Ho Chi Minh City, 13 August 2022 - Bayer Vietnam, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) and Khan Quang Do (KQD) Publisher have jointly organized an event to officially kick off the “Science Switch 2022” project. Taking place at KQD Publisher’s office, the event welcomed up to 80 participants representing OUCRU, Bayer, KQD Publisher and the project’s team members, including scientists, content developer and editors, as well as more than 60 students from secondary and high schools in Ho Chi Minh City. A recap video of the event will be broadcast via the Facebook page of KQD Magazine and Khoa hoc truong hoc.
Science Switch ignites the passion for science in Vietnamese students
- Bayer collaborates with Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) and Khan Quang Do (KQD) Publisher to organize the kick-off event for “Science Switch 2022”, a science education project aiming to change the way science is taught and learned both in and out of the classroom.
- As an offshoot of Bayer’s global initiative "Making Science Make Sense", Science Switch 2022, initiated by OUCRU, will spark the joy of science in children by introducing school curriculum content in a new and engaging light.
Following the success Science Switch 2021, Bayer Vietnam, OUCRU and KQD Publisher continue to build a engaging science program for student with diverse and creative formats.
Science plays a vital role in our lives and can impact many decisions we make every day, from taking care of our health and well-being to inventing machinery for industrial manufacturing, etc. Science education gives students the opportunity to gain a better knowledge of how and why their surroundings function, and prepare them for a better future. However, teaching and learning science as a school subject has always presented a challenge to both teachers and students as many find the textbook content either confusing or tedious.
That’s why Science Switch was launched in Vietnam by OUCRU in partnership with Bayer Vietnam as a part of Bayer’s global initiative Making Science Make Sense (MSMS) to help develop science literacy for local student in a different and effective way. This year, the project content will mainly focus on selected topics from secondary and high school science textbooks, based on a vote by students, and feature three methods of learning: Science Infographics (reading), Science Explainer Videos (watching), and Online Science Quizzes (practising). The development process will involve scientists working in related fields, young editors and experienced media agencies to ensure the final works are not only scientifically accurate but also suit the tastes of young generations.
Offering new and interesting approaches, Science Switch has attracted many young people to explore the exciting world of science.
Mr. Vu Duy Thanh, OUCRU’s Manager of the Schools Engagement and Youth Science Program, shared: “Officially launched in 2021, and after just one year, the Science Switch project has virtually reached out to more than 1 million of people across the country under the format of science comics, podcasts and online engagement events, which also attracted 1,618 young participants. Following that success, OUCRU has continued to explore various innovative and exciting forms of science activities to drive more engagement from schoolchildren and enhance their passion for science and its application in daily life.”
“Beside online activities on the digital hub, the second phase of Science Switch 2022 plans to offer students more interactive activities including a science contest themed “Friends of Science” and a 3D Virtual Exhibition where the top 10 projects from the aforementioned contest will be digitally showcased in an exciting and engaging format, providing online visitors unique and realistic experiences.
Mr. Ingo Brandenburg, Managing Director of Bayer Vietnam, shared: “As an industry-leading Life Science company, Bayer has its foundation in science, innovation and research and we would like to advance STEM education for the youth and seek to inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, technologists and innovators through the MSMS initiative. To achieve our objectives of positively changing the way science is taught and learned both in and out of the classroom, we are grateful to have a long-standing and trusted partner like OURCU which has always been very proactive in rolling out effective science education programs for Vietnamese children, especially the successful implementation the Science Switch project. This year, with the additional support of Khan Quang Do Publisher, we believe this project will reach out to many more students, supporting them in finding their footings in the digital age of scientific research and practice.
Mr. Ingo Brandenburg presented gifts to students at the Science Switch 2022 kick-off event.
Mr. Nguyen Khac Cuong, Editor-in-Chief of Khan Quang Do Publisher, shared: “Khan Quang Do is excited to be a part of the Science Switch 2022 project where we will collaborate with OUCRU and Bayer Vietnam in developing engaging and student-friendly learning materials to spark schoolchildren’s interest in science. As a media partner, we will work to raise more awareness of this important project to benefit more students and young generations in Vietnam.
About OUCRU
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Vietnam (OUCRU), established in 1991, is a clinical and public health research unit based in Vietnam under the sponsorship of Welcome, a biomedical research charity based in London, United Kingdom. OUCRU conducts research activities in Vietnam through the support of the Ministry of Health. OUCRU is hosted by the Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City, and the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi.
In parallel with its research activities, OUCRU also conducts public engagement program to disseminate knowledge and improve scientific understanding in the community. The OUCRU Schools Engagement Program promotes science and research through activities in schools, the development of science material and training of teachers and science ambassadors to improve the interest and scientific capacity of Vietnamese students.
In recent years, OUCRU has been carrying out many school engagement projects to create opportunities for secondary school and high school students to access regularly with science and research: Science magazine pages, Annual online science competition, Chat with scientists, Young researchers, Science Visits and Science Debates.
For more information about OUCRU: www.oucru.org
About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to help people and planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to drive sustainable development and generate a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2021, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 44.1 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.3 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.
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