China Daily Global Edition (USA)
Elderly experts bringing science to the masses Organization’s efforts in line with top leader’s innovation drive
Many elderly Chinese spend their retirement looking after grandchildren or traveling the world, but for Bai Wuming, 62, his former career is a labor of love and he’s helping popularize science among young people.
Bai officially retired two years ago from a 40-year career in geophysics with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, yet he continues to give lectures on earth science in schools across the country, including in remote rural areas.
He likes to open his presentations with the words “Science is all around us” before conducting small experiments to captivate the audience’s attention.
To demonstrate how volcanoes erupt, Bai invites participants to come forward and pour sugar into a bottle of beer. The sugar produces carbon dioxide, which causes the beer to immediately spray forth in dramatic fashion.
“I remember my high school textbook also mentioned volcanoes, but my teacher did not conduct any demonstrations,” said Zhang Hao, a Tianjin University graduate student who volunteered to help at one of Bai’s lectures.
Bai is one of 60 members of Senior Scientists Public Lectures — an organization under the academy — having joined in 2010.
Established in 1997, the team of male and female speakers is mainly comprised of retired researchers in fields including astronomy, physics, chemistry and biology.
The oldest member is 90, but their average age is 68, with speakers receiving 1,000 yuan ($160) per lecture.
Zhong Qi, founder of the original team of just eight, said most of them had little previous experience in presenting scientific concepts to the public in laymen’s terms despite having dedicated their careers to their research.
“I remember my teenage years in the 1950s, which were a crucial time for me to develop my mind and body,” Zhong recalled.
“If we senior scientists can communicate with people and arouse their interest in science and inspire them to explore the unknown world in their youth, I think it would be good for them and our work.”
The elderly scientists on the team still take a rigorous attitude when selecting retirees who apply to join their ranks.
Regardless of titles and awards, all applicants must submit a report and take on audition. If the audience feels the lecture is too difficult to understand, applications can be declined. Those expecting to find fame will likely be rejected as well.
“You have to make your lectures interesting and it can be difficult trying to explain a formula clearly to the public. So I don’t think popularizing science is easier than doing actual research,” said geologist Xu Wenyao.
To ignite audience interest, Xu always makes a music analogy in his lectures.
“There are two tenors. Can you tell which one sings better?” Xu asked. “The vocalists say each has his own merits, but we scientists can use data and equations to analyze their voices.” It’s a winning formula. “Many students start nodding off when it comes to science, especially math, physics and chemistry. So I am always thinking how to make these subjects more accessible and interesting,” Xu said.
The retirees also hope to kindle a long-term interest among their young audiences in pursuing further scientific study and research.
The elderly lecturers themselves also keep learning, adapting and improving. They have mastered making PowerPoint presentations and videos, as well as writing jokes, stories and lyrics that fill lecture rooms with laughter.
By 2017, the association had delivered 23,000 lectures, mainly in primary and high schools, to a total audience of 8.2 million. They also lectured to people at community events, in prisons, the military and worshippers at temples.
“I remember once I lectured at a playground, because the rural primary school did not have an auditorium. But the pupils listened carefully without any distractions,” Xu recalled.
Yang Xinghua, head of Tangshan Oriental International School in Hebei province, said, “It’s an opportunity for us to communicate with accomplished scientists.”
President Xi Jinping has described scientific innovation and popularization as “the two wings for realizing innovation-driven development”.
More public figures and organizations have emerged in recent years, working on science popularization through social media. But the retired scientists hope more researchers will take up the cause.
Bai said their advantage lies in their years of research: “The content of our lectures is based on the research we have done, which is real, scientific and proprietary. We don’t allow our speakers to download content from the internet.”
Bai said the team is especially looking for experts in emerging subjects such as artificial intelligence and oceanic science. “It is a scientist’s responsibility to popularize science,” Bai said.