Science popularization, as a vital endeavor to disseminate scientific knowledge, uphold the spirit of inquiry, spread scientific thinking, and advocate evidence-based methodologies, carries profound significance for national and societal development. Universities bear both the responsibility and obligation to share their educational and scientific resources with the broader public, ensuring that the benefits of scientific literacy reach all. This mission transcends mere knowledge transfer—it cultivates critical thinking, nurtures curiosity about the world, and inspires a lifelong passion for exploration.
To align with national goals of enhancing public scientific literacy, strengthening science communication capabilities, and fostering sustainable mechanisms for science outreach, ZJUI has spearheaded efforts to integrate its unique culture of innovation into community engagement. Through initiatives such as lab open days, interdisciplinary tech salons, community-campus science workshops, and youth STEM education programs, ZJUI actively encourages its faculty and students to bridge the gap between cutting-edge engineering expertise and public understanding. By demystifying complex concepts and showcasing the wonders of technology, these programs empower individuals to experience science firsthand. This commitment not only exemplifies ZJUI’s dedication to social responsibility as a world-class engineering institute but also underscores its vision to nurture globally minded, science-literate leaders of tomorrow.
01. Insects' "Secret Art": Cutting-Edge Technology Tackles Bacterial Resistance
Since 2021, ZJUI Associate Professor Hu Huan has embarked on his science popularization journey. Over the past three years, he has visited many schools, including Haining Senior High School, Haining Changan Junior High School, Tongling No. 1 High School, and Huaibei No. 1 High School, delivering a series of lively and engaging science lectures to students. He started with common insects found in daily life, highlighting their unique structures and behaviors as sources of inspiration. He then discussed the cool high-tech innovations developed by humans based on these inspirations, which are integrated into our lives and effectively improve people's quality of life.
Bacterial resistance is a major threat facing humanity, urgently requiring alternative approaches to combat bacteria. Surprisingly, scientists have discovered that insects that have coexisted with bacteria for tens of millions of years, such as cicadas and dragonflies, possess a super-effective antibacterial "secret art" - nano probe tips! These tips are only 100 nanometers in diameter, far beyond the range visible to the human eye, and even optical microscopes cannot detect them. Therefore, they were only discovered by Australian scientists 10 years ago. These tips grow densely on the wings of dragonflies and cicadas. Imagine when bacteria happily think they have found a "foothold" and attach to the wing surface, the tips immediately "take action." Like tiny assassins in the microscopic world, they physically disrupt the bacterial cell membrane, easily "killing" the bacteria and achieving excellent sterilization. The key is that the entire process does not involve any antibiotics or drugs; it relies purely on physical contact to accomplish this major antibacterial task.
▲ Cicada wings have nano probe tips invisible to the naked eye that can physically kill bacteria
Inspired by these amazing insects, ZJUI Associate Professor Hu Huan has developed a super cool, cutting-edge technology. This technology can create nano probe tips on 4-inch silicon wafers, and can also manufacture these tips with different diameters, heights, and spacing according to different needs. Using this high-tech product to achieve sterilization opens up a super cool new path for humanity to combat bacterial resistance!
▲ Group Photo of Associate Professor Hu Huan with students from Chang'an Junior High School
02 The Magic Show of Electrical Signals: Mysteries in the Sensory System
ZJUI faculty's science popularization journey is far more than just this. In September 2024, ZJUI Associate Professor Ong Wee-liat, Associate Professor Yang Liangjing, and Assistant Professor Timothy Lee visited an elementary school in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, bringing a series of interesting science lectures to the students. From amazing physical phenomena to wonderful biological mysteries, each lecture used a lively and engaging approach to explain complex scientific knowledge in an accessible way. With the help of stunning images, intuitive models, and on-site experiments, they successfully ignited the students' enthusiasm for scientific exploration.
During the lecture, Associate Professor Yang Liangjing delved deep into the crucial role of electrical signals within the sensory system. Employing an approach that was both accessible and profound, he painstakingly dissected the fundamental principles behind harnessing a variety of astonishing physical phenomena to generate electrical signals. Recognizing the challenge of students grappling with abstract concepts, Associate Professor Yang Liangjing introduced a self - crafted vibration imager. As soon as the instrument was powered on, the once nebulous and abstract concept of vibration was instantaneously translated into a vivid, real - time image right before the students' eyes. Each undulation and every nuanced change in the vibration were presented with remarkable clarity. This captivating display immediately kindled the students' passion for scientific exploration, and the classroom atmosphere became charged with excitement, as students were fully engaged.
▲ Associate Professor Yang Liangjing used various physical phenomena to explain the principles of electrical signal generation to students
▲ Schematic diagram of the self - crafted vibration imager by Associate Professor Yang Liangjing
03 "Potato Cannons" Appear on Campus! The Fire Triangle is No Mystery
To vividly illustrate the three elements of combustion, commonly referred to as the "fire triangle," ZJUI's Assistant Professor Timothy Lee orchestrated an experiment that left the campus in awe. The students dived into hands-on work, ingeniously using potatoes as their extraordinary "cannonballs" and plastic pipes as "gun barrels." With the simple addition of a can of hairspray, the potatoes were propelled to elegantly trace a beautiful arc through the air, achieving a successful launch. This not only made the concept of the fire triangle tangible but also ignited the students' enthusiasm for science, creating an unforgettable learning moment.
This seemingly intimidating potato cannonball is actually not complicated. The materials used are all everyday items: two pipes, a potato, and a can of hairspray – that's all it takes to make a cannonball. However, the scientific principles behind it are not simple. The flammable gas in the hairspray encounters a source of ignition, instantly igniting and releasing a large amount of energy, which "forcefully" pushes the potato out of the pipe. This is a wonderful demonstration of energy conversion in everyday life. Assistant Professor Timothy Lee used such simple tools to guide students in creating eye-catching "projects," allowing them to truly experience the magical power of energy conversion, successfully igniting students' innovative spirit and inspiring their infinite passion for scientific exploration.
▲ Assistant Professor Timothy Lee explains the working principle of the "potato cannon" to students
04 From Energy Dilemma to Martial Arts Fiction: Unveiling Thermoelectric Power Generation
Earlier this year, ZJUI Associate Professor Ong Wee-liat participated in the "Science Popularization Tour" project jointly organized by the Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory and the new journal Materials Futures. He delivered a special lecture titled Exploring Sustainable Energy: The Magical Power of Thermoelectric Power Generation to students at Songshan Lake Experimental Middle School in Dongguan, Guangdong Province.
At the lecture, he combined the current reality of global energy supply tensions and increasingly prominent environmental problems to reveal the fascinating mysteries of thermoelectric power generation, a cutting-edge energy technology. Through specific examples such as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) and solid-state thermoelectric power generation, he led students through the complex field of energy science, deepening their understanding of the crucial role of energy in promoting economic growth and improving human living standards.
After guiding the students through the complex field of energy science, he posed a thought-provoking and interesting question: "Can the temperature difference that exists within our own bodies be cleverly used to generate electricity, just like those energy technologies?"
In response, he ingeniously used the well-known Nine Yang Divine Skill and Xuanming Palm from The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber to launch an engaging and in-depth interpretation. "The Nine Yang Divine Skill, as a profound and unfathomable martial arts masterpiece, is unique in its ability to introduce the energy of heaven and earth into the human body, merging it with the body's own true energy to form an indestructible and endlessly regenerating powerful force." From a microscopic perspective, this powerful force has a magical "activating" effect, which can dramatically increase the activity of microscopic particles in the human body, directly causing the temperature of local areas of the body to rapidly reach a high level. When the practitioner is in a low-temperature environment, a wonderful physical phenomenon will occur. According to the classic thermoelectric power generation principle in physics, those active particles in the high-temperature area of the body will rapidly diffuse and move towards the low-temperature area. This directional movement of particles ultimately forms an energy flow similar to electric current, demonstrating a unique energy conversion and flow phenomenon.
On the other hand, “the Xuanming Palm is a martial art technique in which practitioners transform their internal energy into a frigid force through specific cultivation methods. This frigid energy wields a potent freezing and paralyzing effect. During an attack, upon contact with the opponent, it rapidly extracts the heat from the opponent's body. As a result, the temperature in the vicinity of the target plummets drastically, causing moisture in the air to condense into ice, inflicting damage.” From an energy-conversion standpoint, this represents a reverse process. It involves converting the "frigid energy" within the internal force into a transfer of thermal energy. In other words, it absorbs the target's heat to transfer and release energy, plunging the target into an extremely cold state. This, in turn, disrupts the target's physical functions and restricts their mobility.
▲ Associate Professor Ong Wee-liat Used Nine Yang Divine Skill and Xuanming Palm to Explain the Principle of Human Body Power Generation
Let’s hear what ZJUI professors have to say
ZJUI Associate Professor Ong Wee-liat
Science popularization is an artful endeavor. Conducting research is akin to patiently simmering a sumptuous broth in the laboratory, slowly distilling its essence. Meanwhile, engaging in science popularization is like a Michelin - starred chef meticulously customizing a dish's presentation. It has to not only retain the profound "nutritional value" of knowledge but also adeptly meet the diverse needs of various "diners." These "diners" could range from curious elementary-school students with wide-eyed wonder, to inquisitive high-school students on the cusp of intellectual exploration, and even discerning professionals seeking to expand their knowledge horizons. This process of "academic transformation" is far from an overnight feat. Science communicators must invest copious amounts of time, painstakingly refining and re - refining their work. Their goal is to make highly technical academic knowledge not only understandable but also thoroughly enjoyable for all. Science popularization initiatives represent a crucial "two-way street connecting academia and society." They enable the precious fruits of intellectual labor from academic laboratories to gracefully step out of the rarefied ivory tower. In turn, this enriches public knowledge and contributes significantly to enhancing the overall quality of life for the general populace.
ZJUI Associate Professor Hu Huan
Science popularization activities have the power to liberate primary and secondary school students from the narrow pursuit of high exam scores. They can kindle a profound and genuine interest in science that wells up from within these young minds. As an educator, I am eager to convey to students the exhilaration of the research process and the fascinating aspects of professional fields. After all, as the saying goes, interest is the best teacher. Once students develop a passion for science, their learning efficiency will double, and they will find it much easier to master any knowledge. As a young faculty at ZJUI, I am committed to fully leveraging my professional knowledge. Looking ahead, I intend to bring the popular science books I've authored to more school campuses, sowing the seeds of science in the hearts of children. This is not only a way for me to contribute my part but also a social responsibility that ZJUI, as a top-tier engineering institute, should bear. ZJUI should be transformed into a sturdy bridge, forging a close connection between the world of science and the general public, ensuring that the wonders of science are accessible to all.
