Dr. Ngo Thi Thuy Huong and her colleagues at Phenikaa University have been awarded the King of Thailand Awards for their research on using vetiver grass to reduce dioxin in contaminated soil.
The King of Thailand Vetiver Award 2023 recognized six outstanding research projects on vetiver grass, which took place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on May 29.
Dr. Ngo Thi Thuy Huong and her team, including Nguyen Quoc Dinh, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao, and Vu Thi Lan Anh, won the Outstanding Research Award in the non-agricultural application category for their project titled “Using Vetiver Grass Technology to Reduce Dioxin in Contaminated Soil at Bien Hoa Airport, Dong Nai, Vietnam.”
The study assessed the ability of vetiver grass to remediate and stabilize dioxin-contaminated soil on a field scale at Bien Hoa Airport, one of the areas most heavily contaminated with dioxin in Vietnam.
Vetiver grass is known for its erosion control, soil and water conservation, and pollution reduction capabilities. This is the first study to demonstrate the use of vetiver grass for phytoremediation of dioxin-contaminated soil, opening new opportunities for the application of this technology to clean up persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in soil and water.
Dr. Ngo Thi Thuy Huong receiving the award in Thailand. (Photo: Organizing Committee).
According to information from the Vetiver Network, each winning project receives $2,500 along with a certificate presented by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the patron of the Vetiver Network (TVNI), on behalf of the King. Award recipients also presented and shared their research at the International Conference on Vetiver.
Dr. Ngo Thi Thuy Huong is currently a lecturer and head of the Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology research group at Phenikaa University. As an expert in ecotoxicology and environmental health, she leads numerous national and international projects related to water environments, ecotoxicology, environmental management, natural resource management, phytoremediation, and microplastic pollution. Her recent research has expanded into the areas of metal bioavailability and differentiation in aquatic environments, as well as microplastic pollution and its effects on ecosystems and human health.
The King of Thailand Vetiver Award 2023 was part of the 7th International Conference on Vetiver, held from May 29 to June 1. This is the third time Thailand has hosted the event, with the theme “Vetiver Grass in Soil and Water Conservation,” attracting scientists and researchers from over 18 countries.
The International Conference on Vetiver is a scientific event focusing on various applications of the vetiver system, held every four (or five) years. The first event was organized in 1996 in Thailand and has expanded to other countries under the oversight of the International Vetiver Network and the Chaipattana Foundation.
The International Conference on Vetiver has been held six times: in Chiang Rai, Thailand (1996), Petchaburi, Thailand (2000), Guangzhou, China (2003), Caracas, Venezuela (2006), Lucknow, India (2011), and Da Nang, Vietnam (2015). The conference serves as an opportunity for experts and scientists to summarize the effectiveness of applications and the advantages of vetiver grass, facilitating the widespread adoption of vetiver technology in combating soil erosion, reducing environmental pollution, and enhancing the economic benefits of this grass.
