On November 18, as one of the major events at the Nanshan District Branch of the 24^th Shenzhen Reading Month, the 2023 “Science-Popularization-Fiction” Reading Sharing Session of the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) was held at the Shenzhen Bay Science and Technology Ecological Park.

Based on their professional backgrounds, four scholars from SUSTech spoke with attendees about cutting-edge technology and innovative culture at the event.

Additionally, the fourth volume of the “Encyclopedia for High-Tech Whys” series of science popularization books was released on the same day.

The four scholars taking part in the session were Qingsong LIU, Chair Professor of the Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Yuehong CHEN, Chair Professor and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Yan WU, Professor of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and science fiction writer, and Ran CHENG, Associate Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering.

They spoke about the intrinsic relationship and development logic of science, science popularization, and science fiction, discussing cutting-edge science and technology development trends and how to cultivate the scientific, humanistic, and artistic spirit with urban characteristics.

At the same time as the sharing session, the “Science-Popularization-Fiction” theme exhibition of SUSTech was also held, with vibrant scientific research, microstructures, and ocean-themed photography attracting many young readers.

This marks the first time that this theme exhibition has been held off campus. The exhibition was divided into three sections: new knowledge, microscopic vision, and blue imagination, presenting the scientific spirit and humanistic feelings of science and technology in the form of visual art.

Released on the same day, the fourth volume of the “Encyclopedia for High-Tech Whys” series of science popularization books was written by a group of professors at SUSTech.

Since the launch of its first volume in 2020, three series have been published, with total sales exceeding 100,000 copies.

The series of books are based on the scientific research results of these professors at SUSTech, focusing on the frontiers of contemporary scientific and technological development and using vivid language to describe “cold” science and technology in the fields of electronic information, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, biology and medicine, materials and energy, and other areas, helping readers to understand high-tech and stimulate their curiosity.

The fourth series is based on the first three volumes and is closely integrated with current scientific and technological hot topics, such as why human beings carry out stem cell research in space, what the Zhurong rover detected on Mars, how artificial intelligence generates content, and why RNA can become the next generation of medicine.

More than 70 authors were involved in publishing the series, which includes five chapters: Science and Technology Hot Topics, Electronics and Information, Materials and Physics, Biology and Technology, and Earth and Environment.

Since its publication, the series has won numerous awards. It was selected for the 14^th Guangdong Provincial Education Department’s “The Best New Books to Read in Summer” for primary and secondary schools in Guangdong Province, the 7^th Guangdong Provincial “The Best New Books to Read in Winter” for primary and secondary school students in Guangdong Province, and in the list of Top 100 original popular science books recommended by the Chinese Science Writers Association.

In November 2022, the first and second volumes of the series won the first prize in the 3rd Shenzhen Science Popularization Achievement Exhibition Competition, and their copyrights have been exported to the United Kingdom (English), and Sri Lanka (Sinhala), and other locations.

With the enthusiastic response to the series among readers, scholars from other universities and research institutes in Shenzhen and across the country have also joined as authors.

The “Science-Popularization-Fiction” themed exhibition is a unique cultural brand created by SUSTech by integrating resources such as science communication, science popularization education, and science fiction creation.

It is a development path for SUSTech to explore the cultural innovation of a new research university, aiming to create an academic atmosphere that advocates science, pursues truth, respects talents, supports scientific and technological innovation, and serves society.

Additionally, SUSTech has set up a public welfare fund for science popularization, a research center for science and human imagination, and has invited academicians and scholars to participate in various science popularization and cultural activities.