Shahekou District Primary and Secondary School Students' Science and Technology Center

Shahekou District Primary and Secondary School Students' Science and Technology Center

The Shahekou District Primary and Secondary School Students' Science and Technology Center serves as a science popularization education base.

The Dalian Shahekou District Primary and Secondary School Students' Science and Technology Center is located at No. 726, Southwest Road, Shahekou District, Dalian. It covers an area of 7,800 square meters with a construction area of 5,901 square meters. Over the course of seven years of development, the center was the first in China’s northeastern provinces to be honored as a National Excellent Science Popularization Education Base within the education system; the first to become a National Meteorological Science Popularization Education Base within the education system; the first to be named an Advanced Experimental Base for Comprehensive Practical Activities nationwide. It has also been awarded titles such as National Fire Safety Education Base, CAS National Youth Science Popularization Education Demonstration Base, National Advanced Unit for Comprehensive Practice Evaluation Research, and National Marine Science Popularization Education Base. The 15 science interest groups established by the center have won 8 national-level awards and over 1,000 provincial and municipal-level honors. With the educational philosophy of “Interest & Enlightenment,” the center aims to “enhance students’ awareness of science and technology and hands-on practical abilities, and to cultivate their innovative thinking.” It continuously explores and practices, developing more than 20 inquiry-based compulsory and elective courses across eight categories including model making, manual electronics, experimental invention, modern information, brain thinking, and astronomy & meteorology. These form three major modules: experience & insight, science popularization design & making, and scientific research & exploration—covering the three key domains of humans & nature, humans & society, and humans & self.

Building on its independently developed curriculum, and under the guidance of experts, the center has successively established age-appropriate curriculum standards for each course, forming a comprehensive science education evaluation system spanning from kindergarten to junior high school. Since its establishment, the center has always remained open to the public free of charge. Each year, over 120,000 students and residents visit and participate in activities at the center, maximizing its role as a radiation and leading hub for comprehensive practical activity bases.

Center Overview

The Science Center is located at No. 726, Southwest Road, Shahekou District, covering an area of 7,800 square meters with a construction area of 5,901 square meters. It was renovated from a secondary school in October 2007 by the Shahekou District Government in line with China’s national strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, and in response to the educational development needs of Shahekou District. From its inception, the center established the educational philosophy of “Interest · Enlightenment,” with the goal of “enhancing students’ awareness of science and technology and hands-on abilities, and cultivating their innovative thinking.” It offers multiple functions including science popularization education, training, activities, research, and services. The center possesses a comprehensive set of educational resources that are educational, practical, open, innovative, research-oriented, and integrative. Since its establishment, the center has remained open to the public, especially young people, free of charge. Each year, over 120,000 students and residents come to visit and experience. It has also received strong care and attention from leaders at all levels: the International Safety Promotion Association, Mr. Gao Hong, Director of the Department of Basic Education at the Ministry of Education, the State Council “Outline” Supervision Group, department heads, leaders from the China Association for Science and Technology, the China Meteorological Society, Vice Director Wang Yanling of the Provincial Department of Education, leaders from the Provincial Supervisory Team, the Provincial People’s Congress, former Dalian Municipal Party Committee Secretaries Zhang Chengyin and Xia Deren, and other officials have all visited the center for inspection and guidance. The center’s use of high-quality resources to deliver science education—offering free access to communities and schools—has received over 200 positive reports from media outlets such as China Central Television, Liaoning Television, and Dalian Daily, generating strong social resonance and achieving excellent public benefits. Leveraging its resource advantages, the center actively conducts impactful science education, practice, and competition activities among students, earning a number of honors. It was the first in China’s northeastern provinces to be recognized as a National Science Popularization Education Base within the education system; the first to become a National Meteorological Science Popularization Education Base within the education system; the first to be named an Advanced Experimental Base for Comprehensive Practical Activities nationwide. It has also been awarded the National Fire Safety Education Base; the CAS National Advanced Youth Science Popularization Education Base; a National Advanced Unit for Comprehensive Practice Evaluation Research; a Liaoning Provincial Science Popularization Education Base; a Liaoning Provincial Advanced Unit for Comprehensive Practice Research; a Dalian Municipal National Defense Education Base; and a Dalian Municipal Friendly Environmental Education Base, among others. It has become a base for primary and secondary school science education, curriculum development and educational research, extracurricular student activities, and community education services in the district. It is a paradise for students’ practical activities.

Principles of the Science Center: Science and Life · Tradition and Modernity · Nation and World · Reality and Future

Features of the Science Center: Fun and Enlightenment · Display and Participation · Education and Research · Practice and Creation

Functions of the Science Center: Educational Function · Training Function · Activity Function · Research Function · Service Function

Exhibition and Experience Area: Since its establishment, the first-floor exhibition and experience area has welcomed tens of thousands of visitors from national, provincial, municipal, and district-level groups, as well as local and visiting students from Shahekou District and other districts. It houses over 60 science popularization experience instruments in areas such as physiological experience, animal biomimicry, physics, and optics. Visitors can ride a rimless vehicle to experience the fun of square wheels, explore the mysteries of different worlds in a tilted house, or challenge their wits with classical Chinese puzzle games... The courses developed here cater to children of various age groups, fueling their love for and curiosity about science. It is a paradise where children develop intelligence, spark interests, and enhance scientific literacy.

Production and Demonstration Area: Here, participants can independently use tools and blueprints to create and adjust experimental models, and even design hulls and install power systems. Through these activities, students build scientific concepts and develop innovation and teamwork skills, thereby enhancing their scientific literacy and creativity.