On March 20th, on the eve of the 64th World Meteorological Day, the Shanghai special event titled "Frontline of Climate Action: Pioneering with Science Education" for the 2024 World Meteorological Day, alongside the launch ceremony for the Second Campus Meteorological Science Popularization and Innovation Competition in Shanghai, unfolded. This event was organized by the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, Shanghai Meteorological Society, and the People’s Government of Minhang District, Shanghai. It was hosted by the Minhang District Meteorological Bureau, Minhang District Education Bureau, and the Publicity, Science Popularization, and Education Center of the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.
Feng Lei, the Party Secretary and Director of the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau; Zhang Renhe, an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Dean of the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences at Fudan University; Liu Wei, a member of the Party Group and second-level inspector of the Shanghai Association for Science and Technology; Ke Xiaolin, Deputy District Mayor of Minhang District, Shanghai; and Yang Jianrong, Director of the Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Committee, attended the launch ceremony. More than 1,000 individuals participated in the event, including representatives from the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau, Science and Technology Association, Education Commission, Fudan University, Civil Aviation East China Air Traffic Management Bureau, as well as students and teachers from primary and secondary schools across the city, and community residents.
The first Campus Meteorological Science Popularization and Innovation Competition, held in 2022, was a great success, attracting participation from nearly 300 primary and secondary schools across the city, with over 44,000 individuals participating. A total of 296 students received individual awards, 23 schools were honored with the Excellent Organization Award, and 28 teachers were recognized as Excellent Guiding Teachers.
Building on the success of the first edition, this year's competition has expanded in scale and creativity. New organizing partners such as the Shanghai Science and Technology Education Advisory Committee, the Shanghai Youth Science Popularization Association, Shanghai Education Newspaper and Magazine Agency, and the China Welfare Institute Children's Palace, have joined. Additionally, the event has received strong support from the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at Fudan University. Students who win the "Campus Meteorological Science Popularization Talent" award will have the opportunity to participate in a meteorological research camp at Fudan University, experiencing the century-old glory of Fudan and exploring the mysteries of meteorological science.
The competition mechanism also enters a new chapter. A special “Meteorological Science and Innovation and Scientific Expedition” activity is set up to encourage students to make interdisciplinary connections with their studies, daily life, labor, sports, etc. Through meteorological observation diaries, meteorological science exploration reports, and meteorological science and innovation essays, students are encouraged to interpret meteorological science in innovative ways, allowing their thoughts to dance and their creativity to take root. Moreover, the organizers will select some of the most innovative entries from the first prize winners of the "Meteorological Science and Innovation Essays" and arrange for associate professors from universities like Fudan or senior engineers and experts of a higher rank from meteorological departments to provide one-on-one guidance to the authors, helping them prepare their works for the 2025 Shanghai Youth Science and Technology Innovation Competition.
Feng Lei stated that meteorology is the science closest to everyday life. Conducting meteorological science popularization and innovation activities for young people not only helps to spark their curiosity, imagination, and desire for exploration but also enables them to acquire solid meteorological science knowledge, develop keen scientific inquiry skills, and guide them to actively stand at the forefront of tackling climate change against the backdrop of global warming. This further enhances their sense of social responsibility in participating in a low-carbon lifestyle and raises awareness of meteorological disaster prevention and mitigation.
