A walking encyclopedia of natural history

Zhang Chenliang holds a brittle star at the seashore.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Popularizing science education

In the past decades, China has done much to popularize public science education through exhibitions, documentaries, online courses and do-it-yourself activities, but gained little as a result.

Unlike their foreign counterparts, many Chinese children seem to lack interest in exploring natural history. However, thanks to the rise of new media, science-lovers find it easier to communicate with each other and find they are not alone.

According to Zhang, popular science education should not focus on the traditional spoon-feeding method. Instead, science subjects should go hand-in-hand with mass communication. "Only in this way can we really maximize the effect of promoting science education," he said.

With soaring social media followers, best-selling science-related books and never-ending heated discussions about Zhang's mysterious natural world, some believe the spring of natural history has arrived in China.

When asked his point of view, Zhang hesitated before saying it is an exaggeration to call it a natural history craze.

"First of all, individual power is too small to foster the boom of a complicated subject in the whole society. Secondly, the self-awareness of getting to know nature among Chinese still waits to be improved in the current stage. Therefore, there is still an uphill battle to fight before the spring really comes," Zhang said.