Connecting the "Last Mile" of Science Popularization (Innovation Talk)
To enhance the scientific literacy of the entire population, it is necessary to further strengthen the public service capacity of grassroots science popularization, overcome bottlenecks, fill gaps, innovate communication methods and means, and allow the public to fully experience the charm of science and technology
"Why do passengers have to stand outside the safe yellow line when the train enters the station?" "Look, the phenomenon now is static electricity." Not long ago, the Baodi District Science and Technology Association in Tianjin drove a science popularization caravan to Weiguozhuang Village in Shigezhuang Town to popularize scientific knowledge to the public.
This past summer, many science popularization workers from various places have gone deep into community streets and fields to carry out various forms of science popularization and publicity activities. Some places offer interesting science popularization classes for community residents. These grounded activities have opened up the "last mile" of scientific popularization and are highly welcomed by the masses.
Technological innovation and scientific popularization are the two wings to achieve innovative development. The innovation level of a country is closely related to the scientific literacy of all workers. The process of technological innovation since modern times has shown that the popularization of science is not only an accelerator for improving productivity, but also a catalyst for the transformation of scientific and technological research results.
The key to Chinese path to modernization lies in the modernization of science and technology. Spreading scientific knowledge and culture, promoting the integration of technology, economy, and society, cultivating innovative reserve talents, and highlighting the importance of the "wings of popular science". In recent years, China's science popularization capacity has achieved significant results, with the proportion of citizens possessing scientific literacy increasing from 10.56% in 2020 to 12.93% in 2022. Science popularization provides more solid support for building an innovative country and achieving high-quality economic and social development.
At the same time, it should also be noted that compared to the growing demand of the public, there are still problems of urban-rural and regional imbalances and inadequacies in science popularization. In some places, grassroots science popularization facilities are relatively scarce and service capabilities are relatively weak. To enhance the scientific literacy of the entire population, it is necessary to further strengthen the public service capacity of grassroots science popularization, overcome bottlenecks, fill gaps, innovate communication methods and means, and allow the public to fully experience the charm of science and technology.
To improve the grassroots science popularization service system and effectively enhance grassroots science popularization capabilities. To do a good job in grassroots science popularization, it is necessary to have a sound system, platform, and team support. The Outline of the Action Plan for National Science Literacy has made comprehensive arrangements for the implementation of the project to enhance the capacity of grassroots science popularization services, and many places are also exploring new models of grassroots science popularization in practice. To summarize these experiences, effectively integrate high-quality regional resources, and make more efforts in improving the grassroots science popularization service system and strengthening the construction of grassroots science popularization facilities, jointly building and sharing science popularization platforms. In terms of building a science popularization talent team, we should not only find ways to strengthen the full-time science popularization team, but also give full play to the role of science and technology workers, science popularization volunteers, and enthusiasts, and promote the professionalization, standardization, and normalization of science and technology volunteer services.
We also need to fully utilize new technologies and platforms, and continuously enrich the forms of science popularization. Currently, science popularization is developing from a single offline activity to a combination of online and offline activities, as well as digital and intelligent integration. Many scientific research institutions and science popularization experts have participated in science popularization through new channels and forms such as short videos, and have achieved good results. Fully utilizing the new generation of information technology and deepening the development of science popularization informatization can help fill the gaps in the uneven and insufficient development of science popularization between urban and rural areas and regions. Further increasing the supply of high-quality science popularization resources on the internet, enriching the forms and dissemination channels of science popularization works, will effectively help the public continuously improve their scientific literacy through deep experience and interaction.