Summer science camp for children underway

A five-day science camp sponsored by the Shanghai Science Communication Forum began at the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum on Tuesday with the first offline lecture since the novel coronavirus outbreak.

Wu Guanghui, chief scientist of COMAC and chief designer of the C919, gave the lecture of the history of planes as well as stories behind the airliner.

Over the following days, experts in biology, chemistry and astronomy will give lectures, science classes and interactive experiences to demystify science for 50 children. They will get to know how to repair fossils, what causes mass extinction and why people desire to land on Mars.

“Children are innocent and have endless imagination. We hope they can grasp their imagination and get to know science by learning, doing, and criticizing at the same time,” said Wang Xiaoming, director of the museum.

“We want to expose children to more possibilities,” said Song Xian, vice director of the museum’s Science Communication and Development Research Center. “The specialness of our science camp is that we have various aspects in our forum and encourage children to find their interests.”

Gan Huize of the Primary School attached to Shanghai No. 1 Normal School was interested in a lesson by the Shanghai Ceramic Technology Art Museum.

“I am into porcelain and want to know more about it. I can’t wait to join the activity,” he said.

“We always focus on the intercross and fusion among different subjects. We have chosen many topics that include the combination of science and humanity, or science and history,” Song said.