Author(s): Wenjing Lu; Yijun Guo; Shi Feng
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Water Science Education Environmental Awareness Sustainable Water Management Educational Strategies
Abstract: Abstract With the increasingly serious problem of water resources, water science education is particularly important in China. This paper aims to analyze the current situation of water science education in China and explore its future development path. Through literature review and field research, this paper firstly sorted out the main forms and contents of the current water science popularization education in China, including school education, social propaganda, and network science popularization, etc., and pointed out the existing problems, such as uneven distribution of educational resources, lag of content update, and low public participation. On this basis, this paper puts forward a series of suggestions for improvement, including strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation, using new media technology to improve the interest of education, and encouraging the public to participate in the practice of water environmental protection. Finally, this paper emphasizes the role of the government, educational institutions and all walks of life in promoting water science education, and calls for forming a joint force to jointly improve the public's water science literacy and lay the foundation for realizing the sustainable development of water resources. Keywords: Water Science Education, Environmental Awareness, Sustainable Water Management, Educational Strategies, China 1. Background With the rapid development of social economy in China, the problem of water resources has increasingly become a key factor restricting the sustainable development of economic society[1]. Therefore, it is of great significance to strengthen water science education and improve the public's water science literacy for promoting the rational use and protection of water resources. Based on this, the purpose of this paper was to deeply analyze the current situation of water science education in China and explore its future development path, expecting to provide useful reference for the development of science science education in China. The article begins by highlighting the serious situation of water resources problems, and emphasizes the importance of water science popularization education in China. With the increasingly prominent problems of water pollution and ecological destruction, water science popularization education has become a key link in promoting sustainable water resources development. Based on this, the article sorts out the main forms and contents of water science popularization education in China. 2. The current situation and existing problems in water science education 2.1Uneven distribution of educational resources Although water science popularization education has gradually been integrated into primary and secondary school curricula, there are differences in educational resources across different regions. For example, urban areas may have more water resources and advanced educational facilities, while rural areas may lack these resources. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, there are 1,683 science and technology museums and science museums in the country, but the distribution of these resources may not be balanced. 2.2Outdated curriculum settings and teaching content With the rapid development of the water science field, educational content needs to be continuously updated to reflect the latest scientific discoveries. However, some schools may lack the resources or professional knowledge to update their curricula. The guidance from the Ministry of Water Resources emphasizes the importance of innovating in the form and content of water science popularization, including the use of new media technology and digital service platforms. 2.3Public participation needs to be improved Government departments and enterprises have carried out various forms of water science popularization activities, but public participation may still be insufficient. For example, the "Everyone Saves Water Action" and "Water Intimacy Action" promoted by the Ministry of Water Resources aim to raise public awareness of water conservation and participation. 2.4The potential and challenges of online science popularization As an emerging form of education, online science popularization has great potential in disseminating water science knowledge. However, there is currently a lack of effective guidance and regulation. Data released by the Ministry of Science and Technology shows that there are 1,788 science popularization websites and 8,127 science popularization WeChat public accounts in the country. The construction and management of these platforms need further standardization and optimization to improve their educational effectiveness. 2.5The role of science popularization education bases National science popularization education bases play an important role in popularizing water science knowledge. For example, 14 water conservancy units have been selected as national science popularization education bases, which popularize water science knowledge to the public through various means such as receiving public visits, holding popular science activities, and creating popular science works. 2.6Investment in science popularization funds Investment in science popularization work is key to ensuring the smooth progress of science popularization education. In 2022, a total of 19.1 billion yuan was raised nationwide for science popularization work, a 1.02% increase from 2021, of which 15.43 billion yuan was allocated by government departments at all levels, accounting for 80.79% of the funds raised that year[2]. 3. Strategies for the Development of Water Science Education In response to these issues, this paper presents a series of improvement suggestions. Firstly, strengthen cross-disciplinary cooperation, integrate scientific research forces in related fields such as water resources, environmental protection, and climate change, to promote the development of water science education. Secondly, utilize new media technologies such as short videos, animations, and games to enhance the interestingness and interactivity of water science education, thereby attracting more public participation. Additionally, encourage public participation in water environmental protection practices, such as volunteer services and community involvement, to raise public awareness of water environmental protection. Finally, the article emphasizes the role of government, educational institutions, and various sectors of society in promoting water science education. The government should strengthen its support for water science education, formulate relevant policies, and ensure the rational allocation of educational resources. Educational institutions should optimize course settings, strengthen the construction of the teacher team, and improve the quality of water science education. The various sectors of society should also actively participate in water science education promotion activities and work together to enhance the public's scientific literacy on water issues. 4. Conclusion In summary, this paper analyzes the current situation of water science popularization education in China and explores its future development path, providing useful thinking and reference for the development of water science popularization education in China. With the joint efforts of the whole society, water science popularization education in China will surely achieve more remarkable results and lay a solid foundation for achieving sustainable development of water resources. References Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China. (2016). *China Water Resources Bulletin*. Beijing: China Environmental Press. Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. (2015). Notice on Printing and Distributing the National Water Situation Education Plan (2015-2020).
Year: 2025