Recently, a sudden outbreak caught children and parents in Gongshu District, Hangzhou, a bit off guard. In order to encourage students to keep their enthusiasm for learning in this special period and bring strength to everyone in adversity with science, Professor Qi Hongxing of the Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study (HIAS), UCAS, tried for the first time to serve as a livestreamer and give a live class titled "Aerospace Photoelectric Remote Sensing Technology Development of China" to more than 1,000 students from the primary school of Hangzhou Guancheng Experimental School and Hangzhou Guancheng Wulin Primary School.
The 1-hour live class garnered nearly 2,000 viewers and more than 150,000 likes. Prof. Qi Hongxing started from aerospace photoelectric remote sensing, combined with common examples of cameras, printers, and TV sets, and took the research he has been engaged in as the starting point to tell the history of China's space photoelectric remote sensing technology.
Where did China's space photoelectric remote sensing technology start from? He started his lecture with an example of the Fengyun meteorological satellites that are most closely related to the general public. On January 29, 1969, Premier Zhou Enlai had the foresight to state that "we need to have our own meteorological satellite." By September 8, 1988, China successfully launched a meteorological satellite for the first time, and the first picture of a cloud map was sent back.
Over the past 50 years, generations of meteorologists and aerospace workers have been working together, innovating and continuing to strive for self-sufficiency and self-improvement in science and technology so that we can say goodbye to the history of complete dependence on foreign weather satellite data. The autonomous and controllable Chinese infrared space technology allows China to shift place, from following others to keeping pace and even leading the pack in this field.
"Why does our country have to develop its own weather satellites?" Faced with students from first to sixth grade,Prof. Qi Hongxing spoke the truth in plain language, "We cannot rely entirely on foreign technology. If one day we have a conflict with foreign countries and they turn off the GPS service, our planes, cars and ships will all become blind. It is in this similar context that China's meteorological satellites were developed."Prof. Qi Hongxing told the students that we must develop our own meteorological satellite technology and not leave the lifeblood of our country in the hands of others.
"In 2021, China ranked first in the world in terms of the number of space launches by reaching 55. Just recently, on April 16, China's atmospheric environment monitoring satellite was successfully launched and completed its detection mission, which is the world's first satellite with CO2 detection laser detection capability."WhenProf. Qi Hongxing talked about the world-renowned achievements of China's science and technology, the atmosphere in the live broadcast room was also warmed up. Students said, "Proud!" "China is awesome!" "It's our motivation to study!"
Prof. Qi Hongxing spoke of his previous work for more than a decade at the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. For 60 years, it has fully carried forward the spirit of self-reliance and hard work and has indefatigably set out on the road to the development of China's own aerospace infrared optoelectronic technology.
Prof. Qi Hongxing lamented that although China's science and technology has seen tremendous progress, but there are still many technologies under others' control. "It's a shame for us, but it also reminds us that we must have our own technology and create our own path. This requires you to study hard and participate in the future development of science and technology in our country," said he.
In addition to knowledge of science,Prof. Qi Hongxing also encouraged students who studied at home due to the epidemic to maintain their enthusiasm for learning, to constantly enrich themselves, and to be as brave as the astronauts who returned to Earth just recently to explore the unknown mysteries of the unknown universe.
At the end of the live broadcast,Prof. Qi Hongxing said enthusiastically: "Study hard, children. The world is yours, as well as ours, but in the last analysis, it is yours. You, young people, are vigorous and flourishing, like the sun at eight or nine o'clock in the morning, and our hopes are placed in you."
"Our hard work today will not only help us grow, but also help our country develop science and technology so that it will no longer be bullied by other countries and make China a stronger country. This makes me even more determined to explore the mysterious and beautiful universe, and I want to start laying a good foundation from now on." Zhang Xincheng, a second-grader who has been fascinated by aerospace since he was a child, said the live class gave him a stronger motivation to study harder.
Song Ziqi, a fifth-grader, said, "Science gives us strength in adversity. We must believe in science, rely on the power of science, and prevent the epidemic scientifically. At the same time, we need to face the epidemic with a positive mindset, learn science through these meaningful lectures, enrich our inner world, maintain our physical and mental health, and be as bright as the spring light outside our windows even when isolated at home."
Looking at the comments and what the children wrote after the live class,Prof. Qi Hongxing, who tried it for the first time, said that he was both excited and moved, "Do not underestimate these children. What we talk about serving the motherland should be turned into practical action. In them, I see the future and hope. More than anything, I want to share this old saying with them, “Young people are to be respected. How do you know that the younger generation is not as good as us."
In fact, this is notProf. Qi Hongxing's first science class for primary and secondary school students. With that heartfelt passion for education, he has been working hard for scientific research and the popularization of science. For more than two years, he has delivered dozens of lectures to elementary and middle school students in Hangzhou. He hopes to arouse young people's curiosity about science and their love for the motherland, so that they can devote themselves to science and technology to serve the country with their youthfulness.
Executive Editor | Dou Hao
