A brief review of the 40 years science popularization development in China

Abstract

This article presents a brief review of China's science popularization over the past 40 year since the reform and opening up in terms of the development history, main achievements and main challenges. The development of science popularization has consisted of four main stages: institutional reconstruction, structural maturity, regulatory boost of legal system, and comprehensively strategic ascension. Over the past 40 years, China's science popularization has many achievements, such as the formation of science popularization social mobilization mechanism led by the government with public engagement; the continuous improvement of the position of science popularization in the national strategy; the establishment of a relatively systematic science popularization policy system; the constant increase of the science popularization supporting funds; the steady development of science popularization talents; the richer science popularization resources in the mass media; the improvement of science popularization's informatization level; the gradual strength of the national science popularization ability; the continual increase of the civic scientific literacy and the public's supporting for the development of science and technology. It provides a solid social foundation for science and technology innovation. At the same time, China's science popularization is also facing certain challenges, including the strategic position of science popularization needs to be declared, the development of science popularization and science innovation are still unbalanced, the effectiveness of science popularization policy needs to be improved, the role of long-term operational mechanism is insufficient, international development lags behind and calls for more open cooperation, science popularization theoretical research needs to be strengthened, the support for science culture construction is weak, and the systematic coordination needs to be improved. It is emphasized that the government attaching great importance to science popularization is a key factor to develop. In the future, under the impetus of the government, it is necessary to realize the opening and improvement of the civic scientific literacy with internationalization, plan for the open cooperation of science with a global perspective, form a strong synergy in the construction of civic science literacy, and establish a long-term mechanism for science popularization; reshape the service pattern of civic scientific literacy construction with informatization and build a "smart science popularization" service platform, etc. Science popularization in China is on the right track to even greater flourishing.