People''s Daily Online | Beijing Science Popularization Venue Takes Children on ''Science Summer Vacation''

Children participate in the science experiment show held at the Beijing Science Center. Photo by journalist Liu Suya

Technology venues are no longer serious and cold, a piece of farmland or a factory can carry science popularization experiences; Carefully designing science popularization courses, one key exhibit can be expanded into one lesson; Plan the science popularization show as a "TV series"... In order to meet the needs of young people for science popularization education, Beijing's science and technology popularization venues will launch various forms of science popularization activities during the summer, leading children to spend a "science summer vacation".

Wastewater treatment plant transformed into science museum

Every day, 180000 tons of sewage flows into Beijing Bishui Reclaimed Water Plant, where it undergoes a series of treatments to become reclaimed water. Summer vacation is coming, and the ground landscape park of this reclaimed water plant serves as a science popularization base, open to the public for free every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

More than a decade ago, this was an open sewage treatment plant that inevitably emitted odors and noise during operation. We renovated the sunken water plant to allow nearby residents to finally open their windows, and also built a factory park to allow residents to see green through their windows. "Shi Rui, the person in charge of science popularization work at the water plant, said that since the ground park was opened, an average of 1500 citizens have visited here every day, including teenagers. The laughter of children accompanied the creaking sound of water from the pressure well, making the park full of vitality. The water curtains of Rainbow Bridge, wetlands for cultivating aquatic plants, and trails constructed using the sponge city concept all demonstrate the changes brought by sewage treatment technology to citizens' lives.

During the summer vacation, Shi Rui led a science popularization volunteer team into the surrounding streets, inviting 200 children to participate in small-scale science popularization competitions around themes such as ecological protection and water conservation. In this process, we will popularize knowledge about water purification and conservation to children, enriching their summer life, "said Shi Rui.

Meteorite specimen development science popularization course

Rui Bochao, the course manager of the Starry Sky Museum, has been busy preparing for summer students in recent days.

Our science popularization courses are developed around the collections in the museum, "Rui Bochao pointed to meteorite slices and said. There are hundreds of meteorite specimens in the museum, and children can not only see and touch them, but also see the beautiful internal structure of meteorites through polarized light microscopes. The course will be updated according to the situation of the collection, "Rui Bochao said. Recently, a new Martian meteorite was collected in the museum." We plan to use slices of Martian meteorites to explain relevant knowledge about Mars to children

Rui Bochao used to be a structural optics engineer, but later turned to the field of science popularization, hoping to find direction for children's future development through science popularization courses that start from childhood. Next month, he will organize a stargazing event with over a hundred people. "During the holiday, I will take the children to observe the stars seriously, and I believe this will bring a scientific atmosphere to their summer life

Science experiment show staged as a drama

At a science experiment show at the Beijing Science Center, staff are leading the audience to conduct a "fire boosting" experiment. The staff soaked their palms completely and then applied soap bubbles infused with butane gas. At the moment when the soap bubble is ignited, butane gas drives the soap bubble to burn rapidly, but the moist "protective film" of soap water also protects the palm from burns. Watching the raging flames ignite without any damage to her palm, the audience member Ms. Liu also volunteered to take the stage and try. She said that she and her daughter are regulars here, "and this time I want to set an example for my child, so that she can become someone who is brave enough to explore.

This science experiment show is set against the backdrop of the Jurassic period, connecting multiple classic experiments in physics, chemistry, and more. On stage, the 40 minute performance was full of fun; Offline, children immerse themselves in it and actively participate in interaction. The children have been thinking with their teachers all along, "said Zhang Jun, a deputy research curator at the Beijing Science Center." The science experiment show is mainly aimed at young children. "We have designed the science experiment show into a TV series, which will be released in the summer. We welcome children to come and follow the show.

Currently, Beijing continues to promote the construction of the "City of Science and Technology Museums" and has opened multiple science and technology popularization venues. During the summer, over a hundred member units of the "City of Science and Technology Museums" in Beijing have launched distinctive science popularization activities. In farmland, business districts, and enterprises... "Science and Technology Museum" has bid farewell to its traditional appearance and brought a good science popularization experience to the audience with rich forms. (Reporter Liu Suya)

(Editor in Chief: Li Bo, Bao Congying)

News source: Beijing Daily