Society

Scientific literacy grows but still low: official

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-01 21:53

FUZHOU - The proportion of people in China with basic scientific knowledge is growing but scientific literacy is still low, said Han Qide, president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), here on Monday.

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Han, also vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, made the remarks during his opening speech at the 12th CAST annual meeting.

Only 3.27 percent of Chinese have a basic understanding of science and technology, a significant increase from 2.25 percent in 2007 and 1.98 in 2003, Han said citing a survey conducted by CAST earlier this year.

However, scientific literacy remained low compared with developed countries, which could undermine the country's economic and social development, and even social stability, Han warned. He also cited a CAST survey saying that 14.2 percent of mine workers lacked basic knowledge of gas explosions and 12.5 percent did not know how to deal with mine fires. "Behind each percentage point there could be the loss of many lives."

Han called on the country's scientists to be more actively involved in educating the public through the mass media on hot topics such as the melamine-tainted milk scandal.

More than 5,000 scientists, scholars and officials were present at the three-day CAST annual meeting.