In an effort to welcome 2024 with a focus on scientific achievements, the Beijing Association for Science and Technology (BAST) organized a New Year’s Eve Event as part of its New Year of Science project. The event, held for several consecutive years, intertwines science communication with festive celebrations, aiming to bolster public confidence in technological advancements and self-reliance.
Chen Weicheng, vice president of BAST, highlighted the integration of science popularization with traditional festivals, providing a platform to exhibit China’s strides in technological innovation. The event seeks to deepen public understanding, especially among young people, by unraveling the allure and mysteries of science.
As part of its commitment to the Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center, BAST actively conducts scientific outreach activities in the capital to enhance public scientific awareness. The association collaborates with international organizations and institutes, identifying 100 science education experience bases and introducing 30 scientific-themed tourist routes in Beijing.
The BAST mobilizes diverse social forces for large-scale science popularization events, including Science and Technology Week, Science Fiction Conference, Science Popularization Day, New Year of Science Eve, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Citizen Science Literacy Competition. The Beijing Science Carnival, alone, drew over 1,200 organizations hosting 2,000 activities, reaching a total audience of 22.6 million people, with a reading volume of 1.73 billion reports and materials in 2022.
In terms of international exchanges and cooperation in science communication, the BAST has established a robust working mechanism and organized influential international science and technology communication activities. The “Beijing International Science Communication Week” initiated in 2019 serves as a vital platform for global collaboration, bringing together representatives from the scientific community, science communication field, and science education field to share stories of global technological innovation and scientific culture.
Looking ahead, BAST aims to prioritize the development of the Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center. It seeks to foster exchanges and cooperation among science communication institutions, engage in cross-cultural science communication, and contribute to the global dissemination and advancement of science and technology.