Improving public's science literacy 'a huge challenge'

The popularization of science in China has seen positive developments in the last year, but more policies, money and media support are necessary to improve scientific literacy, according to data released on Tuesday.

The budget for bringing science to the people last year was around 16 billion yuan ($2.3 billion), a 5.3 percent year-on-year increase. Government grants remain the largest financial contributor - 12.3 billion yuan - according to a 2017 survey by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Last year, China spent more than 3.7 billion yuan, a 10.5 percent increase over 2016, to build science museums and related infrastructure, adding 46 new facilities last year and bringing the total to 1,439.