Towards the final days of 2018, the professors of Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) decided to hold the 2018 Popularization of Science Conference and organized some popular scientific activities as part of the event.
Nearly 30 faculty members from across SUSTech attended the conference, along with many lecturers and their families. SUSTech University Council Vice Chairperson Li Fengliang sent his congratulations by video.
Li Fengliang said that lectures for the popularization of science are high-quality important cultural activities for the children of faculty members, which have become a unique brand for SUSTech. He anticipated that this incredible group of scientists would hold more influential and distinctive popular science activities in 2019.
Director of the Office of Admissions Zhao Hongjun was effusive with praise for the achievements of the popularization teaching group and believed that their activities would continue to improve.
28 members of the popularization teaching group received awards for their efforts. Professor Liu Qingsong of the Department of Ocean Science and Engineering was a proud representative for the group, where he summarized the achievements of the group in 2018. The group had continued to improve themselves this year and developed a more comprehensive understanding of how to better carry out scientific education, which would see better activities in 2019.
During the activities, the children of faculty members received a book that recorded the activities of the group over 2018. Each of the lecturers signed the book as a souvenir.
Professor Guo Chuanfei from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering found inspiration in Spiderman when talking about “Scientific Problems Caused by Spider Silk.” He talked about the unique shape, function, and size of spider silk, among other aspects of spider silk. Guo Chuanfei also brought transparent boxes containing real spiders with him, to further increase the realism of lecture for the enthusiastic young students.
Since SUSTech professors started giving these lectures, 30 professors have given nearly 40 lectures covering a wide range of subjects. They have received praise within SUSTech as well as across the city.
Later that day, Professor Liu Qingsong was interviewed by media outlets, along with Department of Chemistry Professor Liu Xinyuan and Department of Materials Science and Engineering Engineer Liao Chengzhu.
Liu Qingsong has been promoting the gradual growth of SUSTech’s Popularization of Science Group, as its founders. He has been sitting on this idea for quite some time and believed that SUSTech had the plentiful resources to carry out the activities he wanted. His idea was supported by other professors across campus, which saw the group grow stronger and stronger. Liu Qingsong said that the group would identify new topics every week in order to find appropriate teachers, and professors would often take the initiative to share interesting content with each other. It is important to remember that they are professors when they speak, but parents when they step off the stage. In the 21st century, science is the pulse of the time. SUSTech professors have a deep love for education and hope that the children of SUSTech faculty members can connect with science as early as possible. Liu Qingsong aims to expand the content for 2019 and combine these lectures with extracurricular activities. He pointed out that SUSTech professors have a social responsibility to disseminate scientific ideas.
Liu Xinyuan decided to join the team after one lecture. He believes that the popularization of science activities is really important for children and their parents. “With the rapid development of the information society, children are required to understand science and expand their knowledge from childhood.” Liu Xinyuan said that his children gained a lot, which also confirmed his thoughts on sharing scientific knowledge. He hoped that more parents and children would be involved.
Liao Chengzhu began to give lectures in July 2018. Her children have been learning science from kindergarten to elementary school. She has now participated in the popularization of science team. She believes that the Popularization of Science group is very important for fostering children’s interest in science. “In addition to knowledgeable explanations, there are also some experiments that children can do to deepen their understanding of science.”
