Build a diversified and multi-level training structure and system
Cultivate the soil for top-notch talents (let more basic research talents emerge)
Reporter Zhao Grace Wu Yue Yu Sinan
General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized during the third collective study of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee: "To cope with international scientific and technological competition, to achieve high-level self-reliance, to promote the construction of a new development pattern, and to achieve high-quality development, we urgently need to strengthen basic research, from the source and the bottom Solve key technical problems." "Strengthening basic research ultimately depends on high-level talents. We must make great efforts to build a systematic and high-level basic research talent training platform to allow more basic research talents to emerge."
This edition launches the column "Let More Basic Research Talents Emerge", focusing on institutional and practical innovations in basic research talent training, evaluation, support, etc., presenting bright spots, discovering pain points, and asking difficult points, and exploring high-level talents in basic research way of development.
--editor
"In communication and study, I fully appreciate the beauty of mathematics." Not long ago, Niu Ruijie, a top-notch class of 2019 from the School of Mathematics of Sichuan University, participated in the forum of the 2022 Academic Annual Conference of the Chinese Mathematical Society and was very touched.
"The interest in mathematics research originated from the guidance of the tutor of the 'Middle School Student Talent Program' in high school. In college, thanks to the training program for top-notch students in basic subjects ('Top-level Program'), I entered my favorite major and studied step by step. In the world of mathematics, embark on the road of research.” Niu Ruijie said that in the future, he will go deep into the field of basic mathematics.
Like Niu Ruijie, there are many young people who love and devote themselves to exploring, learning and innovating in the field of basic research.
How to get through their path to success?
Colleges and universities, especially "double first-class" colleges and universities, play a major role in the cultivation of basic research talents, and adding science education to the "double reduction" of education is related to the stimulation of young people's curiosity, imagination, and desire to explore.
In order to continuously create a large-scale basic research reserve force, in which areas should we continue to make efforts?
The reporter interviewed relevant departments and universities.
Solve the "algorithm" of talent cultivation
Realize the whole process and chain training of talents in basic disciplines
"What is the significance of physics research?" Not long ago, Shao Lijing, a researcher at the Kavli Institute of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Peking University, asked students questions at the "Boya Cloud Forum" at Peking University.
In his view, the progress of basic physics research will promote the improvement of the country's overall scientific and technological level. "The research we are engaged in is trying to make a breakthrough on the boundary of human knowledge." Shao Lijing was admitted to Peking University in 2005 and completed undergraduate and Doctoral studies.
"The undergraduate education in the School of Physics pays attention to the cultivation of thinking and the development of vision. Under the enlightenment and influence of my mentor, I have developed an unswerving love for physics." Shao Lijing said.
Now, as a young teacher, he hopes to train more talents to devote themselves to fundamental physics research.
In the final analysis, strengthening basic research depends on high-level talents.
The relevant person in charge of the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education said, "Basic discipline talents, especially top-notch talents, are the strategic force for the country's long-term development. Taking the road of independent cultivation of basic discipline talents, strengthening basic research and basic discipline talent training, is an active response to international competition. , to realize the urgent requirement of high-level technological self-reliance and self-improvement.”
During the interview, several university leaders said that the training of basic research talents has the characteristics of long cycle, high investment, and slow results, and there are still some challenges in talent selection, classified guidance and training.
In recent years, relevant departments have continued to explore and gather strength around selection, training, evaluation, use, and guarantee.
How to realize the whole process and chain training of talents?
Xin Bing, director of the Youth Science and Technology Center of the China Association for Science and Technology, introduced that in 2013, the China Association for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Education jointly launched a training program for middle school students' scientific and technological innovation reserve talents.
Over the past 10 years, more than 7,000 outstanding middle school students with subject specialties and innovative potential have been trained, and a model for jointly discovering and cultivating innovative reserve talents in basic subjects has been explored by universities and middle schools.
How to make talent training better serve the country's major strategic needs?
According to the person in charge of the Department of College Students of the Ministry of Education, in 2020, the Ministry of Education will launch the "Strengthening Foundation Plan" in some colleges and universities, focusing on selecting a group of "students who are interested in serving the country's major strategic needs and have excellent comprehensive qualities or top-notch basic disciplines" for special education. nourish.
Over the past three years since the project was implemented, more than 18,000 new students have been admitted.
At the same time, in order to break through the traditional path dependence and break the original training pattern, the "top-notch plan" is steadily advancing.
It is understood that the "top-notch plan" has entered the 2.0 stage since its launch in 2009. Currently, relying on 77 high-level universities, 288 training bases for top-notch students in the fields of basic science, basic medicine, and basic liberal arts have been established.
"In recent years, my country's top-notch innovative talent training has achieved results, but it is also restricted by some factors. How to form a mechanism and environment conducive to the growth of talents, and build a diversified and multi-level talent training structure and system is the key to building a high-quality education system in the new era. Important questions that must be answered," said Zhong Binglin, a professor at Beijing Normal University.
Exploring the "multiplication" of teaching reform
Innovate training models such as science and education collaboration, tutorial system, and undergraduate-master-doctoral connection
To promote the training of basic research talents, it is necessary to innovate the selection mechanism for top students, the training mechanism for the connection between undergraduates, masters and doctoral students, the international exchange and cooperation mechanism, and the long-term evaluation mechanism.
The reporter learned from interviews that various colleges and universities are actively carrying out the exploration and reform of talent training models to solve the "algorithm" for basic research talent training.
At the beginning of the new semester, He Yuhang, a 2020 undergraduate student from Xingjian Academy of Tsinghua University, is working on the control research of flying cars in the special power team of the School of Vehicles and Vehicles.
Xingjian Academy is one of the physical academies launched by Tsinghua University to implement the "Strengthening Foundation Plan", and strives to explore new training models such as strengthening the foundation, synergy between science and education, tutor system, and linking undergraduate, master, and doctoral students.
"I have been interested in flying cars since high school. Fortunately, when I was a freshman, I met a mentor who corresponded to my research direction." In He Yuhang's view, the teachers and students of the academy "big fish lead and small fish follow" "from swimming " mode is a great help for learning.
In addition, under the personalized training plan of "one person, one policy", He Yuhang can also independently design the course arrangement, while strengthening the literacy of basic subjects such as mathematics and mechanics, and closely combine the personal training plan with the future scientific research direction under the guidance of the tutor, " Now, my future plan is gradually clear, and my ideal is more firm.”
"To cultivate innovative talents, we must teach students in accordance with their aptitude, help students discover their interests and talents, and strengthen their academic interests," said Peng Gang, vice president of Tsinghua University.
In order to guide students to better carry out basic research, many colleges and universities regard the interdisciplinary and the integration of science and education as an important way to cultivate talents.
In 2022, in the "Questions and Conjectures" activity of the 2nd Basic Discipline Top-notch Student Training Program 2.0, Fan Jigang, a student of the Zhiyuan College of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Biomedical Sciences (Basic Medicine Base) project "Development of end-to-end AI-accelerated allosteric drugs Design Methodology" won the grand prize.
"Zhiyuan College and the School of Medicine provide us with a high-quality platform for interdisciplinary research. I independently applied for a number of undergraduate research projects and had the opportunity to participate in scientific research internships in top international laboratories." Fan Jigang said that he entered the In the laboratory, follow the two mentors to carry out scientific research and exploration.
During the interview, some university leaders also said that there are still some problems to be explored in the independent training of basic research talents. For example, in some training bases, there is a relative shortage of high-level famous teachers; the proportion of small-class seminar-based teaching and project-based teaching Compared with top universities, there are still gaps in experimental teaching mode, teaching content and supporting platform.
The relevant person in charge of the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education introduced that in the next step, it is planned to implement the strategic action of cultivating top-notch talents in national basic disciplines, focusing on strengthening the construction of high-level teachers, strengthening the construction of key elements and innovative ability training, and strengthening the integration of science, education, industry and education to educate people Deepen reforms in key tasks such as the construction of demonstration zones, strengthening the digitalization of talent training, and strengthening mechanism innovation and conditional guarantees.
Do a good job in the "addition" of science education
Stimulate young people's curiosity, imagination and desire to explore
In early February, the Experimental School of the Institute of Advanced Science and Technology of China, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province welcomed the primary and secondary school science teachers of the "Training Class for Special Science Teachers".
The rich scientific elements on campus have attracted the attention of teachers: intelligent irrigation, photovoltaic systems, and fish and vegetable symbiosis systems are installed in the smart courtyard, which is convenient for offering special courses such as smart planting and biological environment; in the smart manufacturing laboratory, students Experiments such as 3D printing and intelligent robots can be carried out.
"We want to let children feel the charm of science and improve their scientific literacy through specific practical activities and real experimental situations." Lan Tian, a science teacher at Shenzhen Academy of Educational Sciences Experimental School (Guangming), said after the visit.
Talent cultivation is systematic engineering.
To optimize the education system of basic subjects, it is necessary to strengthen the cohesion and coordination of different stages of schooling, with particular attention to the synergy between the basic education stage and the higher education stage.
"The stage of primary and secondary schools is the decisive stage for the formation of students' individual scientific literacy, and the focus of science education is basic education." Zheng Yonghe, dean of the Science Education Research Institute of Beijing Normal University, said.
To stimulate young people's curiosity, imagination, and desire to explore, and to cultivate a group of young people who have the potential of scientists and are willing to dedicate themselves to scientific research, it is necessary to do a good job of adding science education to the "double reduction" of education.
Open the national primary and secondary school smart education platform, and in the science education column of the "after-school service" section, students can take "science open classes" and roam around science and technology museums around the world.
According to the person in charge of the Department of Basic Education of the Ministry of Education, policies and measures such as improving the curriculum and enriching educational resources have been gradually implemented.
According to reports, in the 2022 edition of compulsory education curriculum plans and curriculum standards, the proportion of total class hours for primary school science and junior high school science (or physics, chemistry, biology) will increase to 8%-10%.
The Ministry of Education also cooperated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences to carry out the "Academicians and Experts Popular Science Education Open Class" to provide teachers, students and parents with high-quality online popular science education resources.
The "National Science Education Summer School" training for primary and secondary school teachers and the "Specialized Science Teacher Training Class" will help improve the practical ability of primary and secondary school teachers in carrying out science education.
In addition, internal and external resources need to be coordinated.
Xin Bing introduced that the Youth Science and Technology Center of the China Association for Science and Technology, together with the China Youth Science and Technology Educators Association, organized and implemented the "'Scientific Innovation and Building Dreams' to help the 'Double Reduction' Science Popularization Action", and carried out a series of activities to provide high-quality education for primary and secondary schools through multiple channels. Quality popularization service.
In the next step, it will also develop and strengthen the team of experts, gather online and offline high-quality science and education resources, and carry out training for science and technology instructors.
According to the relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Education, next, we will guide primary and secondary schools in various places to carry out extensive in-class and out-of-class education activities, effectively improve the quality of science education, start to develop equipment standards that are urgently needed for primary and secondary science education, and effectively strengthen the construction of primary and secondary laboratories. .
(People's Daily)