UM’s national science education base unveiled today

A certificate presentation cum plaque unveiling ceremony for the national science education base at the University of Macau (UM) was held today (21 September). The base is testament to the country’s recognition of UM’s efforts in science education. UM will leverage opportunities brought by Sino-Lusophone cooperation in science education, strengthen collaboration with science education platforms in mainland China, and provide more quality science education services to nurture more science and innovation talent.

At the ceremony, Xu Yanhao, deputy secretary of the Leading Party Members Group of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and member of the Stand Committee of the National People’s Congress, presented the certificate of national science education base to UM Rector Yonghua Song. Afterwards, Xu, Song, as well as Xu Ting, head of the department of education and youth affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, and Teng Sio Hong, deputy director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao SAR government, unveiled a plaque for the base.

In his speech, Song said that UM has always attached great importance to science education. The university encourages the integration of scientific research and science education and uses its research platforms and resources to help nurture science and innovation talent in Macao. He thanked the central government and the CAST for their guidance and recognition of UM’s efforts in science education, as well as various units for their continued support of UM in establishing the base. In the future, UM will further integrate its technological and human resources and will leverage opportunities brought by Sino-Lusophone cooperation in science education. The university will also strengthen collaboration with science education platforms in mainland China and provide more quality science education services, in order to nurture more science and innovation talent needed for the future development of Macao, the Greater Bay Area, and China.

Xu spoke highly of UM’s work in science education in recent years. According to him, the university has achieved remarkable results in promoting science education and technological innovation as well as nurturing students who love China and Macao while reflecting the local characteristics of Macao. He added that the Chinese Association for Science and Technology cares about and supports the development of UM and expressed hope that the university would give full play to the strength of the science education base and promote the development of science education with an open and tolerant attitude, in order to contribute to economic diversification of Macao and the development of the Greater Bay Area as well as integrate into the overall development of China.

In 2018, UM established the Macao Base for Primary & Secondary STEM Education, leveraging the resources of the university’s three state key laboratories and cutting-edge research platforms to support the work of science education in local primary and secondary schools through collaboration with various sectors of the community. As a platform for nurturing science and innovation talent in Macao, the base provides educational and training activities for teachers and students on a regular basis. In March this year, the base was included in the first batch of 2021-2025 national science education bases by the CAST, making UM the first university in Macao to receive this honour.

Members of the CAST delegation who attended the ceremony also include Wang Ting, director of the China Research Institute for Science Popularization; Su Xiaojun, director of the China Centre for International Science and Technology Exchange; Song Yurong, deputy director general of the Department of Publicity and Culture of the CAST; He Wei, deputy director general of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Exchange Office of the CAST; Wang Baohui, head of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan section of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Exchange Office of the CAST; and Lui Bo, secretary of Xu. Other guests who attended the ceremony include Cheang Kun Wai, member of the Administrative Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund; Ip Chi Kan, member of the Administrative Committee of the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau; Lai Sai Kei, principal of Keang Peng School; Chan Hong, president of the Chinese Educators Association of Macau; and Vong Iat Hang, member of the Board of Directors of the Macao Science Center. UM representatives in the ceremony and guest reception include Ge Wei, vice rector; Xu Chengzhong, dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) and interim director of the Institute of Collaborative Innovation; Tam Kam Weng, director of the Centre for Science and Engineering Promotion, and Wang Chunming, interim director of the Research Services and Knowledge Transfer Office.

澳門大學“全國科普教育基地”今（21）日舉行證書頒授暨揭牌儀式，標誌著國家對澳大科普教育工作的肯定。澳大將發揮中葡科普合作的國際化優勢，強化與內地科普平台的對接，提供更多優質的科普服務，培育科創人才。

儀式上，中國科協黨組副書記、全國人大常委徐延豪向澳大校長宋永華頒授“全國科普教育基地”證書，及後徐延豪、宋永華、中央人民政府駐澳門特別行政區聯絡辦公室教育與青年工作部部長徐婷、澳門特別行政區政府教育及青年發展局副局長丁少雄共同為基地揭牌。

宋永華致辭時表示，澳大歷來重視科普工作，鼓勵科研科普結合，並利用澳大的科研平台資源幫助培養澳門科創人才。澳大能夠獲此殊榮，要感謝國家及中國科協對澳大科普教育工作的指導及肯定，也要感謝各共建單位對澳大一直以來的支持。未來，澳大將進一步整合大學的科技和人才資源，發揮中葡科普合作的國際化優勢，強化與內地科普平台的對接，提供更多優質的科普服務，培育更多澳門、大灣區和國家未來發展所需的科創人才。

徐延豪高度評價了澳大近年來的科普教育工作。他表示，澳大近年在科普教育、科技創新、培養愛國愛澳人才方面均取得了顯著成果，並體現了澳門本地特色。中國科協關心和支持澳大的發展，期望澳大發揮科普教育基地的平台優勢，秉持開放包容的心態，推動科普教育高質量發展，為推動澳門經濟多元化發展、建設粵港澳大灣區、融入國家發展大局貢獻力量。

澳大於2018年設立澳門中小學生科技實踐基地，善用澳大3個國家重點實驗室和前沿科研平台的資源，透過與社會各界合作，支援本地中小學科普教育的工作，向廣大師生提供持續的教學培訓和活動，以發揮培養澳門創科人才的平台作用。基地今年3月獲中國科學技術協會列入為全國首批“2021—2025年全國科普教育基地”，澳大亦成為澳門首間獲此殊榮的高校。

出席儀式的嘉賓還有中國科協代表團成員：中國科普研究所所長王挺、中國國際科技交流中心主任蘇小軍、中國科協宣傳文化部副部長宋玉榮、中國科協港澳台辦公室副主任何巍、中國科協港澳台辦公室港澳台處處長王保輝、中國科協徐延豪同志秘書呂波。科學技術發展基金行政委員會委員鄭冠偉、澳門郵電局行政委員會委員葉智勤、鏡平學校校長黎世祺、澳門中華教育會會長陳虹、澳門科學館董事黃逸恆等。澳大代表包括副校長葛偉、科技學院院長兼協同創新研究院代院長須成忠、科學暨工程科普推廣中心主任譚錦榮和研究服務及知識轉移辦公室代主任王春明。