From November 2 to 3 in 2019, the Panel Session 10 of Beijing Forum—“Science and Technology, Health and Society in the Context of Science Culture”—was held successfully in Sunlight Hall of Yingjie Exchange Center in Peking University. This panel was held by PKU-CAST Joint Institute for Science Culture, and this was also the first international academic conference held by this institute after its establishment in December 2018.

Panel Session Ten of the Beijing Forum

Nowadays, the scientific and technological achievements of China attract worldwide attention, and China has been a major country with importance influence on science and technology. At the same time, it should be noted that a critical factor restricting the development of science and technology in China is the lack of scientific tradition and the deficiency of science culture. Academician Han Qide, the founder and the dean of the Institute for Science Culture, said in the opening ceremony of the 2019 Beijing Forum, “A comprehensive strategic analysis should be made to accurately judge the current level and position of China’s science in the world. We should always keep modest and learn from developed countries and other excellent civilizations.” Under this background, strengthening the international academic exchanges and discussions, and learning the advanced science culture, are of crucial importance in promoting the construction and cultivation of science culture.

Academician Han Qide, the founder and the dean of PKU-CAST Joint Institute for Science Culture

The topic of this Panel Session was Science and Technology, Health and Society in the Context of Science Culture. A total of 33 famous scholars from 8 countries reported presentation under the theme of Science Culture, and over 200 academics of related field taking part in this panel session. Academician Han Qide and three deputy deans of the Institute, including Professor Zhang Li, Professor Ren Fujun and Professor Zhou Cheng, attended the session, and Prof. Zhang and Prof. Zhou also shared their research findings on the session.

Professor Zhou Cheng, deputy dean of PKU-CAST Joint Institute for Science Culture

Professor Zhou Cheng reported the presentation with the topic of “The Contribution of Social Contexts to the Springing-up of Nobel Prizes in the Natural Sciences in the 21st Century Japan”. He analyzed population characteristics of 19 Nobel Prize winners in 21st century Japan from distribution of birth years, education background, ages of finishing basic achievements and other factors, and discussed the culture environment of the springing-up of Nobel Prizes. Prof. Zhou considered that science, technology and innovation seemed to benefit more from favorable research environment than from individual support to researchers.

Professor Zhang Li, deputy dean of PKU-CAST Joint Institute for Science Culture

Professor Zhang Li reported the presentation of “A Comparative Study of Cultural Relations Programs to China of Britain and the United States during World War II”. She discovered two aiding programs of Britain and the US to China, and compared two crucial figures in these two programs, Joseph Needham and George Cressey, from their backgrounds, diplomatic assignments, communication aims, achievements and impacts on China’s science during and after the war.

Professor Ren Fujun, deputy dean of PKU-CAST Joint Institute for Science Culture

The Panel Session Ten included 6 topics: “Science, Technology and Society in East Asia”, “Economy, Environment and Health”, ” Medicine and Humanities”, ” History and Practice of Science Culture”, “Science Culture and Science Communication” and “Science Culture and Scientific education”. Speakers communicated and discussed about Science and Culture from different fields of history, politics and economics. This panel was divided into 7 sessions, which was moderated by Prof. Zhou Cheng from PKU, Prof. Hong Sungook from Seoul National University, Prof. David Magnus from Stanford University, Prof. William Hsiao from Harvard University, Professor Ren Fujun from National Academy of Innovation Strategy, Professor John Durant from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Professor Hans Peter Peters from Research Center Jülich respectively. Other panelists included: Professor Song Sang-yong from Hanyang University, Professor Yoshiyuki Hirono from University of Tokyo, Professor Tsukahara Togo from Kobe University, Professor Liu Shiyung from Shanghai Jiaotong University, Professor Fung Kam-Wing from Hongkong University, Professor Masashi Shirabe from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Professor Chen Fan from Northeastern University, Professor Chong Chaehyun from Sogang University, Professor Cong Yali from Peking University, Professor Kim Fortun from University of California at Irvine, Professor John Heritage from University of California at Los Angeles, Yang Liwei from the Huntington Library, Professor Yang Hong from Bryant University, Professor David Magnus from Stanford University, Professor Zhang Daqing from Peking University, Shin Dongwon from the Korean Society for the History of Medicine, Professor Gao Xi from Fudan University, Professor Liu Dun from Tsinghua University, Professor Tang Shukun from University of Science and Technology of China, Professor Martin Bauer and Professor Marta Entradas from London School of Economics, Professor Bernard Schiele from University of Quebec at Montréal, Wang Xiaoming from Shanghai Science & Technology Museum, Professor Ahmet Suredum from London School of Economics, Professor Anne Margarethe Dijkstra from University of Twente, Michel Claessens from European Union, Professor Wang Jingying from Beijing Normal University, Gauhar RAZA from Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Daniel Lewis from the Huntington Library.