The two-day 2020 China-UK Youth Art and Science Education Forum kicked off in Beijing last Friday, bringing together renowned experts and scholars from China and Britain's art and education communities to offer their insights into the importance of art and science education for young people.

At the opening ceremony, Chen Aimin, head of the International Cooperation and Exchange Department of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), underscored the foundation's commitment to promoting international dialogue to aid youth development and education.

"I hope this forum can pool wisdom and contribute to improving the artistic and scientific literacy of young people as well as creating a better future for them," said Chen.

Su Hongtao, deputy director of the China Soong Ching Ling Science & Culture Center for Young People, noted that the organization remained active in conducting friendly non-governmental exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science, and technology, so that people of all countries, especially young people, could have a better understanding of the colorful civilizations in different countries.

Su also expressed his belief that the forum had the ability to help young people from the two countries broaden their horizons in terms of building positive cultural perceptions and "sow the seeds of friendship in their hearts."

During the view-sharing session, Dr. Keith Taber, a professor of science education from the University of Cambridge, explained the significance of imagination and innovative thinking in science education via video link. Professor Zheng Qinyan from the Central Academy of Fine Arts illustrated the inextricable connections between art and science through Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Vitruvian Man.

During the panel discussion, art professors and educators discussed the unique role of art in youth education. For instance, ceramicist Louisa Taylor from the University of Brighton commented that making ceramics could help cultivate young people's ability to innovate, cooperate, express, and strengthen understanding of themselves.

In the future, the China Soong Ching Ling Science & Culture Center for Young People and the Association of Education and Technology of UK, the two organizers of the forum, will further advance cooperation in the areas of youth art and science education to promote mutual learning and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

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