The Brief Introduction of Wu Chien-Shiung Science Camp

　　The Wu Chien-Shiung Education Foundation was established in 1995 by the four Chinese-ancestry Nobel laureates Chen-Ning Yang, Tsung-Dao Lee, Samuel Chao-Chung Ting, and Yuan-Tseh Lee, in honor and memory of the late great female physicist Professor Chien-Shiung Wu. This civilian foundation is devoted to promoting science education, especially for those science-talented youths, in the Chinese communities worldwide. To achieve this goal, a Science Camp is organized in the summer annually by the Foundation. Four world-class science scholars are invited to the Camp as academic masters. Additionally, more than a dozen local university professors in the fields of physics, chemistry, and life science are also invited to form a jury committee. The professors are in charge of selecting the science-talented students from the applicants nationwide and evaluate their performances in the Camp. Besides, they have evening talks with all of the participants to discuss any question they may raise. A comprehensive program is set up for the Camp, which includes a keynote speech, lectures, face-to-master dialogues, excursion, creativity competition, party, etc. We hope that these talented youths can be further enlightened through encounter with Nobel Laureate and distinguished scholars at the camp.

　　The participant students, totaled at 120, are divided into two categories: the invited and the applicants. The invited members are those who passed the final examinations of the national teams of International Physics, Chemistry, or Biology Olympiads. They are granted free admission to the Camp. The applicants have to pay a certain amount of admission fee and are open to all students from the eleventh and twelfth grades in high schools to the freshman in colleges. They have to have excellent achievement in science courses and submit a recommendation letter from their school principals or course professors. Except the students, the Camp also provides 60 openings for senior high school teachers to share the education growth experiences of the masters, to encourage them for in-job training, and to promote the quality of science teaching.

　　During the Camp, the students not only listen to the lectures given by the masters, but also are encouraged raising questions. They are urged to take part in the competitions of "Asking Questions" and "Creativity Wall Poster". Certain prizes and scholarships are awarded to the students according to their performances on the two competitions. A special panel discussion on science education is also arranged on the schedule. Science teachers will have chances to discuss with the masters' about the topics of the current trends in science education and how to nurture an outstanding scientist. Mandarin will be used in all activities and English lecturing will be translated into mandarin on the spot. The face-to-master dialogues can proceed bidirectionally with help of experienced translators.

　　The Wu Chien-Shiung Science Camp had been held five times since its initiation in the summer of 1998 and was widely praised by the public. The 2003 Science Camp will be its sixth and be featured by the future development of scientific research in the new century. We are in the process of inviting four world-class scholars as the masters of the Science Camp.