Dr. Trang Nguyen, Founder and Director of WildAct Vietnam, representing East Asia, received the British Council Science and Sustainability Award on August 30 as the Council announced the global winners of the 9th Study UK Alumni Awards to celebrate their outstanding achievements and contributions around the world. 

Young Vietnamese wildlife conservationist Trang Nguyen. Photo: WildAct

Trang Nguyen is the author of the popular children's comic book "Chang hoang da" or Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear. Since September 2014, the Study UK Alumni Awards have been hosted annually by the British Council and UK universities. Award winners and finalists are leaders in their fields who have used the experience, knowledge and skills gained from studying in the UK to make a positive impact on their communities, societies and countries.

In 2023, more than 1,300 alumni from over 114 countries applied for the award. After a competitive selection process, only 28 candidates from 22 countries who studied at 29 UK universities were selected for the global final. Trang Nguyen, together with three other alumni, won the global awards.

To win the Science and Sustainability Award, Trang Nguyen has proven her remarkable achievements and significant impact on conservation.

Trang Nguyen is also the author of two famous comic books for children – “Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear” and “Saving H’non: Chang and the Elephants”. Photo: WildAct

Trang has led WildAct to make many positive changes for wildlife conservation in Vietnam by opening courses on illegal wildlife trade and animal welfare, implementing a gender program in conservation, and motivating individuals and communities to manage and conserve natural resources and prevent illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking in seven provinces throughout Vietnam.

In particular, Trang and WildAct have worked with local partners to implement species and habitat conservation projects in Chu Yang Sin National Park in the central highlands of DakLak Province, one of Vietnam's conservation hotspots.