Co-sponsored by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST),the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC), the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Youth League (CCYL), the All-China Women’s Federation (ACWF), and the People's Government of Jilin Province, the 36th China Adolescents Science and Technology Innovation Contest (CASTIC 2022) held online exhibition and exchange activities in Beijing on August 17, 2022.

Zhang Yuzhuo, secretary of the leading Party members group, vice president in charge of daily work and chief executive secretary of the Secretariat of CAST, Meng Qinghai, full-time vice president and executive secretary of the Secretariat of CAST, Gao Ruiping, member of the leading Party members group and deputy director of the NNSFC, Cai Shumin, vice president, executive secretary of the Secretariat and member of the leading Party members group of the ACWF, and other leaders of the organizers, together with Jing Dunquan, member of the leading Party members group of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), attended the opening ceremony.

Participating adolescents and their sci-tech instructors from 31 provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps took part in a combination form of online and on site.

The opening ceremony was livestreamed on media platforms, and attracted 5 million plus people, especially adolescents to watch.

At the opening ceremony, old, middle-aged and young generations of teachers and students of Jilin University gave a performance to illustrate important instructions of President Xi Jinping at the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CCYL and the 9th and 10th National Congress of CAST, demonstrating arduous efforts of 3 generations of scientists to scale the heights of science and technology and achieve the goal of sci-tech self-reliance and self-strengthening at higher levels.

Zhang Qiuge, first-class actor of National Theatre of China (starring in the film "Huang Danian", a famous geophysicist who devoted his life to China’s strategic scientific research), Qu Haihong, teacher of the college of broadcasting and hosting of Jilin University, Liu Pai, news anchor of Jilin radio and television station, and Fu Yujie, graduate student of Tsinghua University, interpreted moving stories and lofty spirits of prestigious scientists including Huang Danian, Nan Rendong (a famous astronomer who initiated and led the construction of China’s 500 meter aperture spherical radio telescope) and Deng Jiaxian (a famous nuclear physicist who devoted his life to the development of China’s nuclear science and technology) respectively.

Academician Wang Enge, former president of Peking University, academician Yang Yuliang, former president of Fudan University, academician Wu Yueliang, vice president of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Zou Zongping, granddaughter of Li Siguang (a famous Chinese geologist), Qian Yonggang, son of Qian Xuesen (a famous aerodynamicist and systems scientist), and Xu Jin, nephew in law of Deng Jiaxian, jointly released an initiative to call upon Chinese adolescents who have keen interests in science to carry forward the Spirit of Chinese Scientists and cultivate a good style of study.

Nearly 100 sci-tech professionals from key universities and research institutes including Peking University and Tsinghua University, laureates of national awards including China youth science and technology award, China young female scientist award, China’s National Award for Excellence in Innovation, and Tan Kah Kee Science Award, and winners of previous CASTIC were invited to exchange views with the participating 624 adolescents and 271 sci-tech instructors to spark innovative ideas.

Activities including online ice breaking, CASTIC winners sharing stories, report sessions to promote the Spirit of Chinese Scientists, salons to cultivate a good style of study, 40th anniversary review of CASTIC and online Q&A were held and livestreamed on platforms including China Media Group Mobile, China Science Communication and Innovland, providing channels for Chinese adolescents to share views and advocate scientific spirit.

Tag: Children and Youth Science Center of CAST, Sci-tech Competition