Participate in the "Science Poetry Night" in The Shanghai Science Popularization Park in Wisdom Bay, experience the "Future Digital City" in the business district where people gather, and start a "star-chasing journey" at qian Xuesen Library... At the 2021 Shanghai Science and Technology Festival, three "Shanghai Nights" with different styles arrived as scheduled.
"Science Night" is one of the brand activities of the Shanghai Science and Technology Festival, which was first launched by Shanghai in 2016 and later introduced by Beijing, Guangzhou and other places. Through the opening of various venues at night, the event focuses on interactive and gamified science popularization, so as to stimulate young people's curiosity about science and technology. This year's "Science Night" gradually broke through the category of "night" and was also open to the public during the day.
The longer it lasts, the greater the "surface area" of public contact with science. It is reported that after the end of the science and technology festival, the "science night" will still be staged in more urban spaces in the city. Through continuous innovation and playing with the "tricks" of science, it is becoming a unique popular science business card in Shanghai.
Experience the latest technology at the fastest pace
Put on virtual reality glasses, experience a plucked plant seedling from the space capsule, take the return capsule to land on the ground feeling, this is yesterday (26th) in the Qian Xuesen Library held in the "Science Night", Shanghai Ayis Aerospace Technology Co., Ltd. brought the "star-chasing trip", attracting many parent-child families to participate. As a subsidiary of the Shanghai Academy of Aerospace Technology, Aees brought the latest aerospace technology to the event site: parents can take their children to make rocket towers, "watch" the lunar base, "return in" space capsules, and "experience" interstellar travel.
As a bridge between the public and science, the annual "Science Night" always finds ways to gather the latest "baked" scientific and technological achievements and deliver them to the "doorstep" of the citizens. At the "Science Night" in 2019, medical company Medtronic moved its star products on display at the Expo to the scene. It is the smallest pacemaker in the world, shaped like a smaller capsule drug, with four hooks at the tail, only 1/10 the size of a traditional pacemaker, and weighing only two grams.
In the special session of "Exploring Zhangjiang", the public can walk into Shanghai science and technology landmarks such as the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Shanghai Supercomputing Center, and the Institute of Microsatellite Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, overlook the Xihe laser large scientific device, visit the work site of the domestic supercomputer, or listen to the front-line researchers explain the new generation of Beidou navigation satellites.
Cutting-edge technology attracts countless curiosities, which makes the "science night" constantly "out of the circle". According to statistics, the three "Science Nights" activities of this year's Science and Technology Festival attracted a total of 20,000 people to participate offline.
From "Night of Science" to "Covenant of Day and Night"
Science Night began in 2016 with the intention of making it easier for the public to "get in touch" with science. "After completing the busy work and study during the day, take advantage of the first day of the lantern to go to the 'Science Night' with family and friends to feel the charm of science in the night." Zhong Qian, director of the Science Popularization Department of the Municipal Science and Technology Commission, said that after 5 years of growth, this kind of romantic approach to science is becoming a "new fashion".
At the beginning, the "Science Night" was fixed at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, and in 2018, it walked out of the Science and Technology Museum for the first time and came to the Urban Planning Hall, Oriental Oasis, Changfeng Park and other places. Later, it became normal for well-known business districts, scientific landmarks, science parks and other places to hold "science nights". Last year, it was also moved to the "cloud", where millions of viewers participated through the web.
This year, the "Night of Science" broke through the restrictions of the night show and opened the "Covenant of Day and Night". Last weekend, a three-day technology parent-child carnival was staged in the B2 Atrium of Shanghai Global Harbor, and 200 parent-child families were invited to visit and experience each time. Nearly 30 technology exhibitors, including Huawei, JD.com, China Mobile, and China Unicom, appeared to showcase their digital achievements in the fields of medical care, education, communications, epidemic prevention, sports, entertainment, and robotics.
The "Plus" matinee is a symbol of "Science Night" to gain market brand recognition, making science more accessible. Zhong Qian said that at present, "Science Night" has accumulated a batch of "iron fans", many of whom are teenagers.
The innovative popular science style has been recognized by the public
The formation of a brand needs to have its own characteristics. After 5 years of development, "Science Night" has explored a unique set of "circle fans": scientific interaction, science small stage, science tutor classroom stand out from the colorful forms of science popularization, and become a fixed plate of "Science Night".
Science Tutor Classes are the most popular sections for big friends. In the "Science Night" of Qian Xuesen Library yesterday, Li Sheng of the Li Zhengdao Research Institute talked about the wonder of chasing "stars". Half an hour earlier than scheduled, the classroom on the B1 floor of the library was full, and the audience who pinched the point could only stand. Li Sheng interpreted the knowledge points in the movie "Interstellar" from the perspective of Murphy's law, black holes, gravity, and string theory, and the audience sighed: "Such a key point, enjoyable!" ”
Of course, the child's favorite is the small stage of science. The scientific interpreter wearing Einstein's same white hair, wearing a superhuman coat, and wearing a chivalrous hat attracts the curious eyes of children with stage plays and science shows. As Li Sheng said: "The most important thing in popular science is not to pass on knowledge, but to arouse people's interest." ”
Zhong Qian said that in order for a popular science brand to be recognized and accepted by everyone, it must innovate and develop in persistence to meet the public's demand for science and technology. In the future, Shanghai will also launch a "science night" for different groups of people, such as holding science popularization activities with higher knowledge "concentration" for urban white-collar workers.
From walking into the science popularization venues cloaked in starlight to popular science everywhere in the urban space, what popular science styles can be bred in the future of "Science Night", which people are looking forward to.
Author: Shen Xiangsha
Photo courtesy of the organizer