"What does an artificial sun look like? What exists in a strong magnetic field..." On May 18th, 2024, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, kicked off the "Public Science Day" event. This year's event, themed "Twenty Years of Forge Ahead, A New Scientific Journey," attracted tens of thousands of people to gather at the Science Island and the Fusion Reactor Key System Research Facility Park over the course of two days. Together, they experienced the charm of technology and enjoyed the fun of scientific exploration.
The public visits the "artificial sun." Image provided by the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Researchers are conducting fun scientific experiments. Image provided by Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Compared to previous years, this year's "Public Science Day" has increased by 20,000 reservation slots, opening up on a large scale to the public the full superconducting tokamak nuclear fusion experimental device (commonly known as the "artificial sun"), steady-state strong magnetic field experimental device, fusion reactor key system integrated research facility park, as well as several science popularization exhibition halls, key laboratories, and scientist spirit education bases. In order to further ignite the public's enthusiasm for science, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences has also launched fun scientific experiments, thematic science popularization exhibitions, interactive science experiences, and a full day of science popularization lectures, aiming to showcase the power of technological innovation to the whole society, promote the spirit of science, and cultivate a scientific culture.
At the event venue, the "artificial sun," steady-state strong magnetic field, and other large scientific facilities attracted widespread attention from the public. Meanwhile, a photography exhibition of microstructures, various creatively intriguing experiments, and numerous highly interactive and experiential interactive science experience projects also drew a large number of people to stop and participate, experiencing them firsthand. Throughout the day, exciting science popularization lectures achieved barrier-free dissemination of scientific knowledge through online and offline channels.
"Public Science Day" is a large-scale public welfare science popularization event organized by the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Every May, various research institutes open their doors to the public as scheduled, becoming an important channel for the public to step into the Chinese Academy of Sciences and understand the progress of science and technology.
