Academician Li Xiaokun Shares "Light-Chasing" Science Journey at Weinan Teachers College

Academician Li Xiaokun, President of Wenzhou Medical University and member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, has devoted over three decades to research on cell growth factors, driven by his curiosity about life sciences and a mission to"safeguard public health." Leading his team, he has overcome numerous technical challenges, achieving breakthroughs in both clinical applications and theoretical research in this field. 

Recently, he visited the Fuping Campus of Weinan Teachers College in Shaanxi Province, where he delivered a lecture titled"Inheriting the Spirit of Scientists: Being a Dreamer for a Healthy China," sharing with hundreds of faculty and students the"light-chasing" story of the growth factor research team at Wenzhou Medical University.

This lecture was not only a reflection on three decades of scientific pursuit but also a practical demonstration of how the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University is advancing the integration of science education and research, and spreading the torch of science across regions. It built a bridge between cutting-edge scientific research and campus-based education.

As a scientist rooted in Fuping, Li has always cared deeply about science education in his hometown and understands the critical importance of scientific literacy in youth development. In 2021, he donated 50,000 RMB in his personal capacity to his alma mater, Lianhu Primary School in Fuping County, establishing an academician scholarship fund. In 2022, he secured another 50,000 RMB in aid to support the school, specifically to build the"Chasing Light Science" Academician Reading Corner and purchase nearly 1,000 popular science books.

During this visit, Li held discussions with teachers from Lianhu School on pathways for science education, sharing methods to incorporate fun and engaging science into classroom teaching. He also presented 100 signed copies of his self-authored illustrated book, The Wonderful Cytokines: The Magical Journey of a New Leaf. Using the growth of a plant's new leaf as a starting point, the book explains the concept of"growth factors" through illustrations and accessible language, helping children grasp scientific principles in an enjoyable way.

Under Li's leadership, the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University launched the"Chasing Light" Red Cell Public Education Initiative, organizing volunteer teams to bring science education to rural schools in western China. In elementary schools in places such as Rangtang, Sichuan, and Golmud, Qinghai, volunteers begin their sessions with a children's rhyme:"Pills are not candy—take them by mistake, and trouble comes handy." Through fun Q&A sessions, they explain why medications should not be taken randomly. Role-playing scenarios help students learn how to respond in emergencies involving accidental ingestion, enabling children to acquire knowledge through interaction—moving beyond the traditional"one-way lecture" model of science outreach.

According to a school official, the initiative has established"Chasing Light Science" science education bases in more than 10 counties (districts) across four western provinces, relying on rural schools and community centers. Equipped with bookshelves and experimental kits, these bases host regular activities. At the same time, over 100 local students have been selected as"Chasing Light Science Ambassadors," trained to pass on scientific knowledge within their communities.

This"Eastern Support + Local Cultivation" model ensures sustained, long-term coverage of science education, solving the problem of program discontinuity once volunteers leave. It transforms public welfare education from"external input" to"internal growth," fostering self-sustaining development in rural science education.