World Organization for Science Literacy to be established in Beijing

BEIJING -- The 2026 World Conference on Science Literary will be held in Beijing from Sept 19 to 21, and the conference will officially announce the establishment of the World Organization for Science Literacy, according to the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) on Wednesday.

The CAST noted at a press conference that September will again serve as national science popularization month. The conference in Beijing will invite experts and scholars from both China and abroad to jointly discuss solutions, strategies and pathways for enhancing public science literacy.

The World Organization for Science Literacy aims to build a global platform for shared discussion, joint development and mutual benefit in public science literacy efforts. It will also seek to promote exchanges and cooperation, deepen collaborative innovation, and foster a positive interaction between science, technology and society.

It will, additionally, strive to improve public science literacy to jointly address global challenges and to contribute to the realization of global sustainable development and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The member institutions of the organization include national academies of sciences, science and technology foundations, scientific societies and science museums. At present, there are 32 founding members, including 20 overseas members from 19 countries across Asia, Europe, South America, Africa and Oceania.

China launched its first national science popularization month in September 2025. Its revised Science and Technology Popularization Law, which took effect on December 25, 2024, designated September as the annual national science popularization month.