The paper investigates the communication practice of China’s first illustrated science popularization magazine Science Pictorial, and explores the role of Science Pictorial in the process of science popularization in modern China. The study found that pictorial magazines had been playing an enlightening role since they had been introduced into China, which laid a solid foundation for Science Pictorial to undertake the task of science popularization. Science Pictorial possessed many advantages over other science popularization media of the time that enabled it to cover much more audiences. Specifically, Science Pictorial was excellent in both illustration and text, and its language style, fit for knowledge, news reporting and entertainment, served well as a science popularization media. This study concludes that the communication practice of Science Pictorial in the Republic of China brought science from the scientific community to the people and contributed to the popularization of science. The communication research of Science Pictorial has referential significance for science popularization in the new media era.

science popularization  /  science communication  /  pictorial  /  Science Pictorial