Academic lectures on “Science and Civilization” launched
Nov 01, 2019
Peking University, October 31st, 2019: Since October 2019, Peking University Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Science, Technology and Medicine of Peking University have jointly planned a series of academic lectures titled “Science and civilization” and invited first-class scholars in the fields of science and humanities to participate in the event.
Poster of the event
The birth and development of modern science in the West is a milestone in the history of human civilization. Over the years, exchanges between different civilizations have promoted the development of science, and the development of science has in turn greatly promoted the progress of civilization. However, with the increasing impact of science on human civilization, ecological, ethical and value crises emerge. Where is the future of science? How will human civilization change as a result? The “Science Civilization” lectures hope to explore these questions and to increase public awareness on the interaction between civilization and science.
On the evening of October 22nd, the first lecture of the “Science and Civilization” series of lectures was held at Peking University Gymnasium. It was given by Han Qide, member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Department of Science, Technology and Medicine of Peking University. Deng Xiaonan, dean of the Institute of Literature and Research and professor of history at Peking University, presided over the lecture. More than 300 teachers and students attended the lecture.
Deng Xiaonan revealed the incentive for these lectures. She hopes that the lectures will inspire more people to on civilization.
At the start of the lecture, Han Qide pointed out that if we discuss science and civilization, we need to first consider a series of questions; answer what is science? What is the relationship between science and civilization? What is science in the context of China and what is her special relationship with civilization? He advised the audience to analyse the current status of China’s science and technology in the world, and explore what are the most important factors in promoting China’s scientific and technological development.
Han Qide giving a lecture
Attendee asking a question
Since 2018, the Institute has launched two series of lectures on “Institutional Research from Interdisciplinary Perspectives” and “Civilization: Blending and Reconstruction”, both of which approach research on system designs and civilizations with interdisciplinary perspectives. The new “Science and Civilization” series is expected to consist of ten lectures, which will be launched in the fall semester of 2019 and the spring semester of 2020.
Written by: June Tan Rui Min
Edited by: Wang Xi
Source: PKU News (Chinese)
