Pudong Science Festival: A gala for popular science

The 2023 Pudong Science Festival kicked off recently, showcasing the district's core strength in the field of scientific innovation through various activities and presenting a carnival for scientists, innovators and young people.

At the opening ceremony, Pudong launched 10 popular science infrastructure units; the Shanghai Astronomy Museum, Hudong Ship Culture Science and Technology Exhibition Hall and the Jinhai Wetland Science and Technology Museum were selected as new popular science bases; and the district set up two new science bases: the Shanghai Integrated Circuit Manufacturing Innovation Center and the National Engineering Center Biochip at Shanghai. Also, the first batch of open innovation centers led by key enterprises such as Fosun Pharma, Danone, Transsion Holdings Co Ltd and Bonree were unveiled.

Relying on large-scale scientific facilities, open innovation centers of major enterprises and more than 200 public service platforms, Pudong is ramping up efforts to accelerate the integration of science and technology with a primary focus on popular science.

In recent years, Pudong has created a popular science ecosystem of scientific and technological innovation, covering rich scenarios and guiding the wider society to carry out popular science activities.  

Pudong Little Academicians is a brand activity on boosting sci-tech innovation for youth. This year, the event has selected five new stars: Chen Tianze, Gu Haolin, Chen Junhao, Lin Zongkai, and Xie Xiayi.

Since its launch in 2002, the event has been held for 14 sessions. Currently, a total of 83 "little academicians" have been selected. A group of experts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Shanghai University of Science and Technology have participated in the event and helped children to pick up the keys to science and technology.  

Other key activities included the fourth Yangtze River Delta Science Popularization Courseware Competition, themed events for National Science and Technology Workers' Day, the 16th Farmer Science and Technology Festival, popular science week for medical staff members, youth science and technology festival, and the women's innovation and entrepreneurship competition.