Astronomer Wu Xiangping： Promoting the research plan of Noah’s Ark.

　　At this year’s two sessions, Wu Xiangping, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory and an academician of the China Academy of Sciences, once again participated in politics as a member of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

　　On March 14th, Wu Xiangping, an astronomer who was interviewed in front of a reporter from The Paper, changed the public’s stereotype that scientists are serious, pedantic and boring, talked about popular science, denounced rumors, talked about the transformation of scientific research system, talked about innovation-driven development, and commented on the legal reform of popular science … … He speaks very fast and vividly, has a sharp point of view and loves to express himself, just like a real-life scientist version of The Big Bang Theory.

　　"In some local popular science universities, many people go to see painting and calligraphy."

　　The Paper:Some media reported your speech on popular science in group discussion, saying that "many experts have published many papers a year, but they can’t give answers to the topics that people care about." This has caused a lot of controversy. Why do you have this statement?

　　Wu XiangpingThis report is actually a bit exaggerated. Scientific and technological innovation and popularization of science are the meanings of the innovation-driven development strategy. What I actually express is that not any scientist is suitable for popular science. Because popular science needs to tell profound scientific truth in popular language, the language expression should be simple and easy to understand, the image must be concrete, the profound knowledge should be clearly told in the words of ordinary people, and it should be combined with life and art as much as possible. A scientist’s duty is scientific research, but he has an obligation to repay the society and tell people the professional knowledge in your research field.

　　The PaperWhat’s your opinion on the current situation of popular science in China? It is understood that you have always advocated the popularization of science and actively participated in it.

　　WuxiangflatAt present, local governments at all levels attach great importance to popular science work and encourage popular science to enter the campus, the community and the grassroots. However, when we really went to the local area to do research, we found that the actual effect was not very satisfactory. For example, a demonstration popular science community shows us calligraphy, painting and local opera performances. There is also a popular science community, where there are martial arts novels in the library. There is no denying that the enthusiasm of the grassroots is very high, but some grassroots leaders have not yet understood what popular science should be, and their understanding of popular science is biased, and traditional culture has also been included in popular science. In some local popular science universities, in addition to the health care that the elderly care about, many people go to see paintings, calligraphy and so on.

　　Then, is it complete for scientists to participate in popular science? This is not the case. Although scientists are enthusiastic and want to spread their knowledge, they can’t find a good channel and can’t connect. It is very difficult to actively popularize science. Some people want to popularize some knowledge, but the school does not accept it. We understand very well that because of the teaching order and tasks, it is not necessary to popularize science.

　　Another problem that has been reflected more is that the audience of scientists in the form of reports is limited, so they hope to spread it through the media. Sometimes the voice spread by the media is not the original intention of scientists, so the docking between scientists and the media has not been established. However, few people read a popular science article written by scientists themselves. How to pass popular science through the media on the basis of keeping scientific rigor is a problem worth pondering.

　　It is mentioned in the Outline of the Action Plan for National Scientific Literacy that by 2020, the proportion of people with scientific literacy will reach 10%. The Association for Science and Technology has made efforts for many years, and the statistics in 2015 reached 6 percentage points. There is no problem to achieve this goal in cities. Both Beijing and Shanghai have reached about 18%, while only 2-5% in rural areas. The gap between the east and the west, mountainous areas and cities is very large, and the allocation of education and scientific and technological resources is quite unbalanced. In developed areas, schools have libraries and advanced laboratories, but rural schools are far from it, especially in remote areas, such as some schools in mountainous areas of Yunnan, where even the most basic experimental equipment does not exist. Fortunately, the state attaches importance to it and has policy support, but the cause of popular science has a long way to go.

　　The Paper: Then how to realize the real popular science?

　　Wu Xiangping:Popular science is the popularization of scientific knowledge. First of all, ordinary people should be able to understand. We should start with issues that people care about, such as food safety and medical health, so that they can listen, instead of being fooled by another group of people to buy health care products. We should let a group of scientific researchers go to the grassroots level to teach the public scientific truth. We should also hold some popular science activities regularly, taking children as the main body in combination with China’s national conditions. For example, children do some small scientific and technological works to show and popularize knowledge to community residents, and the effect is better. Because their children are directly involved, parents are willing to go, and interaction is very good.

　　On the other hand, it can promote the commercial operation of popular science, mainly aimed at teenagers, because they are in idolize. Yesterday, we were still discussing in the group meeting that stars can be used as spokesmen for popular science. Hong Kong has done this, and the effect is quite good. In fact, the mainland can also learn. Spreading popular science knowledge is originally part of public welfare undertakings. Finally, the balance of educational science and technology resources is a very long process. At present, the proportion of rural population in China is still very high. Only when the quality of this part of people is improved can the overall quality be improved, so it is necessary for the government to lead, and the allocation of resources is tilted from the front end of education.

　　"Crazy" scientist

　　"Put forward a very crazy research plan to promote ‘ Noah’s Ark ’ Plan "

　　The Paper:What is the international status of astronomical research in China?

　　Wu XiangpingAstronomical research has a characteristic, which depends on "big equipment". If a country’s economy is backward, it can’t even build a telescope, and it can only rely on other people’s equipment or just engage in theoretical research, there is almost no chance of first discovery. With the improvement of China’s comprehensive national strength, we have increased our investment in astronomical research. Although there are some gaps in equipment in some fields compared with those in the world, we are catching up quickly. In terms of talents, there are more and more domestic talents and returned talents, and the strength of the team is gradually strengthened. Many colleges and universities have also set up astronomy departments, a "reserve army" has also been established, and some cutting-edge equipment is also under construction. Nowadays, in some fields, we can reach the level of "running side by side".

　　Astronomical research objects are divided into different levels, covering a wide range, from the sun, the milky way to the universe, as long as it is in the sky, everything is studied. Astronomical research is also divided into bands, from the longest radio waves to the highest energy gamma rays and neutrinos. In particular, astronomy has developed very rapidly in the last decade, and there will be many new breakthroughs in the next decade.

　　The Paper: I brushed into a circle of friends before, and you described some scientists you are in contact with as "crazy". Why do you use this word to describe scientists?

　　Wu XiangpingWe are studying "What is the next impact on human visual understanding of the universe", and the answer is neutrinos. Neutrino is a tiny particle, which has no mass, moves as fast as the speed of light, travels in a straight line and can easily cross the earth. If you can catch neutrinos, you can observe the universe through them. Scientists all over the world have made a lot of efforts and attempts on how to build a neutrino telescope and made some progress. Some scientists have noticed that the huge Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang are made of rocks and are ideal neutrino shooting ranges. Once neutrinos interact with rocks, if they can be caught, they can be seen, so everyone fantasizes about turning Tianshan Mountain into a neutrino telescope. In fact, the technology has passed now. With radio technology, you can see the radio radiation generated by neutrino secondary particles as long as you put enough small antennas. But this thing is very difficult to realize. Everyone who has been to Tianshan knows how to set up 200,000 antennas on Tianshan. However, the discussion is still in full swing, so I said that some scientists in the world are actually very ‘ Crazy ’ .

　　The Paper:You are also a scientist. Do you think you are crazy?

　　Wu Xiangping:Scientists have persistent pursuits, and if they want to do something, they must do it at all costs. For example, I have been doing experiments in Tianshan Mountain in Xinjiang for more than ten years, starting with a tent stuck in the grass. No matter how cold and hot it was, I didn’t feel at that time. It’s really crazy to recall it until now. We have also put forward a very crazy research plan, that is, to promote a "Noah’s Ark" plan, which carries the dual mission of finding a second home for human beings to survive outside the earth and planning to build a shelter when the earth encounters a devastating disaster. Scientists are people who stand at the forefront of the times and lead scientific and technological innovation and reform.

　　Scientific Fake News and "Folk Science"

　　Some fake news"Some ordinary people believe it when they read it, and individual leaders also believe it."

　　The PaperThe spread of information on the Internet is getting wider and faster. As you mentioned above, there are many false news about science.

　　Wu XiangpingAlthough the dissemination of science news can stimulate people’s thirst for knowledge in a flexible way, it can’t make science news entertaining. Take the news about "Eye of the Sky" on the Internet as an example. The "Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) Re-receiving ‘ Alien ’ Signal! Japan and Europe have joined hands to seek publicity, and American jealousy is hard to eliminate "; "Foreign experts: China has cracked the alien signal, but it is actually a distress message?" ; "Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) discovered the second earth, and its water resources are 10 times that of the earth. Will become the future home of mankind "… … These are all deliberately fabricated false contents, which are believed by some ordinary people and individual leaders. So we are thinking about how to put an end to fake news. Even if we explain that it is fake news, fake news still exists on the internet. For example, last year, some media reported that laver was made of plastic, and the official has refuted the rumor, but after checking online, this rumor still exists. Scientists came forward to create a rumor, but the rumor has spread out.

　　The Paper: in your opinion, how should we solve it?

　　Wu Xiangping:It is suggested that the media should have a strict review mechanism or technical supervision system for sci-tech news, and it is best for scientific news articles to be reviewed by consultants in this field before publication. You can’t make up news in science. Once rumors appear, first, they should be cleaned up in time, and second, there should be a corresponding accountability mechanism.

　　The PaperIn recent years, there is still a controversial topic in the scientific community, which is about "folk science". What do you think?

　　Wu XiangpingI have also been in contact with "Folk Science". Someone once wrote to tell me that he found a new law of solar system movement and felt that Newton was wrong. I’m too embarrassed to discourage others, so I have to shirk that I study radio. I don’t understand what you said, otherwise I can’t get rid of it.

　　In fact, there is no need to worry about "people’s subjects". Although he is in contact with many people, it is difficult for him to express his things vividly. Few ordinary people accept the things popularized by the people’s subjects. First, they have no authority and others do not recognize them. Second, talking too much makes others feel disgusted, insisting that their own things are right, and they can’t find strong evidence to support them. Engaged in scientific research still needs special quality training and cultivation, and basic literacy is a must.