Program gets female students into science

These youth innovations are leading to tangible rural transformations in Gan'nian village of Guang'an. For three years, the "Xi Xian Beautiful Bathroom" project has recycled urine through turbidity sensors, and the black soldier fly kitchen waste treatment device has turned organic waste into animal protein feed. This year's smart floating island is also planned to apply for utility model patents.

When asked about the project's significance, Zhou looked at the students adjusting the equipment. "It's not about whether they will pursue a career in environmental protection in the future, but about nurturing the 'problem-posing and problem-solving' chain of thought."

Data shows that about 30 percent of the students who participated in this program chose to major in environmental fields in college, with some going on to top universities like Yale for further study.

Although the number of women in STEM-related fields has increased over the past years, women still lack representation and remain outnumbered by men by a significant margin.

Student Qin Ming from Chengdu said in an interview: "I used to think technology was just cold data. Now I understand it can be the purifying bubbles emitted from a fish-shaped floating island — it must have both the acuity to solve problems and the warmth to touch hearts."

Zhou Wenbo contributed to this story.