Chongqing- How to improve the scientific literacy of the whole people? On December 14, Chongqing held a press conference to explain the implementation of the Municipal Scientific Literacy Action Plan (2021-2025), the relevant departments in charge of the program interpreted the content.
Scientific literacy refers to the spirit of scientific aspiration, knowledge of basic science and scientific methods, as well as applying them in analyzing and solving problems, according to a Xinhua report.
"By 2025, the proportion of citizens in Chongqing with scientific literacy will exceed 15%, and continue to hold the lead in the western region and reach the national average. The uneven development of all regions and populations will be significantly improved," said Wang Heqing, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Executive Vice President of the Chongqing Association for Science and Technology.
The relevant departments in charge of the plan interpreted the content at the press conference. (iChongqing/ Zhan Chen)
What needs illustration is that, during the 13th Five-Year Plan period, the proportion of citizens with scientific literacy increased by 1.1 percentage points on average every year. It can achieve the goal by the end of the 14th Five-Year Plan period. This is also the basic requirement for Chongqing to accelerate the construction of an influential science and technology innovation center and a vital national talent highland, according to Wang.
Agricultural technical team guides townships
In terms of the scientific literacy of peasants, Wen Mingwei, Deputy Secretary of Agricultural and Rural Working Committee, addressed that it plans to train 20,000 highly qualified farmers each year and identify 2,000 wealthy rural leaders.
The key to rural revitalization depends on talent. Thereout, it plans to organize more than 500 experts of 14 agricultural industry technology teams to the front line to carry out technical guidance to the original 18 deeply impoverished townships identified during the poverty alleviation campaign. On the other hand, the established policies to benefit and enrich agriculture should be implemented further. It will also actively strive to introduce new policies to enhance peasants' sense of contentment and happiness continuously.
Inspired, inquiry and open-ended teaching
"Adolescence is a key period in life to cultivate the spirit of science and develop the innovation capability," said Li Jinyu, Deputy Director of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission. Around how to improve the scientific literacy of young people, the Commission will work on three areas.
The first is to play a good role in the spirit of science, encouraging young people to set up the lofty ambitions of building a powerful nation in science and technology. The second is to improve the main course channel. The hardware conditions of science education will be enhanced, which calls for an inspired, inquiry, and open-ended teaching. The third is to apply the resources of the outside school, guiding primary and secondary schools to make full use of science and technology museums and achieve the collaborative education of schools, society, and families.
In Jiangbei District Science and Technology Museum, the professional staff led the sixth-grade students to experience various technology game projects. (iChongqing file photo)
Building University of Science and Technology for the elderly
At present, the overall level of scientific literacy of the elderly is relatively low, mainly due to the conflict between the widespread application of technology and the aging of the population. Many elderly people who don't know how to use smartphones and access the internet, and as such encounter inconveniences in their daily lives such as travel, shopping, and medical treatment.
Wang Heqing indicated that it is a systematic project to enhance the quality of science for the elderly. Referring to the concrete measure, Chongqing Science and Technology Museum will create the University of Science and Technology for the elderly to carry out teaching work with the plan. Five hundred elderly people will be trained as backbone and teachers at the municipal level each year. Each district and county should also create universities for the elderly based on local conditions.
To implement wisdom to help the elderly, it will concentrate on digital and healthy literacy to expand the education of the elderly, relying on the community science universities, social organizations, and other old care institutions.