In a bid to further promote the international exchange and global cooperation mechanism of public science literacy, create the main channel for people-to-people scientific and cultural exchange, and assist in building a community of a shared future for mankind and achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) has been committed to pushing forward the action for promoting public science literacy across the world since 2018, hosting World Conference on Science Literacy (WCSL) annually, and, together with more than 20 typical science and technology organizations from countries and regions, initiating the founding of the World Organization for Science Literacy (WOSL).   

The first World Conference on Science Literacy was held in Beijing in 2018. Officials or representatives of 58 national science and technology organizations as well as agencies from 38 countries and 23 international science and technology organizations participated in the conference. President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the conference. Xi stressed that “China has been attaching great importance to science popularization and constantly improving the science literacy of Chinese people. China had been active in exchanging ideas with other countries on promoting science and enhancing science literacy, in a bid to facilitate the sharing of development achievements and the joint building of a prosperous world.” Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, read out the congratulatory letter, delivered a speech and met participants of the conference. Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General also sent a congratulatory letter, praising that “science literacy opens the door to progress”. He pointed out, “As we strive to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, we must do more not only to harness science for good, but to advance science literacy”. The Beijing Declaration for Promoting Public Science Literacy Across the World, which was released at the conference, called on relevant organizations to work together to strengthen effective mechanisms and encourage international exchanges and cooperation.

A Roundtable Meeting was held at the 2019 World Conference on Science Literacy. After equal consultation and full discussion, representatives of 19 national science and technology organizations from 18 countries approved in principle the Statute of World Organization for Science Literacy, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Roundtable Meeting and worked out the “Beijing Action Roadmap” for the establishment of the WOSL. During the 2020 World Conference on Science Literacy, CAST and 18 science and technology organizations officially established the Preparatory Committee for WOSL. During the 2021 World Conference on Science Literacy, the Preparatory Committee announced the Assessment Index Framework of Public Science Literacy, laying a good foundation for expanding international cooperation and exchanges in science popularization.

The organization is devoted to promoting the positive interaction between S&T and the society at the broadest level. Science and technologies are penetrating every aspect of human’s production and life at the unprecedented speed, breadth and scale. Human society is transforming into a community with a shared future for mankind. In addition to promoting the progress of human society and enriching the spiritual world of the public, science and technology also involve risks and uncertainties which should not be neglected. The scientist community must strictly adhere to the scientific integrity and scientific ethics. The public must be enabled to fully understand and broadly participate in the science. The value of science must be maximized and the overall and long-term interests of mankind must be enhanced.

The mission and responsibilities must be appreciated. Science literacy is the internal requirement of human’s all-round development, the social foundation for the national innovative capability and sustainable development as well as the ideological foundation for enhancing the understanding, inclusiveness and rationality within the human society. Besides the mastery of scientific knowledge and methods, science literacy is even more deeply reflected in the worship of scientific spirit and scientific thoughts. The enhancement of science literacy is vital to the future of the individuals and the whole country. It can also equip the human with the wisdom and capabilities to overcome the risky challenges and jointly build a prosperous world.

The gap of science literacy should be bridged. The imbalance of public science literacy across the world still remains an urgent issue. The international exchange and cooperation mechanism on the science literacy still leaves much to be desired. The people across the world are looking forward to promoting their science literacy and embracing the prosperous development. Every country should step up efforts to popularize the scientific education, eliminate the barriers to the sharing of scientific knowledge, narrow the gap of knowledge and development as well as contribute to the realization of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The fair access to popular science resources should be provided constantly. Every country should emphasize the improvement of science literacy in different regions among different groups so that the public will enjoy the achievements of modern civilization. Maximum efforts should be made to protect and stimulate the youth’s passion for science, help the poorest group narrow the gap in science literacy and gain the hope and opportunities for shaking off poverty as well as make the female take dignity in the improvement of science literacy.

Focusing on the strategic objectives such as promoting the public science literacy and mankind’s all-round development, assisting in realizing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and facilitating the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, great efforts should be made to establish and expand the international exchange and cooperation platforms as well as carry out joint action and programs. The specific tasks are as follows.

Firstly, more countries, organizations, institutions and experts should be encouraged to participate in prompting the public science literacy as well as cooperate with the UN, relevant institutions, governmental organizations and non-government organizations. The UN should be urged to lay out various proposals as well as exchange views on and make research into promoting the public science literacy.

Secondly, an international exchange platform for promoting the public science literacy should be set up. The World Conference on Science Literacy should be held on a regular basis. The website devoted to promoting the public science literacy across the world should be put into operation. Further efforts should be made to facilitate the communication of relevant policies and information, carry out the academic research and share the practical experience.

Thirdly, the bilateral and multilateral exchange and cooperation on science popularization should be carried out. Focusing on the themes such as the scientific education for the youth, the survey and research into the public science literacy, the scientific education at the science museum and the sharing of emergency popular science resources, a series of international exchange and cooperation should be carried out in various forms such as competition, training and academic exchange.

Fourthly, due recognition and award should be given to the organizations and experts that have made outstanding contribution to or played a leading role in promoting the public science literacy across the world so that government officials, scientists and media workers will be motivated to participate in promoting the public science literacy.