Let teenagers think like scientists ——Overview of the “academicians and experts on science” event of the 2021 Beijing Science Week

“We need to have the confidence that our education system can bring up masters!” General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speech at the 10th National Congress of CAST of CAS &CAE Academicians Conference is truly heart-stirring. Starting with fostering innovative talents, and upholding its duties as a bridge and tie and its mission to increase the scientific literacy of all Chinese people, Beijing Association for Science and Technology held an event “academicians and experts on science” during the recently-concluded Beijing Science Week, where 5 academicians were invited to give 5 scientific thinking lectures to teenagers, enlightening them to think like scientists. 

CAS & CAE academicians invited to this event include CAS academicians Wei Fuwen, Wu Yueliang, Yuan Yaxiang and Zheng Zhiming, and CAE academician Jin Yong. Through lectures and talks, these academic gurus not only allowed teenage audiences to appreciate the beauty of mathematics, quantum science and other sciences and the wonders of frontier science and technology like AI, but also sparked their aspirations of discovery and scientific thinking. 

Academician Wei Fuwen delivers a lecture 

Academician Wei Fuwen talks amiably with students 

Amid the questions like “what’s the 5th extinction?” and “what’s the scientific value of finding pandas rolling over horse manure?”, Beijing Science Center was bustling on May 22, when CAS academician Wei Fuwen delivered a vivid lecture on ecological civilization and biodiversity conservation to more than 100 teenagers from Haidian Minzhu Primary School, accompanying them to spend such an extraordinary “international biodiversity day”. 

Academician Yuan Yaxiang delivers a lecture 

At Beijing 101 Middle School, academician Yuan Yaxiang gave an intriguing lecture, as he showed the magic effect of knots using small tricks like “easily untie two knots” and then elaborated the mathematical rationale behind them using games commonly played by students. The entire lecture, closely centered on the theme of “fun mathematics”, told students that math can be truly “learnt well” only when they feel the fun nature of math. 

Another three lectures were also fascinating and thought-provoking. Academician Wu Yueliang told students of the primary school affiliated to Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences about the “history of quantum science”; academician Zheng Zhiming brought a lecture titled “AI technology and development” to the freshmen of Beihang University, interpreting the future direction of the most cutting-edge disciplines; academician Jin Yong talked to students of Xiyuan Primary School about “cultivation of innovative thinking from the perspective of Nobel Prize”, encouraging them to establish innovative awareness and scientific thinking in their childhood.  

“Students are very interested in these high-level scientist lectures, as they all actively did homework before listing to lectures,” said Guan Yue, science teacher from Haidian Minzu Primary School, adding that these lectures are greatly helpful for students to increase scientific literacy, form the habits of scientific thinking, and raise, analyze and solve problems using scientific attitude and methods. 

Academician Zheng Zhiming delivers a lecture. 

Academician Jin Yong delivers a lecture. 

Academician Wu Yueliang gives a lecture

The chance to sit down with scientists excited the teenagers. Student of Beijing 101 Middle School Zhao Zhixuan said, “I have been dreaming about engaging in math study, and academician Yuan’s lecture gave me guidance in the direction of thinking. I will pay more attention to developing my scientific thinking when solving test questions, and “ask myself questions” just like academician Yuan said, so as to form an interest in math. Academician Yuan’s words are truly enlightening to me.” Suo Yucheng, Cheng Yanlin and Sun Yuchen, fifth graders from the Primary School affiliated to CAAS, all took detailed notes, saying happily that “quantum mechanics is so interesting that I will buy some physics books for reading later on. Academician Wu’s telling about extrapolation using scientist stories as examples for self learning inspire us more to do things just like scientist.” Ge Haixin, a freshman from Beihang University, said, “Discovering scientific myths and climbing the scientific Everest requires mastery of solid foundation of modern science. This face-to-face talk with academicians benefits me a lot.”     

Academician Jin Yong talks to students

A note taken by a student from the Primary School affiliated to Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

A group photo of academician Yuan Yaxiang and students of Beijing 101 Middle School 

A group photo of academician Wu Yueliang and students of the Primary School affiliated to Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

A group photo of academician Jin Yong and students of Xiyuan Primary School 

The “2021 Beijing Science Week Special Event- Academician Lectures” was sponsored jointly by BAST, Beijing Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, Z-Park Management Committee and Beijing Municipal Education Commission and organized by Beijing Youth Science and Technology Center, Beijing Association of Youth Science and Technology Education, Beijing Science Center and Beijing Sci-tech Report, to improve the scientific literacy of teenagers, spark scientific interest of teenagers and foster a group of teenagers with the potential as scientists.