Samsung sponsors annual science education program for students

Aiming to improve science education and help spread scientific knowledge in China, Samsung Electronics has sponsored a project called Solve for Tomorrow every year since 2013, using its experience and advanced technology resources.

The project includes a science competition for school and college students - the Solve for Tomorrow, All China Youth Science and Innovation Competition - and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Campus Forum.

This year, the project invited education experts Gao Yunfeng and Li Xuemei as advisers for the annual competition.

Gao is a professor at the School of Aerospace Engineering, Tsinghua University, and an expert in science education. Li is the head of Science at Beijing No 4 Middle School, one of the best schools in Beijing, and an expert in teacher training.

"The Solve for Tomorrow project offers a platform for students and also reflects the value and social responsibility efforts of the company," said Li.

Li said although the education commission and association for science and technology in Beijing hold science events and competitions every year, the size and form of those events cannot meet the needs of students, especially college students.

Li said science education should receive more attention from society, and more support from influential organizations and companies.

Li said she believes the competition has clear themes of energy efficiency, environmental protection and personal health. The goal of the competition is to make the participants think about the influence technology has on people's daily lives and cultivate their awareness on career planning.

"The goal of all kinds of education projects and competitions is to help students mature", Li said. "The Solve for Tomorrow competition is unique compared with other science competitions in the country."

The theme of the competition is good because it is includes current societal concerns, leading youngsters to be more curious about the future.

It also creates a platform for school and college students to meet and learn from each other. That is particularly helpful for school students, as interacting with college students can help them plan their future studies at university and possible majors.

The program also involves corporate social responsibility. Samsung funded the transportation, accommodation and meal expenses for all students and teachers who attended the competition, which helps students learn more about charity work.

The competition also created new contest modes. It offered several interactive activities for the students, such as warm-up stretching. Students pair of to discuss the competition topics, which helps develop their self-confidence and innovation abilities.

Currently, the development of science education is unbalanced in China, Li said, and students living in developed regions have access to better education than those in remote areas.

Li said primary and junior high school students generally have more active minds than high school students, who spend a great amount of time and energy studying and preparing for their college entrance examination.

The teaching methods in some schools are also dull, preventing students from being inspired, Li said.

The government is now promoting balanced development of science education and offering policy support for it, Li said, and the public expects companies such as Samsung to share more of their advanced technology and resources to help the popularization of science in China.

In the future, Li said, she looks forward to seeing Samsung Electronics balance its technological innovation and public welfare activities.

Zhang Baoyu from Xinhuanet.com contributed to this story.

duxiaoying1@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 10/10/2015 page4)