Understanding China's science popularization

Studying science popularization in China offers a unique perspective on one of the most significant transformations in modern history: the resurgence of the Chinese civilization and its evolving path toward modernity on its own terms. Beyond economic growth, technological achievements and geopolitical influence, the ways in which scientific knowledge is disseminated, understood and embraced by society reveal important dimensions of China's development model and its vision for the future.

As the British sinologist Joseph Needham (1900-95) demonstrated in his monumental Science and Civilisation in China, an encyclopedic work that remains unfinished to this day, China was for centuries one of the world's leading centers of scientific and technological innovation.

Papermaking, printing, the magnetic compass, gunpowder, and numerous other inventions emerged from Chinese ingenuity long before comparable developments appeared elsewhere.

For much of recorded history, China stood at the forefront of applied knowledge, engineering and statecraft, contributing not only to its own prosperity but also to the advancement of human civilization.

Yet history followed an unexpected trajectory. Despite its rich scientific heritage, China did not become the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.

Beginning in the late 18th century, Europe experienced a profound transformation driven by mechanized production, fossil-fuel energy and new economic institutions. While European powers expanded their industrial and technological capabilities, China entered a period marked by internal crises and external pressures.

For more than a century, the country found itself in the unfamiliar position of confronting a modernity largely shaped elsewhere. The resulting technological, economic and military gap became one of the defining challenges of modern Chinese history.

The establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949 marked a decisive turning point. The new state embarked upon a long-term process of reconstruction, industrialization and institutional transformation. Despite numerous difficulties and setbacks, China gradually rebuilt its scientific and educational foundations.

Following the launch of the reform and opening-up policies in 1978, the country accelerated its integration into the global economy while simultaneously investing heavily in science, technology, and human capital. The cumulative impact of these efforts has fundamentally reshaped China's position in the world.

A new stage in this process was articulated at the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2022. In his report to the Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping introduced and further developed the concept of "Chinese-style modernization".

This concept emphasizes that modernization does not follow a single universal path defined by Western historical experience. Rather, modernization can assume diverse forms shaped by a nation's history, culture, institutions and development priorities.

Within this framework, scientific and technological advancement occupies a central place. The Congress report established the objective that by 2035 China should significantly enhance its scientific and technological capabilities, achieve greater self-reliance in key technologies and join the ranks of the world's most innovative countries.

Indeed, China has emerged in the 21st century as one of the world's leading scientific and technological powers. Its high-speed rail operational network now exceeds 50,000 kilometers, while major advances have been achieved in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital platforms, smart manufacturing, renewable energy, ultra-high-voltage power transmission, quantum technologies and space exploration.

Large-scale investments in research and development, a vast pool of engineers and scientists, and strong coordination between public institutions and private enterprises have all contributed to this remarkable ascent.

However, focusing solely on these visible achievements risks overlooking a less frequently examined dimension of China's scientific rise. The country's success cannot be explained solely by industrial policy, research funding or market size.

Equally important are the cultural and societal mechanisms that foster public engagement with science and technology. Among these, science popularization occupies a particularly significant place.

In China, science popularization is not merely understood as the dissemination of scientific facts. Rather, it constitutes a broad societal project aimed at cultivating scientific literacy, encouraging public participation in innovation and creating a social environment receptive to technological change.

Through science museums, educational campaigns, public exhibitions, media programs, digital platforms and community initiatives, scientific knowledge is integrated into everyday life and presented as a shared public good.

This phenomenon remains relatively understudied outside China, despite its growing importance. Yet it plays a critical role in supporting the country's innovation ecosystem.

By fostering curiosity, encouraging experimentation and strengthening public confidence in science and technology, science popularization helps reduce resistance to innovation and facilitates the rapid adoption of new technologies.

In this context, innovation is not confined to laboratories, universities or research institutes; it becomes a collective undertaking supported by broad social participation and public imagination.

Understanding this dimension is essential for developing a more balanced and comprehensive interpretation of contemporary China. The country's technological achievements are not simply the product of State planning or economic scale.

They are also rooted in long-term investments in education, cultural narratives that celebrate scientific achievement and institutional arrangements that connect research, industry and society. Science popularization serves as one of the bridges linking these different spheres.

More broadly, the study of science popularization offers valuable insights into the transformation of Chinese civilization itself.

It reveals how China seeks to reconcile its historical traditions with the demands of technological modernity, how scientific development is integrated into broader national goals, and how public understanding of science is mobilized in support of economic, social and environmental objectives.

Examining these processes allows us to move beyond simplistic explanations of China's rise and to appreciate the deeper social foundations that sustain its modernization project.

Important connections exist between science popularization and sustainable development, peace, the reduction of technological inequalities and the formation of shared epistemic foundations for global dialogue.

In this sense, science popularization may emerge as a new nexus for international cooperation.

In an age in which the most profound transformations are increasingly driven by science and technology, the capacity to align innovation with public understanding and social acceptance may prove as important as scientific discovery itself.

Studying science popularization in China therefore offers more than an analysis of educational or communication practices; it provides a window into how a major civilization understands modernization, organizes technological change and imagines its future.

The author is founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, a specialist in global affairs and a sinologist. He is the author of the report Science Popularization in China and the Making of an Innovative Society.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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