About | uscience

HELLO.

What is the objective? The purpose of "Understanding Science" is to make a broader public aware of today’s accomplishments in research through short scientific lectures in English (popularization talks) as well as to have an opportunity to talk with either EU or Chinese scientists currently carrying out research in China, in a friendly environment.

Why? Because it is in the interest of both the speakers and the audience. Indeed, the invited speaker has an opportunity to practice popularization speech in order to:

- share his experience as a researcher with a general public.

- to be exposed to remarks from non-specialists which is a good way for the scientist to be reminded of the finality of his research.

Who is talking? European or Chinese PhDs which have a research experience related to the EU. A moderator can be proposed, ideally a senior researcher from a different nationality than the speaker (e.g. Chinese if the speaker is from the EU and vice versa), working in the same field than the conference topic. Each talk (15 to 40 minutes), the questions session and discussion shouldn’t exceed one hour, in order the attendees to easily fit this event in their agenda.

About what? The research theme of each conference is chosen by the invited speaker and may cover any scientific areas. (e.g. “Cancer therapy”, “Green chemistry”, “Nanoparticles”…). The speaker may focus on his own research (e.g. “nanotechnology, nanorisk?”, “CO₂ is green too”…), explaining the aim and contributions of his research within the general topic. All the lectures have to be scientific popularisation in English.

To which audience? The conferences are free and opened to everyone and we usually have many non-scientists in the audience. Usually the seminars attract 30 to 50 persons.

Where? In a friendly café to provide a comfortable and neutral atmosphere to the conference and able to host up to 50 persons and provide the attendees with food and drinks (at the attendees’ expense though). So far they take place at the Bridge café in Beijing (Wudaokou area) and in the Wooden Box in Shanghai (Jing’An district).