Some Reflections on Science Popularization and Science Culture in China

Abstract

China's social development strategy has evidently shifted from a focus on economic growth and material sustenance to balanced development and the enrichment of cultural and spiritual resources. In other words, Chinese society has transformed from a phase seeking rapid development to one seeking steady and all-round development. China's science popularization since the founding of the People's Republic of China has been focusing on the immediacy and timeliness of science communication but, in its current efforts to build a new science culture, it is more concerned with the cultivation of scientific values and the quality of persistence. In this era that upholds science culture, the mission of both science popularization and science culture is to make science go beyond the scientific community and to develop values and practice paths that support the public's pursuit of a better life. For that purpose, this paper proposes five projects based on the action network of science culture construction: fostering scientific spirit; disseminating science culture; institutionalizing science culture; science culture infrastructure for public benefits; and public engagement with science.