China launches science month to boost innovation knowledge

The National Science Popularization Month will kick off on Tuesday to boost public understanding of scientific innovation, organizers said at a news conference in Beijing on Wednesday.

The monthlong event, themed "Science Transforms Lives, Innovation Secures the Future", will be jointly organized by the China Association for Science and Technology and 34 government departments and organizations. It will feature a range of activities designed to engage all sectors, ensure nationwide reach, utilize multiple media platforms, and encourage inclusive public participation.

Ren Haihong, deputy director of the association's science popularization department, said more than 100 exhibitions and activities will be held at three major venues in Beijing — the National Center for Science and Technology Communication, the China Science and Technology Museum, and Beijing Olympic Park.

He noted that efforts to popularize basic research form a core part of this year's event, with 24 national scientific societies staging over 150 activities nationwide. These include popular science lectures, exhibitions and science study tours.

"The public will also gain access to laboratories and research facilities to get closer to cutting-edge scientific progress," he said.

Yin Lin, vice-chairman of the World Organization for Science Literacy, said the 2026 World Conference on Science Literacy, as an important international event of this year's National Science Popularization Month, is scheduled for mid-September in Beijing.

Yin said the conference will focus on frontier topics and build global consensus on science literacy, drawing institutional representatives from 20 countries across five continents to advance global science-popularization exchanges.

Guo Yuhe contributed to this story.