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Creative Program in Middle and Primary School: Expert Lectures of the Science Fair

April 30, 2024

This late April, the series of activities for the SHSID Science Fair were fully launched. As one of this year’s activities, our school invited a group of top experts to present a series of dynamic online lectures covering various fields such as science, food, environment, and social sciences, allowing the students to deeply explore the mysteries of science. The lectures lasted for a week, during which students engaged in in-depth discussions with them, collectively learning about cutting-edge scientific achievements, leading to many collisions of ideas and impassioned debates. The students benefited greatly from this event, gaining rich extracurricular knowledge and experiences in scientific innovation.

Professor Cen Yuhao from the School of Education at Shanghai Jiao Tong University brought us a unique lecture on "Breaking Gender Stereotypes—A Discussion on Gender Differences in STEM Education". The students gained a deeper understanding of gender stereotypes and enhanced their understanding of the concept of "equality" in technological innovation and social progress.

Associate Researcher Tu Chen from the Nanjing Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, led us on a journey titled "From the Environment to the Dining Table: The Fantastic Voyage of Microplastics". This lecture enlightened students on the latest scientific research findings and experimental data, and allowed them to gain a profound understanding of the potential threats of microplastics to ecosystems and human health, sparking concern and action for future environmental protection and sustainable development.

Professor Zhong Wenze, Director of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, led us in uncovering the connection between diet and human health. From the lecture, the students learned about the cholesterol content in food and its impact on the human body, as well as scientific dietary methods, exploring the mysteries of nutrition from the perspective of population health.

Associate Professor Shao Lei from the Michigan Institute of Technology at Shanghai Jiao Tong University brought us a lecture on the "Wonderful Journey of Soft Robotics." In the lecture, he led us to imagine a future where every household has companion robots, discussing the concept of true biomimetic robots being soft-bodied, and how soft robots are driven and controlled. This exploration of a frontier field allowed us to deeply understand the potential of future technology. He also shared a method for making a simple robotic caterpillar, bringing practical fun and inspiration to students.

Mr. Ding Guangji, Chief Content Expert of "Heart City" and a guest lecturer from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, lectured on the topic of "Archaeology of Greater Shanghai". In the lecture, he led us to discover a different Shanghai, astonishing us with the revelation that Shanghai once had city walls and informing us of several mother rivers in Shanghai. The students learned how to understand architecture and concepts relating to the Renaissance, Gothic, Neoclassicism, and Art Deco movements, initiating a deep fascination of Shanghai's history and culture.

Researcher Yu Hailong from the Institute of Edible Fungi, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, led us to explore "The Science of Edible Fungi You Didn't Know". Through the researcher's explanation, the students gained an in-depth understanding of the science and technology behind edible fungi, as well as their positive impact on human life and health.

As the one-week online expert lecture series came to a close, it was evident that our students not only gained valuable knowledge, but also formed opinions and thoughts about the topics presented, leading to engaging in-depth discussions with the experts. This science fair, as a platform for showcasing scientific knowledge, enhanced students' academic literacy, and cultivated their ability to solve problems and explore the unknown.

Written by Luwen Ma

Picyures by Shuhao Li

Edited by Cong Luo, Bianca Noguera