face, a scientist who has lived a life of dedication to the cause of scientific research of the country. He is Assoc.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy - Director of the Institute of Ecology and Environment, one of the very first people working in ecological and environmental management in the Department of Fundamental Investigation of the State Committee of Science, and laterin the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam, who has made significant contributions to the development of science in general and environmental science in particular.
Faithful encounter with environment and the roads to research of the son of Vo Trai
Assoc.Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy was born and raised in the village of Vo Trai (now known as Giang Vo, Hanoi). After graduating from the University of Water Resources in 1963, he was assigned to work at the Department of Water Resources in Hanoi. He took the office of Head of Dyke Section and is the Head of the City Steering Committee for Flood and Storm. After years of hard work and tireless efforts, he was sent by the state to study Economics Management in the USSR and then came back to work in the Office of Hanoi Party Committee.
After the South liberation, he was assigned to the works of building and planning of the new economic zones (now the Lam Ha district, Lam Dong province), followed by his work at the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Fundamental Investigation of the State Commission of Science and Technology. His main works here were the Chief of Policy and Legislation, chief author for the drafting of Vietnam's first Law on Environment and he was also directly involved in writing the Directive 36 of the Ministry of Politics and Resolution 41 of the Party on environmental protection during the period of national industrialization and modernization, chief author for the drafting of many policies, strategies and planning for environmental protection for the cause of national sustainable development... At this point in time, Vietnam has yet to establish the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and has yet no specific concept of environment. Therefore, Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy together with some very capable staffs with specialized capacity have participated in the protection of forests, protection of ecosystems and have been assigned to the drafting of laws relating to the country's first environmental policy and sustainable development in our country first.
In 1991, Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy has successfully defended his PhD thesis on Geography - Ecology, he served as Head of Policy - Legislation of the Department of Environment in the early decades of state management of environmental, starting his work at the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Fundamental Investigation (later known as the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment). From then on, he regularly joined national non-governmental organizations as well international organizations while implementing projects on environmental protection, the tight correlation between poverty reduction with climate change and environmental - trade issues and sustainable development in Vietnam.
Mr. Nguyen Dac Hy attended many international conferences and workshops in many parts of the world. Exposure to international friends and experts is a chance for him to exchange and expand scientific knowledge, which facilitates the acquiring of knowledge civilization of mankind. Therefore, each time he set foot on a new land, he is always looking for opportunities to actively learn, read and collect references of different nations and international organizations so supplement his knowledge to serve for the cause of sustainable development of the country.
Through a lot of travelling and ceaseless efforts to learn experiences from many countries and international professionals and experts on environment and sustainable development, he had many opportunities to reach out and collect the documents in support for his writing of directives, resolutions, policies, legislation on environment and sustainable development in Vietnam, contributing to making the strategic policies and legislation as well as plans, reasonable strategies in the use of natural resources such as forming the master-plan and assist localities in planning for each region in Cao Bang, Hai Phong, Lam Dong, Hoa Binh, Phu Tho ...)
As the Head of Legal Policy of the Department of Environment, he was frequently invited to lecture at various universities such as the University of Economics, National University, etc... He was directly involved in training resource personnel for the provinces and localities across the country, guiding graduate students in scientific research and etc. in the field of sustainable development, rational use of natural resources and environmental protection and etc. In 2002, Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy was conferred the title of associate professor. Within depth and practical researches and efficient and scientific ways of working, and his dedication to the cause, he was very well known. Many cities, local and international organizations regularly invited him to participate in international conferences, symposiums. He also took part in grading PhD thesis and was a member of scientific councils for the evaluation and assessment of projects on environmental state resources. After retiring in 2000, he was granted by the state to establish the Institute of Ecology and Environment. Ecology and Environment Institute (abbreviated as EEI) - with the authorization of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Union of Vietnam's Associations of Science and Technology which was founded in July 2001. This is a testament to the dedication and passion for environmental research of Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy. He became the director of the Institute of Ecology and Environment, continued to engage in teaching, collaborate in researches with professors, international experts, schools and research institutes to carry out training, overall planning and regular consultations on important issues such as drafting policies, strategies, plans and planning at national and provincial levels on environment and sustainable development. The regular and important partners of EEI may include the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Environment, the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Bank (WB), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and etc...
"Ecological civilization is the source for the development of mankind happiness"
Spent nearly a lifetime studying about the problems of ecology and environment, Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy has always thought "ecological civilization is the source for the development of mankind happiness." With incessant worries about a clean living environment, about the sustainable development essential for future generations, Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy is still passionate work until the very present, writing and finding ways to do research and participate in international/national conferences, non-governmental organizations on issues of policy, strategy, environmental legislation in sustainable development, etc...
Just as verses extracted from the poem by poet Tran Dan that he loved:
“Tôi đói
mọi cái gì
tôi chửa biết,
mọi khát khao
hi vọng
loài người”
Despite being in his ripe old age, it seems the desire to discover and be in reception of knowledge to be in tune with the development rhythm of the presence still is like a flame that never goes out of his heart as true science never is.
The time of study in the Soviet Union had given Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy invaluable lessons and experience. In retrospect, he reflects: "During the years of study in the Soviet Union, my living motto was a quote from Lenin: No books, no knowledge. This holds particularly true with us then, until today and even until tomorrow. Books have all the tools we need and a good book can change a person's life. Reading is necessary, but at the same time you need to filter it through your own set of lens, to reflect it against reality and our-self to transform it into knowledge and make it your own resources, only in such ways can knowledge be valuable and rich in spirit and wisdom. This is also my life principle, my moral core that pushes me to continue studying, and reading to always stay accessed to the human knowledge. "
A rich soul combined with scientific thinking has prompted Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy to writing books and newspaper to retain his scientific researches for later generations. So far, he has written three scientific books and numerous articles which were published and archived as research materials.
His first book entitled "Sustainable development in view of the present age" (Publishing Department/2003). This is a book that presents a holistic discussion on environmental issues and development from awareness to actions. By means of clear presentation, easy to understand, abundant knowledge expression, argumentative scientific logics and a new worldview, the work of Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy has obtained positive reception from those who are interested in environmental issues and work towards sustainable development in the future.
With over 1000 pages, the second book entitled "Environment and development path" (People's Public Security Publishing Company/ 2011) was written ceaselessly for 2 years, comprises the set of basic principles on nature, economy and philosophy in the movement of the development laws, which was summed up from international experience and lessons learned in Vietnam of Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy. The book resulted from the rudiments of the theory of the laws of nature and society of human civilization in development. In which the values on natural capital, natural resources, assets and intellectual capital from the scientific/technical human resources and human culture is mined, used for the successful development and failures in the evolution of the nation, of mankind on Earth. The different chapters of the book comprises principles and practical problems in rational exploitation of natural resources for sustainable development in countries around the world, international organizations and conferences in the region and on a global scale on issues of sustainable development and combating climate change and poverty ... which raises real issues of environmental protection, sustainable use of natural resources, economic growth and social security of Vietnam in the presence and in the future. In this work he mentions about a beautiful and happy country in the world: It is Costa Rica - a nation with a strong sense to preserve the natural landscape. They live and develop in harmony on their own land. This is a dream of all humanity in general and of Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy in particular. Like other scientists who study about the environment, he always carried the ideal of a civilized society, a clean green environment and a balance in the ecosystem from man to man and between man and nature. From the concern that out of many consequences that people will encounter when living a selfish life centered only around themselves without thought for future generations has urged him to keep working and carrying out scientific researches in order to contribute to and retain the green of life.
He pondered: "The book entitled Environment and Development Path was written in my last days of life, when I have realized one thing: man's knowledge is immense, philosophy of life is lasting, but the action of humanity is full of insensibilities, even sins which is contradictory to what I have learned about the value of human civilization, which calls for the development between nature and society, as well as the harmonious rhythmic control of society-community institutions in the relations between the environment and human. Sadness, fears and insecurities are also a big source of inspiration for me when I penned this book. Maybe the biggest lesson I learned when thinking about this book is: natural life and life of human society all have limits, and when the limits are exceeded there will occur disturbances and this will be the time when human and society must adjust to evolve and adapt to the new developments. Thus, the law of development of human civilization is also the law of human evolution in the environment"
This study has been replied by Deputy Minister of Public Security - Lieutenant General Pham Minh Chinh on 15 June 2011. An extract from the letter of the Deputy Minister says: "This is a massive study, ensembles a devoted project with enormous effort and passion shown by Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy for science, for the protection of our country's environment and is a matter within the scope of non-traditional security that all we care for"
Follow up on the flow of knowledge and concern on the issues that Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy has spent a lifetime on research, the third book, also the most recent work he published entitled "Space Scientists concerned with human institution" (2015). The book refers to metabolic problems and accumulation of energy in the universe and humanity. From his long-term researches based on science, says Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy that each and every one of us in our-self carries a source of energy. Even when the limit of life comes to an end, the body can be destroyed but that energy is not lost. Man himself was born and grew up, maintain vital body mechanisms by source of solar energy, wind energy and food supply available in nature. An energy source although not visible is activated and maintained since then. At the right time and frequency, power transmission mechanism will be activated. At such, thoughts, relationships and dreams are formed in the brain - this is the source of spiritual energy. The contents of each dream are available subconsciously and in some cases, it can predict for the future. The world also has recorded a lot of cases where people have very strange dreams, they coincide with what happen in the future. These realities so far have not been found a suitable answer by scientists but probably with the problems that Dr. Nguyen Dac Hy has suggested in this book, the reader can find an answer for himself.
Currently, all of his three books are being kept in the libraries of Harvard University and of the University of Cornell University (USA) for reference purposes. In addition to writing books, his studies also appear on reports. He frequently writes articles for Journal of Science, Technology and Environment of the Ministry of Public Security, Journal of Environmental Protection of the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment.
Simplicity in happiness
For all his life, Dr. Nguyen Dac has worked with full devotion tirelessly to the development of the environment industry in Vietnam. Because of his significant contributions to the industry and numerous activities at home and abroad, he has received a number of certificates and merits from the State, international organizations on environment.
After he finished his second book entitled "Environment and development path", his wife compliments with the following four verses:
“Chắt lọc dọc ngang suốt cuộc đời
Ươm vào trang sách cả hồn tôi
Ước mong trái đất hành tinh sạch
Thế hệ tương lai mãi rạng ngời…”
Perhaps happiness is when there is always someone there for you with tireless trust and full support and everlasting love has given him the strength and will to keep working and devote to life. His passion and valuable contribution to environmental science was recognized and merited by all of us. He has become the pride of the whole family and clan. Future generations will forever mention the son of Vo Trai who has lived a life of integrity and dedication with his full heart and effort.
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Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment
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