Visitors at the National Museum for Modern Chinese Scientists in Beijing officially opened to the public on May 30, 2024 Photo: Li Hao/GT

Thursday is the 8th annual National Science and Technology Workers Day in China. On this day, the National Museum for Modern Chinese Scientists in Beijing officially opened to the public, with inaugural exhibitions that honor renowned Chinese scientists. The museum is the world's first museum established for the scientific community of a nation.

Spanning a total area of 5,000 square meters, the museum, located in the National Communication Center for Science and Technology in north Beijing, hosts one main exhibition and five themed exhibitions.

The main exhibition showcases over 400 artifacts and more than 400 rare photographs of over 190 scientists, along with more than 10 large exhibits provided by research institutions.

According to the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), the National Museum for Modern Chinese Scientists is the first museum globally established specifically for the scientific community of a nation.

Since 2009, CAST has been collecting data on the academic growth of veteran Chinese scientists. Over the past 15 years, this project has amassed materials on 674 Chinese scientists, including letters, manuscripts, scientific instruments, works, and audio-visual recordings, making it the largest collection of valuable historical materials on scientists in China. These materials form the main source of the museum's exhibitions.

“I am in the study tour business and I always keep an eye on museums. Exhibitions about scientist used to be scattered at different museums or exhibition spaces such as colleges or universities. The National Museum for Modern Chinese Scientists houses extensive resources in this specialization and can provide students a comprehensive expereince,” a visitor from Beijing told the Global Times.

Study tours or educational trips combine learning with travel experiences. These trips are designed to provide students with practical knowledge and hands-on experiences outside the traditional classroom setting. In China, study tours have become increasingly popular, integrating research-based learning with travel.