By Li Sihui, Reporter for China Science Daily, Yang Tingting, Correspondent
"Would our lives be more convenient without universal gravitation?""If there was no universal gravitation, the Earth and life might not exist, and that would be a huge mess, not convenience."On January 12th, in the report hall of Wuhan Economic Development Foreign Language School, an interesting Q&A session between an academician and elementary school students sparked enthusiastic applause from the audience.This is a scene from the first report meeting of the "100 Academicians Visiting 100 Schools for Popular Science" activity, where Academician Sun Heping, a researcher at the Academy of Precision Measurement Science and Technology Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, interacted with the audience. This is also the 233rd popular science report completed by Sun Heping's popular science team in less than two years.What is the motivation behind conducting popular science activities at such a high frequency? Does it interfere with scientific research? China Science Daily interviewed Sun Heping on these questions.Popular science is a crucial guarantee for enhancing national scientific and technological competitiveness
《China Science Daily》: Why did you choose "Earth and Universal Gravitation" as the topic for the first report of this activity?
Sun Heping: The Earth is the "most familiar stranger" to humans. On one hand, it is the home where human beings depend on for survival, and on the other hand, many people are not familiar with its changing patterns. In fact, the Earth is constantly undergoing subtle or drastic surface and internal movements, including the rotation of the Earth, free oscillation of the Earth, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and crustal movements, all of which are related to universal gravitation. This may be a topic that children are more interested in.In my opinion, by combining our own research, my team and I can explain in a popular science way the role of universal gravitation in the formation of the Earth and the solar system, as well as the role of gravity field measurement technology in aerospace, cutting-edge basic research, and national large-scale engineering projects.The questions from the children are full of curiosity and sparkle with the golden light of scientific dreams. They are worth caring for by researchers and educators.China Science Daily: As one of the academicians who attach great importance to popular science in our country, how do you view popular science work?Sun Heping: The emphasis on scientific innovation and popular science is increasing worldwide.Popular science can help the public understand scientific knowledge, grasp scientific methods, and improve scientific literacy, so as to better adapt to and deal with various issues in life.Popular science helps cultivate a labor force with high scientific literacy and other comprehensive qualities, better promoting scientific and technological innovation and sustainable economic development, thereby enhancing overall scientific and technological strength, comprehensive competitiveness, and empowering the country's development and economic prosperity.For young people, popular science is particularly important. Bringing popular science into schools helps promote their aspirations, and develop correct ideals, worldviews, and values. It also helps cultivate future talents for scientific research.Motivation comes from a sense of social responsibility
China Science Daily: We heard that you give over 20 popular science reports each year, and your popular science laboratory team gives over 100 reports each year. What is your motivation?Sun Heping: Popular science is an important mission that scientists should fulfill. If those who understand science don't do popular science, who will?Individual efforts are limited. Since the establishment of the "Academician Sun Heping Precision Measurement Popular Science Studio" named after me, we have adopted a new popular science model called "Academicians leading, extensive participation of researchers, comprehensive practice of graduate students". We have established popular science branches in Chongqing and popular science bases in Zhejiang, exploring institutional mechanisms. By increasing the sense of responsibility of the academicians, exerting the leading role of academicians and the platform functions of popular science studios, demonstrating leadership and providing spiritual motivation, we can integrate social forces and exert the leading and driving role of our team, unit, and industry.If asked where the motivation for doing popular science comes from, my answer is "a sense of responsibility". Popular science is a good thing that benefits the people and society. The country nurtures scientific researchers, and it is our duty to contribute back to the people and society through popular science.Only by closing the gap between science and the public, can we promote the development of science and create a more harmonious and prosperous society.
