A model that shows the soft landing of China's Chang'e-4 probe on the moon's far side is displayed at an exhibition at the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing on Sept. 16. The exhibition is part of nationwide activities to mark the 2019 Science Day that lasts from Sept. 14 to 20. [Photo by Yuan Fang/China.org.cn]

Activities to mark the 2019 National Science Day were launched nationwide on Sept. 14.

As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), the 2019 National Science Day has set its theme as "Salute to PRC, Smart New Life."

Taking place before the National Day that falls on Oct. 1, the activities will last until Sept. 20, aiming to improve public science literacy and serve national development needs. Around 15,000 units will carry out 24,000 science communication activities across China during the period, which will be available to a record high number of 320 million people.

In Beijing, the main city for the initiative, activities will take place at the China Science and Technology Museum and the Beijing Science Center.

At the China Science and Technology Museum, six sections have been set up, respectively dedicated to: an exhibition on the PRC's science and technology achievements since its founding in 1949; broadcast of the science communication activities and the technology volunteer services taking place across China as well as an exhibition on the building of smart science and technology museums, the technology volunteer service information platform and smart science and technology associations; science communication activities organized by social forces; 5G technologies; an exhibition promoting the spirit of Chinese scientists; an exhibition on the major youth science activities that have been organized over the past seven decades, together with other youth-centered science communication activities.

Strong mobilization of social resources is a highlight of this year's activities in Beijing. For example, over 120 organizations, including leading enterprises, prestigious universities, mainstream media organizations and top societies, contributed their science communication resources to support the exhibition on the PRC's science and technology achievements since 1949. Highly entertaining and interactive, the activities enable visitors to come very close to science and prove to be very attractive.

Nationwide, coordinated campaigns will be launched to share science at science museums, communities and campuses as well as in rural areas; enterprises, educational bases, societies, research institutes, universities, health services and meteorological services will be mobilized to do their part. A number of offline activities will be complemented by online science communication activities.