On the afternoon of July 21st, Professor Chen Bingchu, a professor at Zhejiang Normal University and former vice president of the High School Biology Teaching Branch of the Zhejiang Education Association, delivered a special lecture on "Understanding the Essence of Science". This lecture is hosted by Dr. Ding Chenchen from the School of Education (Faculty of Teacher Education). More than 200 science teachers from primary and secondary schools in the province came to the scene to listen.
At the beginning of the lecture, Chen Bingchu explained the "understanding of the essence of science" and said, "The understanding of the essence of science is the most fundamental thing to improve scientific literacy. Ultimately, it all boils down to what science is. We need to solve this problem in order to better carry out scientific teaching and popular science work, Emphasize the need for a correct understanding of nature and science.
Chen Bingchu introduced five typical scientific definitions in the academic community in sequence. Firstly, science is the collective term for various disciplines that reveal the essence and laws of natural phenomena; Secondly, science is the sum of knowledge accumulated by people in the process of understanding nature; Thirdly, science is a method for people to correctly understand nature; Fourthly, science, including technology, is a tool for people to live a better life; Fifth, science is religion. Chen Bingchu clearly pointed out that the more than thirty definitions of science are not mutually exclusive. There are two views on the essence of science, namely the view of knowledge and the view of inquiry. In the process of questioning essence, it is necessary to correctly handle the contradiction between the two different understandings of the view of knowledge and the view of inquiry.
Chen Bingchu combined examples from social life to supplement the explanation that science and technology are both closely connected and distinct from each other. There are two sources of technology: experience and technological processes formed under the guidance of modern science. Science and society are also closely related. Science provides power to society through technology, influences social civilization, and is an important component of human activities. Science is constrained by social morality and regulations.
Regarding the issue of public scientific literacy, Chen Bingchu believes that everyone should understand science, participate in scientific endeavors, and actively support scientific experiments. At the same time, he also considered the mechanism of public decision-making, pointing out that in the decision-making process, the lack of scientific literacy among the public can lead to inconsistent opinions, and a scientifically literate public can help form more democratic decision-making. In addition, he warned the public to maintain a scientific mindset and attitude, and not be misled by pseudoscience.
At the end of the lecture, Chen Bingchu emphasized, "The level and level of scientific literacy in our society is an eternal theme in our science teaching, because the students we cultivate are citizens of the future society. Of course, the high-level development of scientific literacy requires the action of the entire society.
Chen Bingchu, professor, master's supervisor, full-time expert of Zhejiang Normal University Education Group, and permanent consultant of Zhejiang Normal University Affiliated Cixi Experimental School. Formerly served as the head of two master's programs in subject teaching (biology) and science and technology education, director of the Teacher Training Center of Zhejiang Normal University, vice president of the Biology Branch and Science Branch of the Zhejiang Education Society, and dispatched president of Linpu Middle School affiliated with Zhejiang Normal University. I have undertaken more than ten national and provincial level research projects, published more than ten monographs such as "Goal Control Theory in Education and Teaching", "Middle School Science Teaching Theory", and "Middle School Biology Teaching Theory", and published over a hundred academic papers. I have won the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government Education Achievement Award.