China News Service, Hefei, March 23, Title: "Generation Z" Science "Translator": Exploring the Beauty of the Integration of Science and Art
China News Service reporter Zhang Jun
"Artificial sun", advanced light sources, quantum computers... In Hefei, Anhui, Yang Yuanfan, a doctoral candidate at the University of Science and Technology of China, and his team are committed to presenting scientific principles and major scientific achievements to the public through visualization technology, so that the beauty of science can be widely spread spread.
Yang Yuanfan's "Visible Science" team was established in 2022. It originally originated from the on-campus mass entrepreneurship and innovation track of the University of Science and Technology of China. The average age of the team is only 24 years old. Their goal is to become "translators" of science, leading the audience to understand science laboratories from a new perspective through imaging technology, and to feel the warmth and beauty of science.
"We met many top scientists when we were on campus and found that they all had great scientific stories. We were thinking about whether we could be the ones who tell scientific stories to them and be the 'translators' of science." Yang Yuanfan said that they hope to be a bridge between scientists and the public, helping scientists tell their scientific stories.
Yang Yuanfan and team members are discussing the visualization science project. Photo by Zhang Jun
The first visual science project undertaken by Yang Yuanfan's team was the "array large-aperture lidar" of the second phase of the Meridian Project. Not only was the project technically demanding, it also presented challenges in terms of understanding the scientists' findings. To overcome these difficulties, the team assembled a scientific advisory panel composed of experts in multiple fields to ensure that they could accurately convey scientific principles and results.
"What we are pursuing is the ultimate combination of science and art, because I believe that this science is very beautiful. How to embody the beauty of such science is a difficult thing." Yang Yuanfan introduced, a member of their team Their backgrounds are diverse, with half coming from science and engineering majors and the other half coming from art colleges, which reflects their concept of combining science and art.
Visual effects created by the Visual Science team. Photo courtesy Yang Yuanfan
Yang Yuanfan believes that scientific visualization is a broad definition, including all ways to present scientific results. The "Visual Science" team not only produces scientific animations, but also explores virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, as well as using AI-generated content (AIGC) to accelerate the production of scientific visualization products, so that scientific principles and technological achievements can be transformed. It becomes more knowable, palpable, even tangible and understandable.
Currently, Yang Yuanfan and his team are continuing their scientific communication journey, adding communication power to Hefei's scientific and technological innovation. "We are also doing some visualization work around the large scientific facilities in Hefei, because there are now 4 large scientific facilities in Hefei that have been completed and operated, and another 9 are under construction." Yang Yuanfan said that in the future, he hopes to focus on Hefei's large scientific equipment will help Hefei's large scientific equipment display and promote their results.
Visual renderings produced by the Visual Science team. Photo courtesy Yang Yuanfan
"Our goal is to become the team that understands art best in the field of science and the team that understands science best in the field of art." Yang Yuanfan introduced that the science-themed art exhibition held by the team inside and outside the school is also to make science beautiful in a beautiful way through scientific visualization. way to be seen and understood by more people.
Yang Yuanfan said that the vision of "Visible Science" is to tell China's scientific story well and present China's most cutting-edge scientific achievements to the world. It is hoped that through their efforts, the beauty of the integration of science and art can be spread to a wider range of fields and people, inspiring people's love for science and appreciation of art. (over)