http://www.kepu.net.cn Virtual Science Museums of China Communicating Science to the Public via CSTNet Wen Li CNIC, CAS
Outline What is VSMC Motivity Current status a WSA winner Work since 1999 Content Application Outreach Collaboration Online demo Conclusion
What is VSMC A project initiated by CNIC Opening Ceremony on Oct. 25th, 1999
CAS -> CNIC + research institututions -> VSMC
VSMC: Organization Chinese Academy of Sciences VSMC Consultants Committee Computer Network Information Center Scientific Database Center Institute of Zoology Institute of Geography & Limnology Institute of Botany. Institute of Hydrobiology Content Group Tech Group Outreach Group
Model in Virtual Science Museums
Motivity China s s Internet Boost in International Bandwidth, Number of Websites and Internet Users Internet Users:94 million(2004.12 2004.12) Lack of Internet-based contents for Science Education in 1990s With Scientific Database and China Science and Technology Network, CNIC has priorities in promoting Public Understanding of Science via Internet Therefore, CNIC initiated the Virtual Science Museums of China in 1999
Motivity: Meet the demands Internet boosts in China since 1994
Meet the demands Most Internet users are young
Meet the demands Most Internet users are students
Meet the demands Most usages are getting info. via the net
Meet the demands Few websites provide S&T content 44.6% users complained cut and copy
Current status China s largest cluster of Virtual Science Museums Well-received by the Audience Recognized by the Authorities
Virtual Museums 60 Virtual Museums in Chinese and 10 in English Collaborate with 28 CAS institutes, over 80 organizations, and more than 100 scientists 300GB raw data and 30GB data released Initiated the Federation for Internet-based Public Science Education and joined the Union of Internet-based Science Popularization
Well-received by Audience 42 million visitors in total by Mar. 31 st 29,495 visitors each day since 2002 Rank high in Alexa among the websites for science communication in China Reports of newspapers and TV programs Letter of recognition from audience
Well-received by Audience Reports from domestic newspapers
Recognized by Authorities Receive continuous support from National Natural Science Foundation of China and China Association for Science and Technology NSF-funded collaboration with ITS Center of Texas A&M University Selected as one of the most excellent cultural websites by the Organizing Committee for China Internet Manners and Culture Project
Recognized by Authorities
World Summit Award on e-science Nominated on Sep 2 nd, 2005 Will be rewarded on Nov. 16th in Tunis
Work has been done Content Application Outreach Collaboration
Content Structure Virtual Science Museum Catalog Museum Exhibit Principle of the Universe Story of the Earth Mystery of lives Discover the Universe Technology Culture & Civilization. Wild animals Plant Dinosaur. amazing economic garden environment
homepage
Exhibition zone
museum
Text + Picture
Show principle
Show process
Streaming media
webcast
bilingual
Application is the king Get audience involved not only read Creative Applications for science practice Getting fun Facing challenge Practice Get feedback Contribute Team work
Getting fun
Facing challenge girl vs. SARS
Practice
Practice
Feedback Curriculum Design based on Virtual Science Museums http://survey.sdb.ac.cn/surveyhtml/1101455613207.htm
Contribute Encourage audience to submit their observation and feedback http://www.kepu.net.cn/gb/lives/giantpanda/pandacam/diary/index.html
Discuss VSMC Forum: http://forum.kepu.net.cn/bbsxp/index.asp
Outreach Organize Face-to-Face Activities for the Public
Collaboration HK mirror site UISP@CAST Evaluate and promote FIPSE@CAS Integrate and share VSMC@CNIC
FIPSE: Opening Ceremony
Conclusion Internet begins to serve as an important media for science communication. Science communication practitioners are force at the core and the science community is indispensable. Besides knowledge, method, procedure and social responsibility of science need to be communicated. Network and information technology help build a bridge between the science community and public. Internet-based science communication is on its very early stage, more efforts and pioneers are needed
Thank you! http://www.kepu.net.cn