On December 8, 2016, the GSEE (Global Science Engagement in Education) International Symposium was held at the International Conference Hall of Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). The symposium was organized by ICAM-China, SUSTech and China Education 30 Forum (CE30). Alan Leshner, former CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; David Pines, founder of GSEE, ICAM and I2CAM; Shi Lan, Executive Secretary General of CE30; Deng Feng, an Internet education investor; Chen Shiyi, President of SUSTech and other executives were present. Tens of top experts and scholars from countries and regions such as the USA, Japan, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan attended the symposium.

Chen delivered an opening address. He extended warm welcome to attendees, as well as experts and scholars from home and abroad, introduced SUSTech, and said that SUSTech will strive to be a top-notch university through its favorable educational environment, advanced educational concept and superior employment environment.

The attendees aired their opinions at the symposium. Leshner noted that scientists should integrate them into the public to make the public know what they are doing. Many scientists did not tell others what they research and how they research and think. In light of the actualities of primary and secondary education, he noted that the key to training is teaching students how to think instead of how to teach.

Pines introduced the progress of the symposium in the previous years and looked into its future. He called for efforts to teach children how to think like scientists, but said it is not easy, and needs to integrate multiple disciplines, work out as many solutions as possible and do as many experiments as possible.

The symposium was themed global scientific education integration. The attendees introduced the situation of Japanese primary and secondary schools with advanced educational concepts, Japan’s scientific curriculum reform and the impact of the reform on Japanese students; introduced the method of training emerging young technology talents through nano technology from the International Nano Olympiad in Taiwan’s primary and secondary education program; and introduced China’s online education, education innovation and global cooperation innovation.

GSEE is a small international symposium initiated by global scientific and educational experts and held annually in different countries in rotation. The sessions in the USA, Japan and Taiwan in recent years received good response.