On May 28–29, over 500 educators, researchers, and media professionals from across China gathered in Suzhou for the “Exploring the Future” showcase, part of the Second Science Education Support Program. Co-hosted by the Chinese Society of Education’s Science Education Branch and the Green and Shine Foundation, and supported by local educational authorities, the event spotlighted innovations in primary school science education and provided a platform for sharing cutting-edge teaching practices.
At the opening ceremony, speakers emphasized the importance of fostering curiosity, creativity, and long-term commitment in science education. “Planting the seed of scientific thinking might only take one good lesson,” noted an official from Wujiang District, “but raising a scientist takes twenty years.” Principal Sun Yan highlighted her school’s mission of cultivating open-ended learning environments that allow each child to find their own path. Keynote speakers such as science educator Wu Xiangping and education expert Zhang Ding’er stressed that science education must move beyond textbook knowledge to support student inquiry and problem-solving. Zhang asked educators to pay attention not only to students’ answers but to the quality of their questions: “Asking a question is often much more important than resolving one.”
The program received 346 submissions from 30 provinces, cities, and autonomous areas. After a rigorous review by a panel of experts from universities, government bodies, and research institutions, 6 exemplary teaching cases and 5 research projects were selected for showcase. Live classroom demonstrations and micro-lectures ranged from silk craft to the secrets of honeycombs. In expert roundtables and evaluations, panelists discussed the future of science teaching, calling for more emphasis on flexible thinking, creative pedagogy, and measurable learning goals. Green and Shine Foundation Chairman Zhao Jun closed the event by reaffirming the foundation’s long-term commitment to grassroots science education and invited continued collaboration for the third cycle of the program.
