Hanoi (VNA) - The third open mathematics festival waslaunched on August 13 at the Hanoi University of Technology by the Vietnam Institutefor Advanced Study in Mathematics.

The festival, which included a photo exhibition about mathematicsapplication in daily life, seeks to create opportunities for students,teachers, parents and mathematicians from around the country to share theirviews and experiences related to mathematics.

Festival organisers also hope it will inspire lovers ofmathematics and help promote the development of this field in Vietnam.

In another development, the Ministry of Education and Trainingawarded scholarships of 7.29 billion VND (324,000 USD) to 185 students from 12universities and 297 high school students for excellence in mathematics.

In addition, 85 math projects were awarded 2.57 billion VND (114,200USD).

Professor Tran Van Nhung, secretary general of the StateCouncil for Professor Titles, said the award and scholarships would motivateteachers and students to continue striving for the country’s mathematicsdevelopment.

The awards event is a part of the national target programme onmathematics development in the period 2010-20, which was approved by PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Mathematics projects receiving the award must have been publishedon international magazines and must include one lecturer in addition tostudents.

Students awarded scholarships all had a grade of at least 9 inmaths or had achievements in domestic and international contests for giftedstudents.-VNA