Talk to the Future

When you lift your gaze towards the starlit expanse,

do you know the name of each celestial gem?

As 2023 fades gently away

in the starry sky of Westlake research,

mitochondria, chlorophyll, B cells…

these familiar “stars” radiate new splendor.

And origami, batfish, donuts,

bring us new inspiration beneath the marvelous starry dome.

2024 is drawing near.

Preliminary registration for this year’s WeFuture Mini Lectures

officially begins today.

In a fleeting 300 seconds,

we will reveal a solitary star for you:

What name does it bear?

Why does it shimmer so brightly?

Below are the details of WeFuture 2024.

This is a manual,

as well as an invitation letter.

We look forward to every conversation you will have with the future,

and every star that you reach for.

WeFuture 2024

What is WeFuture?

Albert Einstein famously said, “If you can’t explain a concept to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” WeFuture has emerged as the pioneering science communication brand at Westlake University, with a mission to embrace the future of technology. WeFuture aims to foster innovative spirit and social responsibility among young students while showcasing the ground-breaking basic scientific research conducted at Westlake and its profound impact on the future of the global community.

The WeFuture Mini Lectures are a competition centered around the theme “Talk to the Future.” Participants each deliver a succinct presentation on a cutting-edge scientific concept, development, or achievement within a five-minute timeframe.

Exceptional participants who present high-quality science popularization mini lectures will receive certificates, rewards, and exclusive invitations to join the renowned Westlake Science Popularization Team as “Future Envoys,” who will represent Westlake University in online and offline science popularization classes, making a lasting impact on a wider audience.

WeFuture 2024

Who is eligible to compete?

What are the criteria for participation?

WeFuture 2024 is open to all current doctoral students at Westlake.

This competition is jointly organized by the Public Affairs Department, the Student Affairs Department, and the Youth League Committee of Westlake, in collaboration with the School of Science, the School of Engineering, the School of Life Sciences, and the Westlake Science Popularization Team. Participants have the option to register through their respective schools, and outstanding work can be directly submitted by each school and the Westlake Science Popularization Team.

[Preliminary Stage]

Participants are required to prepare a science popularization article, ideally of 1000 words or less, for the preliminary stage. Participants are advised to choose a cutting-edge scientific concept that is related to their own research topic, with a narrow focus for more effective popularization.

[Final Stage]

Finalists will deliver a mini-lecture in the style of a TED talk, with a maximum duration of 5 minutes. The use of visual aids such as PowerPoint presentations and videos is encouraged. The organizers will provide academic and science communication mentors for each mini-lecture that qualifies for the final round.

WeFuture 2024

Competition schedule (subject to change in special circumstances)

February 1, 2024: Deadline for preliminary round submissions

March 1, 2024: Announcement of finalists.

March to April 2024: Guidance for final round submissions

Around May 4, 2024: Finals

Registration and submission channels

To participate, interested individuals can register and submit their entries through the following channels:

School of Science: studentaffair_ss@westlake.edu.cn

School of Engineering: academic_se@westlake.edu.cn

School of Life Sciences: youth_sls@westlake.edu.cn

If you are submitting via email, please include “WeFuture Submission” in the email subject heading to ensure proper categorization.

The Westlake Science Popularization Team will recommend participants who have excelled as science communicators in previous events. Stay tuned for upcoming email notifications containing more specific information about the preliminary round of WeFuture 2024.