15th Qingdao Science and Technology Festival for Primary and Secondary School Students Held at TASA
On December 14, 2024, the 15th Qingdao Science and Technology Festival for Primary and Secondary School Students was grandly kicked off. The event was hosted by Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau, organized by Qingdao Youth Academy of Science, and supported by Tsinghua (Qingdao) Academy of Arts and Science Innovation Research (TASA). With the theme of New Paradise of Science and Technology, Youth Creating the World, the festival aims to stimulate the enthusiasm of young people for science and technology innovation and cultivate future talents in the field. As the supporting party and venue provider of this event, TASA has infused the festival with a robust academic and innovative spirit, underpinned by its unique concept of integrating art and science innovation.
The opening ceremony was attended by ZHAI Linlin, Director of Basic Education Division, Level-I Consultant of Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau; NIE Maihua, Secretary of General Party Branch and Director of the Qingdao Municipal Secondary School Comprehensive Practice Education Center; LIU Weidong, Secretary of Party Branch and Assistant to President of TASA; ZHANG Hui, Secretary of General Party Branch and Director of Tai'an Daiyue District Education and Science Research Center, and Deputy Director of the Leading Party Group of Daiyue District Education and Sports Bureau; ZHANG Xiande, Deputy Director of Pingdu Municipal Education Development and Guidance Center; and the relevant persons in charge of science education in relevant districts and cities. At the opening ceremony, children from the Qingdao West Coast New Area Xiangjiang Road No.1 Primary School, and the Jiaozhou SCO Demonstration Area Experimental Kindergarten presented scientific and innovative performances such as The Last Test and Mysterious Ocean. The interesting scientific experiments and marvelous adventures allowed the children to experience a sense of achievement in the fusion of science and creativity. ZHAI Linlin announced the official launch of the Science and Technology Festival.
This year's Festival features diverse activities, including the 2025 OMChina Shandong Region Selection Competition and the 21st Qingdao Odyssey of the Mind, the Ten Ones Science and Technology Competition for Qingdao Primary and Secondary School Students, the Family-Maker Parent-Child Science Popularization Competition for Qingdao Primary and Secondary School Students, and the 8th Qingdao Little Academician Selection. These activities provide an all-round, multi-level feast of science and technology for Qingdao's primary and secondary school students, allowing them to experience the charm of science and technology in practice while developing their innovative thinking and practical skills.
In the 8th Little Academician Selection, 129 primary school students showcased their inquiry reports and creative inventions through exhibition boards. Meanwhile, 84 junior and senior high school contestants presented their scientific explorations and innovations through on-site public defenses to the expert judges and audience. This activity not only provides a stage for youth to showcase their talents, but also sets an example benchmark for their peers to explore science and technology.
OM (Odyssey of the Mind), on the other hand, is a highly competitive arena where minds collide. Working in groups, students take on challenging tasks with wild imaginations and impeccable logical reasoning. The Ten Ones Science and Technology Competition is closely centered on the students' daily learning and all aspects of life. It encompasses ten categories of challenge projects, including scientific and technological innovations, handicrafts, and experimental investigations, closely connecting the knowledge learned in the classroom with extracurricular practices.
The Family-Maker Parent-Child Science Popularization Competition adds a dash of science and technology to family time. Parents worked hand in hand with their children to explore the mysteries of science and technology, which not only deepened the parent-child relationship but also ignited the children's interest in science and technology while fostering their innovative abilities. In addition, the Youth Makers Carnival was like a vibrant sea of science and technology. It featured a range of exhibits, from the innovative experience of step-less dimming to the creative programming of robots, from the 3D printing artwork to the environmental technology invention. All these exuded a unique charm, attracting visitors to stop to appreciate and have an interactive experience.
The 15th Qingdao Science and Technology Festival for Primary and Secondary School Students was not only a competition and exhibition event, but also a cradle for cultivating future scientific and technological innovation talents. This marked TASA's first participation in the event organization. TASA not only offered a quality venue and resource support for the event, but also leveraged its unique innovation concept and incubation platform to provide solid support and a vast stage for the city’s youth to embark on the journey of science and technology innovation.
TASA is committed to continuously capitalizing on Tsinghua University's strengths in related disciplines to create several future-oriented innovation incubation platforms and output innovative products and service results. This festival has not only laid a glittering foundation of technology for the development of the youth but also enriched Qingdao’s educational landscape with a bright and promising hue of science and technology. It encourages more youth to step boldly into the realm of scientific and technological innovation, explore the unknown, and shape the future, thus contributing to the scientific and technological innovation of Qingdao and even the whole country.
