In December 2012, the Open University of China (OUC) signed an agreement with the Chinese Academy of Science's Bureau of Academician Work to join forces in a strategic alliance with benefits for both parties. They have jointly planned and launched a series of video lectures for the “Open University of China Lectures” series specifically, “Science and China — Lectures by Academicians and Experts”. To date, lectures given by 20 academicians and 61 renowned experts have been recorded, including Ouyang Zhiyuan, chief scientist of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Programme, Chu Junhao, a specialist in semiconductor physics and device technology, geologist Yang Yuanxi, plant physiologist Zhu Yuxian, and stratigraphic paleontologist Yin Hongfu. The subject matter covers diverse fields such as information science, geobiology, energy, and control science. It is estimated that academicians and experts involved in the lectures in 2013 will eventually reach about one hundred.“Science and China — Lectures by Academicians and Experts”is presented in the form of HD TV course lectures by academicians and experts. Plans are combined with lecture tour activities and scientific lectures like “Forum on Frontier Science and Technology”, and “Science and China” for the ultimate realization of full media design and multi-terminal transmission.
The lectures were designed to build on the foundation of scientific advancement and scientific culture. The lectures expound themes related to “frontier exploration, science of the people, and scientific philosophy” to gradually complete the design of the course lecture system, and to construct and accumulate video resources for popular science. Included in the substantial fields covered by the chosen topics are the following: First, the series on frontier exploration refers to those topics related to unlocking the charm of frontier sciences, scientific research into the future of human beings, through hot-topic discussions on renewable energy, modern agricultural practices, high-end equipment manufacturing, efficient transportation technology, the new generation of information technology, the modern service industry, biotechnology, and military defense. Second, the series on the science of the people focus on explaining new ideas and new technology related to promoting economic development and social progress through scientific innovation, especially in challenging areas of great public concern such as population health, environmental protection, urbanization and city development, and public security and disaster prevention and reduction. Third, the series on scientific philosophy presents information on scientific laws and methods and the related scientific traditions and spirit, and will help ones to grasp the history and unique glamor of scientific development by summing up experiences from the study of the historical process of scientific development in accordance with historical facts.
“Science and China — Lectures by Academicians and Experts”, as a non-profit project of public welfare, acts on the three principles of win-win cooperation, high quality, and flexible form. It collects such high-end resources as academicians and experts of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering to popularize scientific knowledge, advocate scientific approaches, spread scientific ideas, and promote the scientific spirit in a form that is geared to the needs of the public, serving OUC students and the broader public through the inter-media transmission platform of “Open University of China Lectures”.
Academician Chu Junhao Making a Live Demonstration at the Studio
Academician Huang Lin Making a Speech at the Forum on Frontier Science and Technology
By Zheng Yujuan, the OUC