Science fun

Individuals and organizations in China are starting to use social media to make the field popular among youngsters. Xu Lin reports.

When introducing the Chinese leek in a short video on his micro blog, Shi Jun says its white flower is often used in making a sauce to go with hot pot.

The 36-year-old botanist makes such videos and sometimes even livestreams them to introduce plants and flowers that he finds along roads or in markets. In May 2016, he co-founded the Corn Lab, with the aim of popularizing life sciences among children and young adults on social media. And, he isn't alone.