The BRICS Science Popularization Forum was held on 6-7 October 2021. With the support of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), China Science and Technology Exchange Center (CSTEC), as the Liaison Office of the BRICS Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Mechanism, invited 30 Chinese delegates from government agencies, research institutes, universities, science museums and enterprises to attend the meeting via video link.
Mr. Gao Xiang, Director-General of CSTEC, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony as the Head of the Chinese Delegation, and Ms. Zhuang Jia, Deputy Director-Generalof CSTEC, delivered a keynote speech on the role of science popularization in sci-tech development in BRICS countries. Experts from China Research Institute for Science Popularization, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Science and Technology of China, National Academy of Innovation Strategy of China Association for Science and Technology, Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, Beijing Planetarium, the Beijing Museum of Natural History, and Beijing Guokr Interactive Technology Media Co., Ltd. Delegates from the Department of International Cooperation of MOST also participated in the forum.
Participants exchanged and discussed topics such as strategies and mechanisms for science popularisation in BRICS countries, the motivation of scientists, science education under global challenges, science festivals, online and offline science communication activities, and the citizens’ scientific literacy. Through this forum, BRICS countries shared relevant experiences and joined hands to enhance science outreaching practices and capabilities. Participants also explored new collaboration opportunities to set science education a new highlight of science and innovation cooperation among BRICS countries.
The year 2021 coincides with the 15th anniversary of cooperation among BRICS countries. As one of the most important areas of BRICS engagement, STI cooperation has been developed over the years, achieving fruitful results in terms of policy exchange, platform building, thematic areas, joint R&D and sci-tech people-to-people exchanges.
The Forum is a deliverable of the BRICS STI Work Plan (2020-2021) adopted at the 8th BRICS Ministerial Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation in 2020, supported by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education and organized by the Russian International Centre for Innovations in Science, Technology and Education. Experts and government representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa participated in the event either in person or via video link.
