news

Recently, the "Gathering in Shanghai, Hand in Hand for the Future-2024 China-US Youth Science Innovation Exploration Summer Camp" hosted by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the People's Government of Pudong District, Shanghai, the Pudong District Science and Technology Association, and the Pudong District Youth Federation, and undertaken by the Pudong Huashi Science Innovation Development Center of Shanghai, came to a successful conclusion. A total of 30 young people from China and the United States walked along the scenic Banmasu River coastline, focusing on various special science and innovation courses and science and innovation check-in sites, and studied and learned, and returned home with a full load.

As the first Sino-US Youth Science and Technology Summer Camp exchange project in Putuo District, this event is themed "Meet in Shanghai, Join Hands for the Future" and is divided into four modules and courses: visits, talks, competitions, and tastings. The content covers all aspects of science and technology, finance, culture, history, etc., providing practical theoretical guidance and practical experience for young people to understand Chinese culture and cutting-edge science and technology.

Taking the bridge construction cooperation competition as an example, 30 students were divided into 5 groups. Each competition team had to arrange their own division of labor, use their own knowledge, cooperate with their teammates, and build their own team's exclusive bridge within the specified time. It is worth mentioning that in addition to the four common assessment standards of bridge load-bearing, material utilization, innovation, and design, this competition also introduced a special assessment of team collaboration, which included the communication and collaboration of each member in the scoring.

"Unlike traditional Sino-foreign exchange summer camps, we focus our courses more on cultivating scientific and creative thinking and teamwork awareness. We hope that both sides can promote the collision of ideas through cooperation and exchanges, and create more sparks about science. This is also the educational philosophy we have always followed." Li Yize, director and chairman of the Shanghai Putuo Huashi Science Innovation Development Center, said that he hopes to take advantage of the momentum of the summer "research and study fever" and use Putuo as a starting point to radiate the brand of the Science and Technology Youth Summer Camp to surrounding counties and other cities, so that cutting-edge science and technology knowledge courses can benefit more students.

Calvin Kan (Chinese name: Kan Luowen), a US camper representative who is in the tenth grade of a high school in the United States, has participated in such activities before. However, when he really got close to science and experienced the atmosphere of teamwork in this summer camp, he was deeply attracted: "This feeling is really different. Everyone sits around a table to study, and there seems to be no distance between each other." Other participating teenagers also said that if there is another opportunity to participate, they will definitely continue to sign up to continue this friendship.

As the summer vacation is halfway over, the China-US Science and Technology Youth Summer Camp has also come to an end. The students said goodbye reluctantly, following the roads they have walked, the scenery they have seen, and the knowledge they have learned in these 10 days, they promised to meet again in the future with a better appearance.

A relevant person in charge of the Putuo District Science and Technology Association introduced: "This science and innovation summer camp is an active attempt to respond to the coordinated and integrated development of education, technology, and talent. We hope that in the future this activity can continue to gather high-quality resources and continuously innovate activity models, so that young people can have closer cross-cultural exchanges and make science and innovation education more diverse."

"Through this activity, a 'bridge of communication' for mutual understanding, mutual learning and mutual improvement has been established between Chinese and American youth. It not only helps Chinese youth understand Chinese culture and enhance their feelings for their motherland, but also allows the children to grow and be touched in this youth journey. We will continue to hold such activities in the future," said a relevant person in charge of the district party committee's United Front Work Department.