SJTU Tech Experts Help Kick off the 2023 Shanghai Science Festival

The 2023 Shanghai Science Festival, themed “Enjoying the Technology, Touching the Future”, officially opened at the prestigious Grand Halls on May 20. Representing Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhu Xinyuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of SJTU, took part in the launching ceremony of “Shanghai’s Science Communication Pilot Plan”.

The morning session witnessed the appearance of five distinguished technology experts from SJTU on the red carpet alongside the Huangpu River, namely Fan Chunhai, Maurizio Tonetti, Yang Xiaohu, Vadim Grinenko, and Xu Donglian.

Fan Chunhai

Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Dean, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, SJTU

Executive Dean, Institute of Translational Medicine, SJTU

Maurizio Tonetti

Professor of School of Medicine, SJTU

Director of Oral Implant Research Center, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital

Yang Xiaohu

Deputy Director, Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, SJTU

Distinguished Professor of SJTU

Vadim Grinenko

Associate Professor, Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, SJTU

Xu Donglian

Chief Scientist of the South China Sea Neutrino Telescope Experiment, Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, SJTU

Yang Xiaohu highlighted that the symbolic “red carpet” inspires scientific scholars. Building a world-class international research institute requires the convergence of brilliant minds and cultures, which stimulate innovative scientific and technological projects. Nowadays, cutting-edge scientific research often requires advanced large-scale scientific facilities. As a novel research institution representative, the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute could further promote the construction of world-class scientific devices.

During the launch ceremony, the Network for the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST) announced through a video message that Shanghai had been selected as the host city for the 2027 World Science and Technology Communication Conference. SJTU’s bidding team, led by Vice President Zhu Xinyuan, successfully secured the right to host the 19th Biennial Conference of the PCST in 2027 during their visit to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, earlier this year. This milestone achievement marks China’s inaugural hosting of this significant event.

At the second Shanghai Science Communication Conference forum, the city officially unveiled the “Science Communication Pilot Plan” to foster science and technology communication talent development and achievement transformation and encourage more exceptional scientific minds to participate in science popularization efforts. Vice President Zhu Xinyuan, representing SJTU, participated in the launch ceremony.

The comprehensive plan encompasses five significant initiatives, including establishing a science communication discipline and introducing a master’s degree program in science communication at SJTU’s School of Media and Communication. The program aims to cultivate talents for media, professional institutes, and related industries, ultimately enhancing public understanding and acceptance of science across society as a whole.

“520”, a phonetic approximation of “I love you” in Chinese, is now celebrated as the Network Valentine’s Day. At SJTU, this unique occasion was dedicated to science and technology, reinforcing scientific innovation and effectively conveying the science stories of SJTU.