By the end of this year, a total of 700 science and technology museums will be built in middle schools throughout rural China providing better access to science and technology for 3 million students, Science and Technology Daily reported on Dec. 24.

In August 2012, the program was launched by the Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology Museums in China (FDSTMC), aimed at arousing more interest in science and technology among teenagers living in central and western regions of China.

Compared with the city SciTech museums, a rural one is much simpler, including only 20 exhibits, 3 bookcases and 8 pieces of illusionary paintings. Many students were inspired to make such inventions as a voice-controlled luminous clock, solar-powered alarm clocks embedded in vases and so on.

The public awareness of science and technology in urban areas dwarfed that of people in rural areas, according to a latest national survey on scientific literacy, noted Qi Rang, standing vice president of China Association of Senior Scientists and Technologists.

In the past six years, many efforts have been made to realize greater equality of education resources, said Qi, who is also the main promoter of the charity program.

It’s hoped that there will be 1,000 such museums by 2020, said Chu Xueji, secretary general of the Foundation. Up to now, 72 percent middle schools in west China have been equipped with SciTech museums, including 79 in Tibet.

(Compiled by Fang Tian)