Summer science camp sparks students' interest

Miao Yi's interest in biology really took off after she watched an online lecture by a Nobel Prize winner and had the opportunity to ask him questions she had about viruses afterward.

"I never thought I would get the chance to talk to one of the world's top scientists directly. It was so instructive－it really expanded my horizons," said the 17-year-old high school student from the No 1 Middle School in Longyao county, Xingtai city, Hebei province.

The scientist in question, Harvey J. Alter, a researcher and virus expert from the United States, has become Miao's idol. Together with two other scientists, Alter received the 2020 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for the discovery of the hepatitis C virus in 1988.

Apart from Miao, two other students and a teacher from elsewhere in China also got the chance to participate in the online session on Aug 6. They were selected for their excellent performance during a science and technology summer camp held between July 18 and July 23.

That event was part of the Youth University Science Camp, which is organized each year by the China Association for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education.

This year, 71 branch activities were held across the country by different organizations, including universities, local educational bureaus and departments for science and technology.

According to the association, more than 12,500 high school students from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan participated in activities either online or face-to-face.

The online event Miao attended was organized by Shanghai's Tongji University.

Alter spoke about his expertise and answered questions from Miao and other attendees during the hourlong session. It further inspired Miao, who has an interest in viruses, including the novel coronavirus.

For several years, Hua Fang, a technology teacher at the No 1 Middle School, has helped students participate in the summer camps, which cover topics like technology, aerospace and oceanic science.

"It's a big and wondrous world out there for students from small counties like mine. The camp is a very good opportunity for them to expand their horizons and nurture their interest in science and technology," Hua said, adding that he hopes more students will become involved in the future.

At present, only high school students with excellent grades and who demonstrate a comprehensive grasp of subjects at school get the chance to attend the camps.

Hua said that normally, the students tour universities, scientific research institutes and museums, learn to make devices and objects such as drones and replicas of ancient animal-shaped sculptures and attend lectures by top scientists and professors. Due to COVID-19, however, this year's activities were held online.

"The activities not only made me happy, but also increased my thirst for science and technology," said Tian Yufei, another student from the Longyao No 1 Middle School who attended this year's camp.