Zhu Yongxin, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), surveyed the "Go West" program and pioneering work on popularizing science among young people in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Aug 13.   

Speaking of "We Love Science", a science popularization program for young people in the region, Zhu, who is also executive vice-chairman of the China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD) Central Committee, noted that the program reflects the leading role of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC) in uniting young people of all ethnic groups in driving scientific innovation in Xinjiang. It is a practical example of how the "Go West" volunteers engage in social services and connect with the community, he said. 

He pointed out that the project of "science in a piece of paper" under the popularization program has helped young people discover  scientific phenomena and enriched science education in a creative way. It is a great starting point for exploring more high-quality science popularization programs, where young people can learn about science and enjoy learning through practice, he added. 

Zhu stressed the importance of science education for young people and urged sufficient support from all relevant parties, who should contribute quality resources to areas such as curriculum development, volunteer training and study exchanges. He also said the Committee on Education, Science, Health and Sports of the CPPCC National Committee and the CAPD Central Committee will continue to support these efforts, striving for the healthy development of youth in Xinjiang and the overall improvement of the region's educational level. 

Zhu said he hoped that young pioneers will develop a lifelong enthusiasm for science and that the program's volunteers will shoulder the responsibility and equip themselves with solid capabilities to plant the seeds of science in children's hearts. 

The "science in a piece of paper" project, initiated by the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regional Committee of the CYLC, the New Education Initiative and Jiangsu Changming Education Foundation, aims to improve the effectiveness of science education by using everyday items as teaching tools.