1. Establishment and functions
To meet the urgent need of high-quality weather and climate forecasts and research in Vietnam, the Department of Meteorology was officially established in 1967 at the Faculty of Geography and Geology, Hanoi University. The Department became one of the Faculty of Meteorology Hydrology and Oceanography established in 1995 at Hanoi University of Science, Vietnam National University-VNU, which was split from Hanoi University in the same year. Hanoi University of Science is one of the few universities in Asia providing both undergraduate and graduate programs in Meteorology.
The central functions of the Department are to 1) provide high-quality education programs at all levels from bachelor of science to doctor of philosophy in Meteorology and Climatology, and 2) carry out basic and application research in meteorology and climatology. Particular focuses are given to research and predictability of severe-weather phenomena and climate events, and climate change using modeling approach.
2. Achievements
The Department is the unique one in Vietnam, where students can pursue their research career by getting Ph.D degree. Annually, there are about 20-25 students admitted to take the undergraduate program in Meteorology at Hanoi University of Science. The number of graduate students is approximately 10-12, including Master and Ph.D students. It is really proud to say that most of senior meteorological forecasters serving at National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting have graduated from our department. A lot of the department ex-students have become reputable Professors, Associate Professors, and Scientists in Vietnam.
On average in the latest year, the department members have annually published approximately 10-12 articles by national and international journals, and are PIs or members of about 3 research projects at the VNU and national level. The works conducted by our department members have received highest acknowledge within the national research community including “Gold medal of Vietnam Technology Mart” and “Award of Science and Technology”, Vietnam national University.
3. Research interests
The research carried out in the Department is based on the sole merit of forefront but Vietnam-oriented approach. This is to ensure not only the latest research topics but also practical applicability to Vietnam in preventing natural disasters. In addition, the research is highly directed to international collaborations. The main research topics of the Department are:
- Heavy rainfall over complex terrain
- Tropical cyclone track and intensity forecast
- Monsoon and intra-seasonal oscillations
- Seasonal prediction, and
- Climate change
