The opening ceremony of the final of the 16th “Challenge Cup” National College Students’ Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Contest was held at the stadium of Xueyuan Road Campus of Beihang University on November 9.
The contest was hosted by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China (CYLC), the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the Ministry of Education (MOE), the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), All-China Students Federation (ACSF) and the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, organized by Beihang University, and sponsored by Beihang Investment Co., Ltd.
The opening ceremony
The opening ceremony
The attendees of the opening ceremony included He Junke, First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of CYLC, Wang Zhijun, Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), Xu Yanhao, Vice President, Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Secretariat of CAST, Cai Fang, Vice President and Member of the leading Party members’ group of CASS, Zhang Jiaming, Vice Mayor of Beijing, Cao Shumin, Secretary of the Party Committee of Beihang University, Fu Zhenbang, Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of CYLC, Wang Shengbo, President of ACSF, representatives from relevant ministries like MOE, partners and other relevant agencies, members of the national organizing committee and the panel of judges of the contest, people in charge of the relevant government bodies of Beijing, representatives of the Communist Youth League of provinces, teachers and students of the universities, and over 3,000 teachers and students from universities in Hong Kong and Macau. The ceremony was hosted by Xu Huibin, President of Beihang University.
The opening ceremony
The opening ceremony
Mr. He pointed out in his speech that the 30-year-old contest has reached a new start line as a well-known brand among college students and in the field of youth scientific and technological innovation in a new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. According to him, the contest would follow the requirements concerning scientific and technological innovation and youth work proposed by General Secretary Xi Jinping and serve as a grassroots platform for young students to develop their scientific spirit, cooperation skill and collective spirit. He also hoped that the students could strengthen their dash and confidence and make efforts towards the decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, the achievement of Two Centenary Goals, and the realization of the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.
Mr. He Junke delivered a speech
Mr. Xu Yanhao delivered a speech on behalf of CAST
Mr. Cai Fang delivered a speech on behalf of CASS
Mr. Wang Zhijun delivered a speech on behalf of MIIT
Mr. Zhang Jiaming extended his welcome to young talents from all over the country and invited them to innovate and start a business in Beijing on its way to strengthen its position as a national scientific and technological innovation center
On behalf of the organizer, Secretary Cao noted in her welcome address that Beihang would strive for the success of the contest in every respect and render it a memorable one showcasing the achievements, vigor, passion, idea and spirit of innovation.
Secretary Cao delivered a welcome address
President Xu Huibin hosted the opening ceremony
Besides them, Qi Faren, Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, extended his best wishes to all the competitors in a video message. Major General and Astronaut Liu Wang talked about the spirit of manned spaceflight on the scene. Major General Cui Jijun, former Commander of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, announced the start of the final of the contest together.
Qi Faren sent his best regards to the competitors in a video message
Liu Wang, Shenzhou 9 Astronaut and a doctoral student of Beihang University, spoke of the spirit of manned spaceflight and sent his message to the young students
Mr. He, Mr. Wang, Mr. Xu, Mr. Cai, Mr. Zhang, Ms. Cao and Mr. Wang pressed buttons together to start the final
The final of the contest officially kicked off
The opening ceremony had a theme of “Realizing Our Dream Through Challenge and Serving Our Country with Scientific and Technological Innovation” and showed how young students dedicated themselves to scientific and technological innovation, resolved to challenge themselves, chased their dreams and served their country with patriotism and the scientist spirit on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, a moment when historic achievements and changes were made.
Performances of the ceremony were staged by Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Beihang University, China Agricultural University, China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing Wuzi University, the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, the Primary School Affiliated to Beihang University, etc. These performances integrated the elements of youth, innovation as well as modern science and technology, embodying the original aspiration of talent cultivation, aim and idea of the contest and the great presence of young students.
“Seed of Dream”, a performance centering on scientific and technological innovation
“Build Dreams in the Sky”, a dance performed by Beihang Art Troupe
“Youth Is Made for Hard Work”, a situational recitation performed by the student host troupe, drama troupe and tap dance troupe of Beihang University
Student representatives from Tsinghua University, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Beihang University, China Agricultural University, China University of Political Science and Law and Beijing Wuzi University sang “Dream Chasers in the Sky”, the theme song of this year’s competition
The chorus for the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of China and the audience sang “My People, My Country” together
The contest this year featured a grassroots mission and focused on attracting more young student participants. It led universities and local branches of CYLC to improve the university round of the contest by optimizing the selection mechanism of “Champion Cup” and the Award of Outstanding Organization. To highlight the principle of objectivity and create a platform for fair competition, efforts such as public demonstration of entries before the contest and the veto on dishonesty in the statute of the contest were made to guide the students toward honest and fair competition. Furthermore, for the first time in the history of the contest, the open oral defense system was introduced for all the 447 entries from 213 universities in the final and the students were encouraged to watch the defense and learn from each other, which made the contest a classroom where they could exchange ideas and learn and grow together.
As the final went on, various activities such as advanced academic lectures, Open Day and “Challenge Cup” salon would also be held simultaneously.
Since 1989, the “Challenge Cup” National College Students’ Extracurricular Academic Science and Technology Contest has been adhering to the idea of “Honor Science, Pursue Truth, Study Hard, Innovate Resolutely, Face Challenge”. After being held 15 times, it has formed the work system of CYLC-facilitated college student scientific and technological innovation, which is motivated by the contest, powered by China Youth and Teenager Scientific and Technological Innovation Award, and rooted in the regular and active extracurricular scientific and technological activities of college students.
Over the past 30 years, the contest has developed from a small arena for over 300 participants from 19 universities to the “Olympic Games” for more than two million students from over 2,000 universities. It has brought to the public a large number of pieces of original student scientific and technological works, motivated and trained a multitude of outstanding talents in the fields of science, technology, education and economy, promoted the transformation and application of scientific and technological innovation by college students, and enhanced the development of innovation and entrepreneurship education in universities.
Reported by Wang Qing
Photographed by Di Bailu, Lu Shujun, Shen Yanzhe, Liu Quqi, Tian Wenhao,
Zhang Zhanyu, Li Miao, Sun Yinghao and Xu Chang
Reviewed by Tan Hualin
Edited by Jia Aiping
Translated by Li Mingzhu
