Recently, the 2024 World Forum on the Development of Children and Youth Series of exchange activities with the theme of "We Love Science" was held in Guangdong. In the venue and on the stage, Chinese and foreign scientific experts presented a series of "knowledge feasts", elaborating on the mysteries of nature in a gentle and unhurried manner. Below the stage, one curious face after another was filled with yearning, and one naive question after another ran wild. From then on, the seeds of science were planted in the young hearts.

Journalists learned that the opening ceremony of the forum was held at the Guangdong Science and Technology Center, which is known as the "world's largest science and technology museum". Subsequently, in Guangzhou and Zhuhai, a series of theme activities such as the Children's Science Popularization Reading Forum, children's Science Open Classes, "We Love Science" story-telling sessions, and "Future City" brainstorming camps were held. More than 190 representatives of children and teenagers from 40 countries, representatives of relevant international organizations, heads of children and teenagers' organizations, heads of children and teenagers' publishing institutions, and renowned experts and scholars attended the forum.

Exploration Leads the Future

Deep in the Western Pacific Ocean, there is a group of beautiful luminescent creatures. Sometimes they gather together, as brilliant as fireworks, and sometimes they quickly disperse, as brilliant as stars. Tang Limei is an associate researcher at the Second Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources and also the first female scientist in China to dive into the ocean aboard the Jiaolong submersible. At the opening ceremony, she revealed a corner of the deep-sea world to children from all over the world.

Facing the bright eyes below the stage, she extended an invitation to the children: "Human exploration of the ocean has only reached 5%. The life there is wonderful and tenacious, holding the secret of the continuous evolution of species. I'm waiting for you all in the deep sea!" "

Decoding the structure of water: Approaching Domestic Scanning Probe Telescopes Looking back on the development history of AI and envisioning the future of artificial intelligence and us... At the children's science Open class, the cutting-edge concepts in various fields opened the "door to innovation" for the children. Play chess with robots and compete with smart mechanical arms in terms of "hand speed". Experience International Morse Code and learn how to use it to send aerospace signals... At the "Technology Market", high-tech products from enterprises and universities opened a "window of imagination" for children.

"I'm extremely excited to have face-to-face communication with so many scientists!" " Chen Mohan is in Grade 8 at Yuexiu School of Guangdong Experimental High School. Her aspiration is to become an astronomer. During her participation in the forum, she gained a deeper understanding of the charm of science and the joy of exploration. "I want to be like them, a person who is focused and not afraid of difficulties, and make some contributions to the country's technological development."

How can one become an outstanding scientist like you? On the forum, a child asked Su Guohui, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a neuroanatomist, a question. First of all, you need to have curiosity. Curiosity is the starting point of science. Secondly, for the issues that interest you, you need to have the perseverance to keep exploring. Wish all of you could find your passion in the field of science. Su Guohui said.

Reading for the Future

The first popular science book I read was "The Magic School Bus". The protagonist took a magic school bus to explore the major planets in the solar system. From then on, I developed a strong interest in space. On the occasion of the 29th World Book Day, at the children's science Popularization Reading Forum, Xie Lang from the astronomy class of Guangzhou Children's Palace shared the story of his connection with astronomy through books.

What kind of popular science books are more suitable for children? On that day, experts and scholars in the field of education, practitioners in the publishing industry, and representatives of children and teenagers engaged in discussions. Compared with traditional encyclopedias, science comic books are very popular among children in today's book market. After graduating with a doctorate from Zhejiang University, Li Jianlong founded "Sheldon Comics Studio", attempting to adapt the content from papers and textbooks into comics and introduce scientific knowledge to children all over the world in a more vivid and rigorous form.

In his view, children's science reading needs can be divided into four levels: science enlightenment, science education, science and technology and social education, and cutting-edge science education. Appropriate reading materials should be designed for all age groups to guide children in understanding the relationship between science and technology and social development.

Having been engaged in science education for many years, Wei Xiaoli, the Party Secretary of the Guangzhou Children's Palace, has offered two suggestions. The first is to create a popular science IP and launch a series of reading materials, using unique IP images and science and technology innovation derivatives to stimulate children's interest in continuous reading and systematic learning. Second, highlight the characteristics and achievements of Chinese science and technology in the works, allowing the seeds of serving the country through science and technology to take root and sprout in children's hearts.

Cui Bingsong, the editor of the "We Love Science" magazine of China Children and Teenagers' News and Publishing House, is affectionately called "Uncle Xiaosong" by the children. During the reading promotion activities, he found that the children's enthusiasm for science was "beyond imagination". "As popular science books, it is not enough to merely explain scientific terms clearly; it is also necessary to guide young readers to understand scientific principles and cultivate their scientific thinking." He also mentioned, "The practical spirit and the desire to explore of practitioners themselves are also very important, which will have a positive impact on children."

A teenager asks about the future

Every summer when I turn on the air conditioner, I often find that last year's battery is rotten in the remote control. My father and I were figuring out how to replace the battery with a modified capacitor, which could be charged directly via the USB interface. At the "We Love Science" story-telling session, Lu Xiyu from the Affiliated Primary School of Guilin University of Technology shared her small invention with her friends from Vietnam, Macao, China and other places.

Journalists have learned that this forum has built a communication platform for children at home and abroad, encouraging everyone to "apply science" on the basis of talking about science, loving science and learning science, and to give full play to their intelligence and wisdom to jointly outline the future school, future city and future world.

Drones, 3D printers, laser engraving machines... Entering Zhuhai Hengqin Huafa Ronghong School, one is filled with a futuristic sense of various "black technologies". A "robot dog" pacing around is particularly lifelike, attracting children to stop and watch. Here, children from China and abroad took a "Future City" science and technology innovation class together, training the robot "Xiao Fei" to recognize the landmark landscapes of Hengqin. Facing the "Little Fei" that could be turned on just by touching its head, the children, while being amazed, worked closely together to complete their first experience of programming.

During the break, Huang Ruixiang, a seventh-grader at the school, shared that the school offers "science elective courses" every semester, and his favorite is the 3D printing course because "he can print his favorite figurines". As the course progressed, he learned that 3D printing technology would be applied to the production of aircraft components, car shells, and even had the potential to print organs. The world of the future is so wonderful. I want to study this course even more. Huang Ruixiang said.

During the "Future City" Imagination Camp, Chinese and foreign children not only climbed to the top of Canton Tower, viewed the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge from afar, and entered the Zhuhai Space Center, but also personally experienced driverless technology, programming design, VR glasses... Every journey is a dialogue with the future, and every inquiry is a pursuit of science. One day, those who seek answers will become the ones who write them down.

Source: Workers' Daily Client