The Contest is held at ECNU on August 14-18.
THE 31st China Youth Science and Technology Innovation Contest was kicked off in East Normal University in Shanghai last night.
About 500 young students and 200 instructors from China, as well as more than 70 from 15 countries, including America, Germany, Russia, France and Japan, will attend the competitions of scientific and technological innovation for students and instructors respectively in four days.
Shang Yong, chief executive secretary of the CAST, introduces the youth scientific event.
Yang Xiong, Shanghai Mayor,illustrates what science and innovation mean to the city.
Chen Qun, president of ECNU, welcomes participants of the Contest.
Academician Shi Yigong, vice president of Tsinghua University, delivers a keynote speech.
Organizers have received about 5,000 applications, while 349 student programs and 200 instructor programs will enter the final evaluation.
During the event, participants will also listen to lectures, visit libraries in the university and hi-tech park in Minhang District, and attend workshops about education of science, technology, engineering and math.
About 570 yong students from home and abroad participate in the Contest.
Six winners of this year’s Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world's largest international pre-college science competition, were also invited to communicate with competitors about their experiences in scientific research and innovation.
It is the third time for the event to be held in Shanghai, which had hosted the 1982 and 1993 competitions, while the first of its kind was held in 1979 in Beijing.
Shang Yong, chief executive secretary of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), said at the opening ceremony that the national competition had become the most influential youth scientific event in China and wished all competitors to cherish the platform to fully showcase their capability.
“I wish you can keep the interests and enthusiasm in sciences and the curiosity toward the world, as well as the bravery to raise question and take the lead, when you take scientific and technological innovation as your career,” he said.
The oepning ceremony of the Contest is held on August 14.
“I wish you can keep the innovative spirit, cultivate innovative thinking and promote innovative ability so as to pursue your scientific dreams and explore the mysteries of science persistently,” he added.
Shanghai Mayor Yang Xiong said Shanghai is implementing its strategy of innovation-driven development and building itself into a global innovation center for science and technology, while talents are the key to realize the target and adolescents are hope of the future.
“We have to further enhance scientific education for young students to ignite their dreams of sciences and make them a strong force in construction of an innovative city,” he said.
By：Yang Meiping
Source: Shanghai Daily
