Saved by Science
Beijing conference shows why science literacy is critical in an age of technological advances
The gigantic screen in the hall packed with university students shows an image of Dolly snuggling against her “mother.” Dolly, the most famous sheep in the world, became a celebrity even before she was born as she was the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell in 1996.
The image leaves viewers puzzled. Why isn’t she an exact replica of the adult sheep? Instead, her face is white, while her “mother” is blackfaced. Then British biologist Ian Wilmut, Director of the MRC Center for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, the United Kingdom, steps in to unravel the mystery.
In his presentation on cloning, Wilmut, regarded as Dolly’s “father” for leading the team that produced the world’s first sheep through asexual reproduction, explains that the difference is due to the fact that the mother is a surrogate and genetically unrelated to Dolly. She actually had three mothers: The egg came from one, the second provided the DNA, and the one showed in the image carried the cloned embryo to term.
Wilmut explained the science behind Dolly’s birth at the Science Communication Forum, a sub-forum of the World Conference on Science Literacy 2018, held in Beijing in September. Themed Science Literacy for a Shared and Better Future, it was the first such international event in the world, hosted by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). Attended by representatives from international organizations, governmental agencies, science communication organizations, as well as universities and research institutes, the conference saw many celebrities from the science, education and business communities in attendance.
Door to progress
The importance of the conference was evident from the high level of attention it received. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a message, saying science and technology is the primary productive force and innovation a crucial driver behind development. He called science popularization as important as innovation and hoped the participants would contribute to improving science literacy, share scientific achievements and advance building a community with a shared future for humanity.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also sent a congratulatory letter. “Science, technology and innovation are crucial for addressing the challenges of our time, from climate change and food security to healthcare and protecting the planet,” he said. “Science literacy opens the door to progress. As we strive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we must do more not only to harness science for good, but to advance science literacy.”
The Beijing Declaration adopted by the conference also emphasized the importance of science literacy. “Science literacy is an intrinsic requirement for an individual’s all-around development, for the social foundation of a nation’s innovation capacity and sustainable development, as well as for the intellectual foundation of mutual understanding and peace in human society,” it stated.
Tom Mcleish, professor of natural philosophy at the University of York, Canada, gave a pragmatic reason for science literacy. “Questions regarding genetically altered foods, nuclear power plants, global warming, fluoridated water and energy conservation confront us every day,” he said. “Science education can help develop informed citizens who are prepared to deal with science-related social issues and who can influence policy that affects them and their communities.”
China’s overall science literacy level has increased significantly. According to the Report on the Construction of Public Science Literacy in China (2018) released at the conference, it rose from 1.6 percent in 2005 to 8.47 percent in 2018. The rise was higher in Beijing and Shanghai, over 21 percent.
Experiencing science
Li Jiapeng, a primary school student in Caoyuping, a village in north China’s Shanxi Province, has never been outside the area. It was his long-time wish to see Tiananmen, the historical monument at the heart of Beijing that is a symbol of national unity, but he didn’t think his wish would come true. Then one day, a CAST science popularization caravan arrived in the village. It brought virtual reality (VR) headsets that turned viewed objects three-dimensional.