Latest ArticlesSince 1994, I have made an effort to merge my research as a working physicist with science communication (SC) activities. SC has helped my research and changed it in very exciting ways, leading to the creation of histophysics and my enlightenment in the history of science. My experience is described, and six recommendations are offered for others: (1) integrate popular science (PS) books into science teaching, (2) inject PS talks in departmental seminars or set up a separate series, (3) set up a university-wide PS lecture series, (4) give PS talks, (5) contribute to the scholarship of SC, and (6) merge science with the humanities. The first four can be practiced easily by every science professor, the fourth by all scientists, and the last two by some of them.
China is an agricultural country with 63.91% of its total population living in rural areas. As traditional agriculture is being gradually replaced by modern agriculture, low level of science literacy of Chinese farmers has considerably hindered productivity in the agriculture sector. As a consequence, the farmers are still poor, so it is crucial for Chinese farmers to learn modern agricultural methods in order to eliminate poverty. However, due to insufficient qualified personnel and lack of technical services, urgent needs of the farmers are not met. While agricultural technicians are locally available in large numbers, their knowledge has not been fully applied in agricultural practices; thus a big information gap exists between technicians and farmers. Therefore a proper communication channel and a cooperative guarantee system need to be established so as to pass on science and technology (S&T) information from the “rich region” to the “needy region”. With this background, a pilot Project of agricultural science communication has been launched. Based on “Voluntary Registration & Mutual Selection”, lots of technicians were hired by the local government as ‘Technical Task Force (TTF)’. They lived and worked together with the local farmers. In their cooperative efforts they made technological as well as capital investment and share profits and losses to achieve “double win” and then they both become shareholders. This pilot Project to persuade Chinese farmers to use modern scientific methods is so successful that the government is expanding it across the whole country. This paper attempts to analyze the working mechanism of the innovative Project and discuss the relationships amongst local governments, farmers and TTF. The aim is to elaborate on an effective and successful practice of agricultural science communication between technicians and farmers in developing countries.
Space Art is the art of astronomy and the art of astronautics. It reflects the accomplishment and discovery of astronomy, astronautics and space technology. Space Art is very important in astronomical education, astronomical popularization and the space exploration. During the recent 20 years, newspapers, magazines and TV programmes of China have made great efforts in spreading Space Art.
The paper concentrates on the foundation of science communication major in China's significant universities and colleges including those enlisted in the 211 project. The paper analyses that issue in different angles including cultivation target, course setting, student recruiting and degree granting. Furthermore, in order to put forward suggestions on science communication elite cultivation in China, precious experiences from other countries are introduced in the paper.
It is obvious that study of the diffusion of the Internet in developing area is significant both from practical and theoretical perspective; however, this is largely neglected by Chinese scholars. Based on a convenient sampling survey into 480 families living in the countryside of ten counties in Hubei province, the current research primarily examines Chinese rural residents' adoption of and attitude toward the Internet. Findings suggest that both the diffusion of computer and the Internet are before the critical mass and at the early stage of diffusion. It is expected that in the following six months penetration of computer in rural China probably reach the critical mass and soon embrace its take-off, but it will be a longer period for the Internet to come over this threshold. Data analyses show that rural residents are basically positive about the adoption of computer and the Internet, which contributes to the present situation of penetration of the two new information & communication technologies. However, they have relatively and even extremely few knowledge about the new technologies, which tremendously impede their adoption of the innovative technologies. Respondents' attitude toward new technologies is only affected by their knowledge about new technologies and their age, while knowledge is influenced by many behavioral and demographic variables. The research suggests that public-interest computer or the Internet training programs provided for rural residents should facilitate the diffusion of computer and the Internet in rural area in mainland.
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