On the morning of October 30, the Future Scientists Forum, a themed event of the 2026 World Laureates Forum, was held at the Lingang Center in Shanghai. Organized by the WLA Foundation, with support from the Children & Youth Science Center of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, and the Shanghai Science and Technology Education Center, the event was themed “New Science Paradigm: Break Through for the Next Decade” It brought together leading scientists from China and around the world, along with approximately 100 young students, to explore the possibilities of scientific breakthroughs over the next decade.

Ten high school students from SHSID were invited to attend the event. Throughout the program, they actively participated in various sessions, demonstrating their enthusiasm, scientific curiosity, and abilities.

Taking the Stage: Sharing Scientific Experiences

During the “Future Scientists Speak” session, Andrea, representing SHSID students, delivered an English speech titled “Boundless Exploration: My Scientific Practice and Growth.” Sharing the stage with Professor Hui Zhai of Tsinghua University, the Chinese Co-Chair of the forum, and Professor Richard Schoen, recipient of the 2025 WLA Prize in Computer Science or Mathematics, Andrea shared her experiences and reflections on personal growth through scientific exploration. Her presentation highlighted SHSID students' broad scientific perspectives and strong communication skills.

The student emcee of the event was also from SHSID. During the opening session, the student co-hosted the event with a professional emcee, guiding the audience through the program in both Chinese and English. The student's confident stage presence and fluent, composed delivery earned praise from the attending guests, teachers, and students.

Group Discussions: Active Participation and Insightful Presentations

In the subsequent group discussion sessions, students worked collaboratively around the theme of “A Pact Grounded in Societal Needs.” Each group focused on real-world challenges that young people could actively engage in addressing, explored potential solutions, and jointly developed concrete action commitments for the next decade.

Each group was led by a distinguished scientist, who introduced open-ended questions inspired by real-world research scenarios. SHSID students were assigned to several groups and engaged deeply in a diverse range of discussions.

In the life and health track, some groups explored technological solutions to the question, “How can algorithms better serve an aging society?” Others took up the challenge of “Designing an AI Doctor for Your Home,” discussing topics ranging from everyday health monitoring to the use of AI in providing preliminary diagnostic and treatment recommendations. Some groups also examined medical humanities topics, including end-of-life care.

Discussions in the AI track were equally engaging. Topics ranged from “If AI Can Perform Tasks Faster and Better Than Humans, How Should School Education Change?” to “How Can We Identify Reliable Information and Detect Fake News in the Age of Big Data?” Other groups considered how to balance the rapid development of AI with its growing energy consumption, as well as the future relationship between humans and AI over the next decade.

The discussions were lively and dynamic, with whiteboards filled with mind maps and key action points. SHSID students actively contributed ideas, helped facilitate discussions, and assisted in documenting their groups' findings, demonstrating solid scientific literacy and strong collaborative skills.

Several SHSID students also took the stage as group representatives to present their teams' outcomes. Using their whiteboards to illustrate their ideas, they clearly articulated their proposed action commitments, presenting their key points in a focused and well-structured manner. Their presentations left a strong impression on the attending guests, teachers, and students. In addition, several students were interviewed by the media at the event, sharing their takeaways from the forum and reflections on the future of science.

Nurturing Innovation Through Science Education

The students' outstanding performance at the event reflects SHSID's longstanding commitment to fostering scientific innovation and creativity. The school has consistently sought to provide students with diverse platforms for scientific exploration and innovation, encouraging inquiry-based learning through real-world challenges. Through these efforts, SHSID aims to cultivate critical thinking, an innovative spirit, and a global perspective, empowering students to engage with leading scientific developments on a broader stage.

From the classroom to international forums, and from the school campus to interactions with the world's leading scientists, SHSID students are embracing their own “Pact with Science” with enthusiasm and determination. We look forward to seeing more students continue to explore without boundaries and pursue excellence in science and innovation in the years ahead.

(Written and Pictures by High School STEAMS Advisors Office   Reviewed by Hui Liao, Ying Gu, Chenli Shen)