Debate is not a common method of learning in Vietnam, nor a skill that is practiced in Vietnamese schools or higher education institutions. Therefore, the aim of this project was to introduce debates as an interactive, engaging way of learning for students.

Objectives:

• Giving students opportunities to think about science, do research about scientific topics, and express their ideas confidently to their friends and scientists through the debate format.
• Helping them to improve their critical thinking when approaching scientific statements.
• Providing a platform for OUCRU Vietnamese scientists to communicate their scientific ideas with non-scientists. In preparing information for the debate topics, the OUCRU researchers were motivated to explore their science in even greater depth.

Project activities:

• 2 introductory sessions, 10 debate sessions involving 50 high school students and 7 OUCRU scientists
• An OUCRU lab tour with lively discussions between dedicated scientists and students.