Energy efficiency will step into the spotlight in this year's
nationwide science education campaign, said State Councilor Chen Zhili on Friday.
In March, the central government issued its first 15-year plan
on enhancing the understanding of science across China, part of its
goal of building an innovation-led country.
Children, farmers, officials and migrant workers will be
targeted by the campaign.
"Every year from now on we will organize various themed
activities across the country," said Chen, who leads the campaign,
speaking at the closing ceremony of the seventh national congress
of the Chinese Association of Science and Technology (CAST), the
country's largest science organization.
The campaign has been designed in response to increasing global
concern about the world's energy shortage.
Xu Shanyan, a freshly-appointed committee member of CAST, blamed
the country's education system for the low level of interest in
science.
"Our education system overemphasizes the importance of exams and
has a humdrum style," he said.
"To promote science in the country, we should inspire
diversification," he added.
Throughout its four-day conference CAST has also selected a new
committee and awarded 100 outstanding young scientists.
(China Daily May 27, 2006)