This year’s USTC Science and Technology Week, with the theme of “fight the epidemic scientifically, prosper our motherland innovatively”, fell on Aug 29th.
The event wasn’t in its usual mid-May owing to the unexpected pandemic happened at the beginning of 2020. Anti-epidemic warriors and their families were invited to on-the-spot activities, at the same time, round-the-clock live streaming was open for all. All videos are available at http://kepu.ustc.edu.cn/kpzt/list.htm.
More than 70 guides scattered at the museums on the East Campus, helping to introduce the history of USTC, as well as stories of senior alumni. Their commentaries attracted visitors both online and offline.
Volunteers at the USTC Museum, waiting for visitors, to guide them to the exhibition room
Meanwhile, the West Campus provided a more engaged experience.
Other than the traditional activities of beauty of biology with micro-world show, specimen display and leaf vein bookmark making, an anti-pandemic exhibition was set up at the School of Life Science: a photo wall to pay tribute to all the brave doctors and nurses, a site to teach proper use of epidemic prevention products, and a machine combing the technique of holographic projection and light sensor which enables non-button, contactless manipulations in elevators and hospital registrations, reducing the possibility for infection.
Showing specimens to children
Contactless registration device. The image is not presented on a real screen, but been projected in air.
Robots are always of children’s interests. The School of Information Science and Technology exhibited a human-like robot with interactive experiences, singing, storytelling and dancing, while the School of Engineering Science showed wider types of practical robots, from cooperative mechanical arms to their designs for Robomaster Competition. Children were also able to learn about laser engraving, a magic technique which engraves 3D graphics inside a piece of glass here.
Robot dancing at School of Information Science
Kids were fond of the virtual reality (VR) experience at the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science, in which they found themselves inside a burning building, trying to escape safe and sound. VR has made it possible for us to preview and practice drills of some dangerous emergencies with higher safety and efficiency.
Besides, the lab also designed an interactive game to tell children the hidden dangers in our daily life scenarios.
Volunteers assisting children to use VR
Game of finding hidden danger
Fire whirlwind experiment at the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science
National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory presented the pictures and models of Hefei Light Source, as well as a guided tour to the giant facility. “These has all changed a lot in ten years, which we would never imagine then. Similarly, as parents we should never limit our children according to our experiences, as they could be out of date in the very near future,” said a professor on site.
Live streaming at National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory
Four online talks were open to public at different time of the day, in addition to on-site popularization points.
“Science popularization is always of great significance to help the public understand that science and technology is not far from life. It also inspires innovation sparkles and bring more successors for science careers,” said a visitor.
This is the first year that Science and Technology Week event held both online and offline, a trial form enables our efforts to reach more people from a broader region and wider time span.
(Written by JIANG Pengcen, image by JIANG Pengcen, USTC News Center)
