The University

If you think all photos and stories about Vietnam are about peasants working in the fields, you might be under the impression that Vietnam is a backwards country. 

Vietnam is not a backwards country.  It is a developing country.

MEDRIX recently began a new partnership with the Department of Environmental Science, College of Science, the University of Hue.  College Rector Nguyen Van Tan, Departmental Dean Le Van Thang, and Departmental Lecturer  Le Bao Tuan selected the best and brightest second year students to participate in a three day workshop to learn how to use global positioning satellites to gather data that will benefit MEDRIX projects as well as further the student’s own scientific careers.

(As always, be sure to click on each photo to see a larger version.)

After a short introduction and a few words of theory in the classroom by MEDRIX Director of Safe Water Projects Robert Catherman, (ably translated by Mr. Tuan) the students got their hands on GPS receivers and went outside.  And this is where the real learning took place – how to turn the unit on – how to find three or four satellite signals – how to know when you are ready to use it to navigate.  Robert and Tuan rendered a little experienced help to three students who are using GPS for the first time.

The next day was even better.  Joining with MEDRIX Board member Ivan Ellis, Robert and Tuan constructed a practical exercise that required the students to find landmarks already plotted.  Each group had to find the landmarks using a GPS receiver.  The exercise took place in a beautiful park alongside the Perfume River.  Though the students enjoyed the outing, and learned a lot about coordinates, waypoints, and routes,  they also had to plot the data and keep good field notes.

The final day of the workshop was on Sunday – a day when the college rector’s conference room was available.  It was equipped with a projector that allowed Tuan to hook up a laptop computer.  Each group came forward and dumped their data into the laptop.  Being displayed for everyone to see, the students learned from each other. 

In the future, its hoped MEDRIX can partner with the university to provide practical experience for students and have them plot the location of hundreds of current and future  safe water projects within the province.  Such experience will help them collect data in their own science projects – and continue to develop Vietnam.

And – the students had a lot of fun too!