Interview
As we move the project forward smoothly, we also placed great emphasis on science popularization and promotion for the population without a biology background. On August 14th, 2022, we conducted an online interview with Ms. Guo Yurong, a natural education instructor at the Northeast Tiger Forest Park in Heilongjiang Province, focusing on the important role of science popularization in the development of science and technology and the problems we encountered in science popularization. As a senior science educator, Ms. Guo answered our questions from different aspects, which benefited us greatly.
1.Ms. Guo, what role do you think science popularization plays in the development of science?
Science popularization activities are of great significance in inspiring scientists and technological workers to well mobilize the whole society, disseminating, popularizing scientific and technological achievements, and improving the scientific awareness of the whole population. It helps implement the strategy of the innovation-driven development.
2. What do you think we should pay attention to when popularizing science among the differently aged groups?
When holding the science popularization activities, we should take into account their different acceptability and knowledge levels. For example, the primary school students would not have too much professional contents, so we should design some popular science games that can be accepted by them. This may improve the quality of the classes and increase their acceptability. For adults, we need to find ways to make them accept us in the experience, and be willing to listen and interact with us, which requires a high level of competence of a science popularizer.
3. In your opinion, if the subjects of science popularization are students from primary schools or middle schools, their thinking is divergent. What should we pay attention to in the topic selection and class?
It is important to think about their acceptability. For primary and secondary school students, we should choose topics that are as simple and as relevant to their lives as possible, and design the class in a way that is colorful and does not limit their thinking, so that they can feel the full joy of the class. This requires a high level of knowledge and the ability to interact with children in a way attractive to them, which means being able to hold the audience, control the atmosphere, and attract their attention.
4. What is the original aspiration and mission of science popularization?
Science popularization activities are very important for social development, and our initial goal is to use science education to enhance the quality of science for all, so that the achievements of scientific and technological innovations and science popularization activities can really benefit the public. It is important to promote scientific ideals among the youth. As science popularizers in the environmental field, we hope that the seeds of environmental protection can take root in everyone's heart.
5. You have been involved in nature education and science popularization for many years. Do you have any tips for science popularization that you have summed up in practice?
For natural education and scientific popularization work, the most useful receipt is the heart. Only feeling and loving by heart can we really do the scientific popularization work. We should start small, insist on doing the small things well, and motivate those around you to do with you.
6. Many students feel embarrassed in the process of science popularization. How can this kind of problem be solved?
I think it is the inner exercise, in which we really realize the value and significance of science popularization work. The students should learn more professional knowledge to gain confidence and strengthen their hearts through practicing. Only through repeated theoretical-practical study and adequate prep work can you better explain to others.
Figure 1. Our science popularization instructor Ms. Guo
Cultural integration
We pay attention to the use of traditional Chinese culture to promote the contents and advantages of synthetic biology. We invited Chen Dongyao and Zhang Yifan from the Painting and Calligraphy Association of Northeast Forestry University to ignite the light of synthetic biology with calligraphy.
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Figure 2. Synthetic biology in Calligraphy
Poetry is a popular form of propaganda. Together with SZPT-China and BNUZH-China, we have organized a microbial poetry event to demonstrate the role of microbes in synthetic biology. The activity was held three times, and attended by hundreds of people.
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Figure 3. Three schools jointly wrote microbial hymns
Popular Science Education
With the development of science and technology, synthetic biology is gradually affecting everyone, and we recognize that it is necessary to educate the undergraduates from non-biology fields about synthetic biology. The aim of the event was to educate people about the concept of synthetic biology and its relevance to their lives, and to make them aware of that synthetic biology is not "a flower on a high mountain", but a highly relevant and practical subject in our life.
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Figure 4. Online science education for undergraduates from non-biology fields
Children education
Towards the end of the project, we focused more on scientific propagation to children. In order to satisfy the curiosity of children, the NEFU_China team decided to join hands with other teams to create a picture book based on our project of building a DNA assembly platform using the Yeast Fab technology. Our purpose is to cultivate children's interests in scientific investigation, and motivate their enthusiasm and passion to synthetic biology.
A total of seven iGEM teams were involved in drawing the cartoons, and we worked together to complete a full series of cartoon books. The NEFU_China team was responsible for explaining the children the concept of enzymes and their functions and properties. Through the self-narrative of enzymes and the interaction with the main characters, we showed the children the basic properties of enzymes, such as the nature of enzymes as proteins and RNA, and the need for enzymes to work together to catalyze amazing chemical reactions. By setting up enemies and portraying the characteristics of enzymes as weapons to help the characters defeat these enemies, the main functions of enzymes - catalysis - were brought home to the children, allowing them to learn solid knowledge and cultivate their interests.
Comics are one of the most effective ways to bring synthetic biology to the lay people, not only for the reason that the main audience for comics is children, which allows them to learn while being entertained and develop scientific literacy at an early age, but also due to the convenient way to make the complex concepts of synthetic biology accessible and understandable to general audiences.
Daily science popularization
Art and technology are the two rails of humanity to the future. NEFU_China, FAFU, NPU-CHINA, and Hangzhou iGEM Wing jointly organized the "When Trilinear Poetry Meets Synthetic Biology" activity, which collects works related to synthetic biology nationwide and selects them by voting. It aims to popularize and publicize synthetic biology to non-biological professionals in society through this form.
Figure 6.Synthetic biology meets three lines of poetry
We rely on WeChat Official Account and bilibili platform for science popularization activities. During this period, we have astaxanthin, lycopene and other terpenoids for science introduction, but also through these platforms to promote our project. Our publicity video has been watched more than 1,000 times, and a total of more than 3,500 people have browsed our publicity platform, which has produced important help for our science.
Figure 6.The publicity platform used by the NEFU_China team
