On June 21, Gui Haichao, a professor with the honorary title of "Heroic Astronaut" and doctoral supervisor with the School of Astronautics and Astronautics of Beihang University, and a special guest of the Shenzhou 16 Crew, attended the 1st Ningbo Science and Technology Education Conference.

The event, hosted by the Ningbo Education Bureau and the Ningbo Association for Science and Technology (NBAST), provided a platform for Gui to engage in discussions and exchanges with students from the "Gifted High School Students Program" (also called YingCaiJiHua) in the Ningbo area.

Gui, who in May 2023 became the first payload expert in China to embark on a manned spaceflight mission, successfully boarded the Tianhe core module, spending 5 months in orbit before returning safely to Earth, with the Shenzhou-16 mission completed successfully. In recognition of his achievements, the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission awarded him the honorary title of "Heroic Astronaut" and the "Third Grade Aerospace Merit Medal" in April.

At the meeting, Gui shared insights into his academic journey and the path he took to realize the dream of becoming an astronaut. Gui said that the burgeoning aerospace industry in China will provide students with a broader stage and more opportunities. "I hope that students would have the courage to embrace challenges and actively participate in China's comprehensive development, thus fulfilling their dreams through painstaking efforts."

During the Q&A session,  Gui patiently answered questions raised by participating students - "Do you feel nervous during the rocket launch?" "Why is the flame in the space station spherical?" ...

Zhang Yiyan, a student at Yinzhou Middle School, was particularly inspired. He said: "Professor Gui delivered a great lesson about patriotism to us. I want to embody the spirit of space exploration like him, study scientific theories, and forge ahead to contribute to the development of our country in the future."

The program coordinator said the exchanges have stimulated a sense of patriotism among the students, honing their aspirations for building a stronger country. The experience allowed their patriotic spirit to resonate with their personal growth and the progress of the times, guiding them toward success.

The "Gifted High School Students Program" is expanding its scope and improving its quality this year.

Under the guidance of the Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology and the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, the NBAST and the Ningbo Education Bureau jointly established the East Zhejiang Regional Talents Program Management Office. The new platform aims to cultivate young sci-tech innovation reserve professionals, with 11 esteemed professors and experts as mentors.

Following rounds of exams and interviews, a total of 58 students from 16 high schools in Ningbo and Zhoushan regions stood out and joined the training program. They were classified into four groups based on their developmental direction, namely physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science. With the support of scientists, the participating students will engage in scientific research practices for one year.

Meanwhile, the Office has planned a slew of academic exchanges, including expert reports, academic forums, and dialogues with Nobel laureates.

Source: Official website of the NBAST