"The Chinese Academy of Sciences belonging to national research institutes is like ‘The Spring Snow’ (a highbrow song), far away from the public. Activities to popularize scientific knowledge can make people get close to sciences and understand latest scientific progresses”, said the China Science Daily. As an important part of the “2012 Science and Technology Week”, more than 90 research institutes of CAS across the nation and the University of Science and Technology of China held “The Public Science Day” on May 19 and 20.
The Institute of Acoustics of CAS also made a success in this activity. On May 19, IACAS attracted about one thousand people to visit from many universities and primary and middle schools in Beijing. Teachers leading their students, parents accompanying their children and grandparents following their grandchildren, visitors streamed into IACAS.
In this activity, China's manned deep-sea research submersible Jiaolong draw many attentions. Researcher ZHU Min, as deputy general designer of the Jiaolong and Ocean Acoustic Technology Laboratory director and Associate Researcher YANG Bo, the acoustic system design director and the trial pilot of the Jiaolong were there from beginning to end to interact with the visitors about the Jiaolong. Meanwhile, the video record of Jiaolong’s test dive was always crowed all that day long. Visitors were amazed to see the deep-see landscape and living things shot by the external webcam of Jiaolong with high definition.
YANG Bo showing the Jiaolong model to pupils patiently
On this public science day, some new scientific achievements were also exhibited and demonstrated, including wireless and passive SAW temperature sensor, online monitoring system of elevator running, ultrasound imaging technology used in the well, ultrasonic lithotripsy, 3D TV technologies, interactive TV platform, speech recognition, acoustic imaging instrument and so on. About the acoustic imaging instrument, one can possibly listen with his eyes. It is a contraption with a strange-looking to accurately position noise sources, made of a digital camera and 64 microphones. At the front of the machine, one can see the location of his voice is accurately displayed on the screen of an attached computer.
Children thronging to experience ultrasonic lithotripsy
Acoustic imaging instrument
3D TV
Sound World produced by IACAS used popular science language and vivid scenes demonstrating physical nature of sound, which was well received by parents and pupils.
At the same time, the zone of answering questions was set to test the whole-day learning for the visitors. As a result, 363 effective exam papers were accepted, proving the public science day could also stimulate pupils’ enthusiasm for scientific knowledge learning.
Journalists from Xinhua News Agency, People's Daily, CCTV, Science and Technology Daily, China Youth International, China Science Daily, Beijing Evening News and other news agencies went to IACAS for interviews and reports.
"Anechoic room. On May 19, as the ‘2012 Science and Technology Week’ kicked off, the Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences ushered in the ‘Eighth Public Science Day’. It is held in the forms of lectures, visits and interactive ways to understand scientific knowledge” from Xinhua News Agency.
China Youth International commented, “Academicians, scientists and science volunteers of the Chinese Academy of Sciences are also actively engaged in the activities to inform the public of the latest scientific research, innovate thinking and interact with the public. This fully displays the prominent role of science and technology for socio-economic development, improving people's livelihood and enhancing the comprehensive national strength. It encourages more young students to be determined to scientific research and natural exploration”.