Scientific and technological innovation and science popularization are the two wings of innovative development. The connotation of science popularization has evolved continuously with economic and social development. This paper traces the evolution of the connotation of science popularization from "one aspect" to "three aspects" and then to "four aspects". In response to the requirements of building China into a scientific and technological powerhouse, it proposes incorporating "scientific culture" into a new "five-aspect" framework for science popularization in the new era. This framework encompasses the popularization of scientific and technological knowledge, the advocacy of scientific methods, the dissemination of scientific ideas, the promotion of the scientific spirit, and the cultivation of scientific culture. The paper defines the connotation of scientific culture from the perspective of science popularization, clarifies the internal logic linking scientific culture and science popularization, and explains the theoretical and practical value of the five-aspect framework. It also explores pathways for cultivating scientific culture within this framework in the areas of philosophy, policy, and methodology. The aim is to improve the theoretical system of science popularization with Chinese characteristics, promote the high-quality development of science popularization in the new era, and enable science popularization to make a greater contribution to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The key to Chinese modernization lies in the modernization of science and technology. This modernization is manifested not only in scientific development and technological progress but also in the modernization of concepts of discovery, invention, and innovation. Historical experience from the rise of modern science and technology powers demonstrates that mobilizing broad social forces for scientific and technological endeavors and stimulating the creative vitality of the public are decisive conditions for economic and social development. This, in turn, requires the support of a corresponding set of modern values. In contemporary China, these values find concentrated expression in a people-centered philosophy of development. As a contemporary commitment to and development of Marxist historical materialism, this philosophy addresses both the fundamental purpose of scientific and technological innovation-serving the people-and its source of strength and ultimate value-relying on the people and sharing its fruits with them. It therefore constitutes the value foundation and social basis for achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology. Promoting the modernization of science and technology requires advancing scientific and technological innovation and science popularization as two equally important wings. This entails expanding the depth and breadth of the people's meaningful participation in scientific and technological innovation and consolidating the social foundation for self-reliance and strength in science and technology through the cultivation of a nationwide culture of innovation.

Highlighting the political nature of science popularization and strengthening value guidance are important measures for advancing science popularization work in the new era. Strengthening value guidance in science popularization is a contemporary imperative for advancing high-quality science popularization, responding to the practical needs of modern society shaped by science and technology, and implementing the spirit of the important assertion that "scientific and technological innovation and science popularization are equally important." It helps improve public scientific literacy, build consensus on innovation, and provide sociocultural support for building China into a scientific and techological powerhouse. Rooted in the historical practice of science popularization under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, value guidance in science popularization serves the functions of meaning construction, value formation, and cultural cultivation. Its content includes promoting the scientific spirit and the spirit of scientists, as well as enhancing cohesion and strengthening shared ideals and convictions through the Party's innovative theories. Efforts should be made to promote the integration of "comprehensive science popularization" and "comprehensive ideological and political education" under the guidance of Party building, develop humanistic science popularization grounded in care and commitment, and use high-quality science popularization to support the integrated development of education, science and technology, and talent cultivation.

Intelligent technologies, represented by generative artificial intelligence, are profoundly reshaping the patterns of interaction between individuals and society, posing significant challenges to the traditional framework of civic competence. On the basis of systematically reviewing the conceptual evolution of AI literacy, this study draws on social contract theory and competency-based education theory to construct an analytical framework in which AI literacy drives the reshaping of civic competence. AI literacy has transcended the scope of instrumental skills and has become a foundational competence for reshaping civic competence in the digital-intelligent era. Algorithmic systems have evolved into a mediating force in the construction of social reality. The cognitive interface between citizens and the world, the power interface between citizens and the state, and the participatory interface among citizens are all facing systemic challenges. AI literacy responds to the challenges faced by citizens in the digital-intelligent era across three dimensions: cognition, rights, and participation. Algorithmic cognition is the prerequisite for understanding technology; critical reflection generates questioning and action on the basis of such understanding; and ethical practice provides the value coordinates for that action. Together, these three elements constitute the core mechanism through which AI literacy drives the reshaping of civic competence, and they promote systematic transformations in citizens'cognitive and behavioral patterns in typical action scenarios.

The people-centered value orientation is the shared foundation of science popularization and AI literacy. Science popularization practices dominated by instrumental rationality tend to prioritize operational skills while neglecting value choices, power relations, and social consequences. This creates a structural misalignment in which "instrumental competence precedes value judgment," thereby generating a cycle of vulnerability. A profound ethical shift in the science popularization paradigm is essential to breaking this cycle. As a core element of AI literacy, ethics is important not only because it endows users with cognitive capacities and provides the value foundation for safeguarding human subjectivity, but also because AI, as a non-neutral actor, makes it imperative for ethical norms to respond to the demands of social development. Only by placing ethical judgment at the core of science popularization can technological alienation be curbed and the goal of technology for social good be achieved. Science popularization practice should therefore proceed from an ethical standpoint, embed ethics to open up its practical domains, focus on ethical reconstruction, establish value boundaries for technological practice, and elevate AI literacy from an individual skill set to a socially oriented system of competence, thereby activating the dual dimensions of science popularization..

Against the dual backdrop of the deepening integration of artificial intelligence into society and the accelerated development of an age-friendly society, AI literacy has acquired new connotations. Among older adults, disparities in AI literacy have extended beyond behavioral and operational deficiencies in skills to the level of value-based reasoning, manifested in dependence and addiction, fear and rejection, and cognitive simplification and rigidity. From the perspective of bounded technology governance, the inadequate and inappropriate integration of people and technology is the deep-seated cause of these disparities. This study proposes that science popularization on AI literacy for older adults should be grounded in four fundamental principles: a people-centered orientation; practicality and moderation; systematicity and scientific rigor; and inclusiveness and universal benefit. It should focus on cognitive reconstruction and value formation while appropriately adjusting the subjects, content, methods, and evaluation system of science popularization. The aim is to help older adults take the initiative in controlling technology, become co-creators of meaning and guardians of values in an AI-assisted society, and escape both the traps of AI and the marginalization experienced by "AI refugees."

Since the 10th National Congress of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), China has made progress in many areas of science popularization, mainly including the improvement of the legal and institutional framework for science popularization, the advancement of socialized science popularization, the development of the science popularization infrastructure system, the continuous enrichment of science popularization resources, the expansion of science popularization organizations and personnel, and international exchanges and cooperation in efforts to improve scientific literacy. In the course of these achievements, CAST not only accumulated valuable experience in science popularization but also further clarified that: the development of science popularization should be grounded in the overall national development agenda and serve overall economic and social development through its own capacity building; the foundation of rule of law should be consolidated, and the law should be relied upon to clarify the responsibilities and obligations of all actors in this field; top-level design should be strengthened, all parties should be pressed to fulfill their responsibilities, and a synergy for science popularization should be formed; collaborative platforms should be established to promote coordinated interaction among all actors and enhance the overall effectiveness of science popularization; infrastructure development should be strengthened to provide tangible support for high-quality science popularization services; and an international perspective should be adopted, considering and advancing international exchange and cooperation in science popularization within the broader context of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Health science popularization plays an important role in addressing population aging and advancing the "Healthy China" initiative. With the development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, short videos have gradually become an important medium for delivering health science popularization to older adults. This study examines older residents of Yuetan Community in Beijing. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), it empirically analyzes the factors influencing their intention to use digital-human health science short videos through a questionnaire survey. The findings indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, alternative expectancy, hedonic motivation, social influence, and facilitating conditions all significantly increase older adults' intention to use such videos. Gender, age, experience, and educational attainment moderate certain relationships. On this basis, the study proposes strategies for promoting the high-quality development of digital-human health science short videos in four areas: optimizing content and format, refining application scenarios, strengthening technological research and development, and promoting multistakeholder participation.

Optimizing the narrative strategies of health science popularization articles to enhance their communication efficacy is of practical significance for advancing the "Healthy China" strategy. This study uses 173 award-winning health science popularization articles from seven consecutive editions of the New Era Health Science Popularization Contest as its sample. Drawing on narratological theories, particularly those of Roland Barthes, it establishes a three-level, ten-element narrative system. Communication efficacy is quantified using four indicators: reading volume, likes, comments, and replies. Nonparametric tests are used to screen for associated variables, and multiple linear regression is conducted to identify significant predictors. The findings show that event salience, virtual-character narrators (as opposed to doctors), internal focalization, innovative presentation formats, and high-NRI narrative environments are significantly and positively associated with communication efficacy. In addition, high-performing works exhibit multiple synergistic configurations of narrative elements. Future creators could systematically improve the communication efficacy of health science popularization articles at the narrative level through combinatorial creation strategies, interactive participation design, and professional intellectual-property development.

Central state-owned enterprises (CSEs) are an important component of China's national strategic scientific and technological strength and an indispensable force in advancing science popularization. This study examines science popularization in CSEs. It conducts in-depth interviews with relevant personnel at the headquarters of 10 CSEs that have established enterprise associations for science and technology or have a strong foundation in science popularization; collects data on science popularization in 31 CSEs across different industries through a questionnaire survey; gathers more than 30 CSE science popularization cases through public solicitation for qualitative support; and systematically examines CSE official websites and their operations on mainstream domestic media, social media, and overseas social media platforms. The study outlines the current status of science popularization in CSEs and identifies major problems, including inadequate top-level design, blurred conceptual boundaries, an insufficient supply of high-end products, and weak personnel support. It then proposes targeted recommendations: strengthening top-level design to promote organized science popularization in CSEs; establishing and improving CSE associations for science and technology to shift from decentralized administration to centralized coordination; optimizing mechanisms for transforming scientific and technological resources to increase the supply of high-quality science popularization works; and establishing and improving incentive mechanisms to strengthen science popularization talent development. These recommendations are intended to support the high-quality development of science popularization in CSEs.