The 8th Belt and Road (B&R) Teenager Maker Camp & Teacher Workshop. (PHOTO: Provided by VOC)

The 8th Belt and Road (B&R) Teenager Maker Camp & Teacher Workshop, a collaborative initiative by the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People's Republic of China (MOST), and the People's Government of Yunnan Province, started on July 22 and will run until 28.

Themed “Youth with Sci-Tech Dreams, World United Together”, the offline component of the event has reached an unprecedented scale. About 300 teachers and students from nearly 40 countries and regions are expected to participate in the activities. The thriving achievements of China's scientific and technological development and profound cultural legacy, serve as a backdrop for the teenagers and experts of B&R countries to to gain a firsthand and personal understanding of China.

Various sci-tech activities kindle innovation

During the Maker Camp, teachers and students from B&R countries will explore institutions such as Yunnan University, the Kunming University of Science and Technology (KUST), the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB, CAS), and the Yunnan Observatories (YNAO, CAS).

This educational journey will be guided by four renowned experts who will serve as chief mentors, aiming to ignite the teenagers’ passion for science through various activities, from university campus tours to hands-on scientific and technological practices.

Many interesting and cutting-edge scientific topics await the teenagers' exploration. The young minds will have a unique opportunity to experience China's technological development firsthand, blending real-world experiences with theoretical knowledge to enlighten their scientific thinking and nurture the spirit of innovation.

Furthermore, the Camp has also established a B&R Online Virtual Science Center. This virtual hub will allow teenagers from around the globe to participate in the event, where they can design and conduct project-based research and create works with research value and application prospects.

At the same time, it also leverages the power of the Internet, offering a 24/7 live stream, to build an international stage for exchange and display, complementing offline activities.

Communication facilitates deeper mutual understanding

As a multi-ethnic country, China boasts a profound and vibrant culture transcending time and geographical boundaries. Yunnan, a region in Southwest China, is an important cradle of human civilization. The eighth Camp will witness 15 technology education and cultural exchange activities, offering the youth a chance to appreciate the development and culture of China.

The engaging science activity, “Journey to Explore the Origin of Life”, with the theme of “The Evolutionary History of Paleontology”, will guide teenagers through the complexities of the Cambrian Explosion. They will experience scientific and technological activities like fossil restoration, and explore the wonders of the Jurassic World.

A market will be set up to celebrate intangible cultural heritage, showcasing its characteristics through ceramic handicraftsmanship, Dali Bai ethnic tie-dyeing techniques, woodblock printing, and the brewing and tasting of Pu'er tea and coffee, allowing participants to feel the charm and depth of traditional Chinese culture.

The “Flower Field Handicraft” activity will include a field trip to the Yuntianhua Flower Industrial Zone to learn about the floral industrial chain, from cultivation to transportation and quality inspection. Participants will create eternal flowers, highlighting Yunnan’s role as the “Flower Center of the World” and its innovative approach to the flower industry.

Moreover, a culture exchange activity at the Yunnan Ethnic Village will showcase the diversity of cultures through various performances, brightening the stage with multicultural charm and fostering international friendships.

From the origin of life to cutting-edge technology, young people participating in maker camp will shuttle through the vast expanse of history from ancient times to the modern era through immersive participation and experiences. The activities are designed to nourish genuine insights through interpersonal communication and enhance mutual learning and cultural exchange among participants.

Camp unlocks potential of collaboration

Over the past eight years, the Belt and Road (B&R) Teenager Maker Camp & Teacher Workshop has become an important platform for exchanges and cooperation among foreign experts with a deep affinity for China, scientists dedicated to nurturing teenagers from B&R countries, and teenagers who have enthusiasm for the Maker Camp. A shared aspiration and vision drives the in-depth cooperation of pooling wisdom, combining efforts, and seeking win-win results.

The eighth Camp has invited 16 important foreign guests from prominent international and national organizations such as the African Academy of Sciences (AAS), the ECO Science Foundation, the Czech Science and Technology Federation, the National Science and Technology Museum (Thailand), and the Ministry of Education of Cambodia. Their participation broadens the sphere of exchanges and cooperation in science education along the Belt and Road.

Mahouton Norbert Hounkonnou, President of the AAS and the Presidential Advisor for Control and Ethics in Higher Education of Benin; Xu Xing, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS); and Goi Bok Min, Vice President of the University of Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia, will address the opening ceremony to inspire teenagers to engage in research and innovation potential.

During the event, the B&R Youth Science and Technology Education Cultural Exchange Achievement Exhibition will be held, presenting China’s sci-tech achievements and high-tech enterprise innovation.

Furthermore, the annual exchange activities of the B&R International Science and Education Coordination Committee will be held concurrently, advancing joint discussions and cooperation among science, technology, and education organizations of B&R countries.

The event will also invite well-known domestic and international scholars, facilitating development opportunities, insight-sharing, and mutual learning and interconnection among global sci-tech education professionals.

The far-reaching impact of the Camp extends not only to each participating teenager but also to the future of multiple cooperation fields between China and B&R countries. The Camp participants are expected to grow together in understanding and contributing to the country’s development through deep exchanges and welfare sharing.

Sources: CCTV.com, VOC

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