From November 15 to 17, the city of Wenzhou in China's Zhejiang Province became a hub of innovation as nearly 800 young scientists from 71 countries and regions gathered for the 2024 World Young Scientist Summit (WYSS).
At the summit's plenary session, Wan Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), spoke about how the rapid advancement of technology is changing the way research is conducted. "The wave of informatization, digitization, and intelligence accelerates a profound change in research paradigms," he said. "It helps young people acquire knowledge and information more widely, deeply, and conveniently, enabling them to achieve leaps and breakthroughs by standing on the shoulders of giants."
Tshilidzi Marwala, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Rector of the United Nations University, highlighted the essential role of young scientists in addressing global challenges. "Young scientists play an important role in advancing frontier science, creating regional innovation ecosystems, and fostering international cooperation," he noted. "Their contributions are especially vital in tackling climate change, health, and inequality issues."
One of the summit's highlights was the presentation of the second Young Scientist Sustainable Development Goals Award to four outstanding scientists from the United States, Britain, France, and China.
Since its launch in 2019, the WYSS, jointly sponsored by CAST and the Zhejiang provincial government, has become an open platform for scientists worldwide. It has established cooperative relationships with more than 200 international science and technology organizations and universities, fostering global collaboration and innovation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
