The birth and development of modern science in the Western countries are important milestones in the history of human civilization. From the perspective of history, exchanges and mutual learning between different civilizations have promoted the development of science, and the development of science has greatly promoted the progress of civilization. Besides, the influence of science on the development of human civilization has increased with the development of science. At the same time, the ecological crisis, ethical crisis and value crisis which deviated from the original purpose of the development of science also came one after another. Mankind is cautiously optimistic about the prospects for the progress of its civilization. Where is science heading in the future? How will human civilization change because of the future direction of science?

As a latecomer in the process of modernization, China should make full use of its strengths and avoid its weaknesses, draw on the correct and scientific ideas and wisdom, and bring new vitality to the ancient Chinese civilization. However, due to historical reasons, modern science, which has no original relations with Chinese civilization, is incompatible with the traditional Chinese culture since it was introduced from the West. The essence of science is not fully understood and the cultural soil which cultivates innovation has always been poor, so that China’s innovation of science and technology is weak, and China is faced with many difficulties on the path of changing from a developed country of science and technology to a powerful country of science and technology in the world.

The relationship between science and civilization is a complex issue with both scientific and humanistic knowledge, which needs to be examined and interpreted from a strong interdisciplinary perspective. The history of science is a bridge linking science and humanity, which can illuminate the relationship between the development of science and the progress of human civilization, explore the law of history and enlighten the future development.

Starting from October 2019, Department of History of Science, Technology and Medicine of Peking University and Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of Peking University jointly planned and promoted the grand launch of series of academic lectures of “Science and Civilization” by inviting first-class scholars in the history of science and the intersection of science and humanity at home and abroad. The series of lectures aim to build the dialogue platform for natural sciences and humanities, to activate the classic issues of science and civilization, to explore and illuminate the essence of modern science and the connotation of modern civilization, to advance the recognition and re-understanding of the interactive relationship between science and civilization, and tolay the theoretical foundation for promoting present scientific spirits and constructing scientific culture. At the same time, these lectures alsoinject new vigor and vitality of thoughts for China’s scientific development and Chinese civilization. The first 10 lectures will be launched in the fall semester of 2019 and the spring semester of 2020.

The first lecture of the series will be delivered by Han Qide, the academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the chairman ofDepartment of History of Science, Technology and Medicine of Peking University. He will choose “the questions of science and civilization”, concentrate on the main points and raise 12 questions around the perspective of science and civilization. These questions will cover following topics of these lectures. He will throw out the “target” and wait for the “bullet”, hoping to lead discussions among the audience. The second lecture will be given by Professor Wu Guosheng from the Department of History of Science of Tsinghua University, who will bring a unique perspective on the origin of the Greek scientific spirit. The third lecture will be given by Professor Wang Yangzong from the School of Humanities of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He will discuss the academician system in China and related issues. The fourth lecture was delivered by the director of the Institute of History of Science of the Max Planck in Berlin, Germany. His lecture title is “Materiais and science: How the 13th Century Changed China”. The fifth lecture will be given by Professor Jiang Xiaoyuan from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, who will discuss the issues related to “the commercial operation behind the canonization of internationally famous scientific journals”.