On March 16, 2016, the First Board of Directors of Dongrun Foundation held a second meeting in Beijing. President Dongmei Kong conducted the meeting and made a welcome speech. Dongrun Foundation Management Regulations, 2015 Financial Statement, 2016 Budget Report, 2015 Annual Report and 2016 Work Plan were delivered and reviewed at the meeting. All Board Members approved of the reports.
Dongmei Kong said in her brief that 2015 was Dongrun’s first year of funding the Dongrun-Yau Science Award. With strong support from members of the Board of Directors and the Board of Supervisors, the Foundation devoted greater efforts to raise awareness of the Award by looking for new means and approaches of promotion, as well as increasing media releases through various channels with in-depth interviews and reports on science education. Dongrun Foundation encourages young people to engage in more innovations and explorations that may help to drive science forward, helps these science talents to win more public recognition and bring changes to the current science education. The Foundation is also working hard to build its own brand image. A WeChat public account has been set up and the official website is currently under construction.
During the meeting, President Kong asked Board members for opinions on adding a science forum to the Award in 2016. She pointed out that there are three important elements in the training of young people – academic elite’s spirit of serving the society; a global perspective to detect problems; the courage to try and face challenges. With the Science Forum, Dongrun Foundation will create a platform for all award winners to exchange ideas and explore deep into science. The Forum will also organize various activities such as seminars, master lectures, visits to top research institutions, and exhibitions of the students’ research achievements, encouraging young people to venture further into the science world they are fascinated with.
Board members praised the Foundation’s performance in 2015, and offered valuable advices and suggestions on the work of 2016.
Honorary President Shing-Tung Yau suggested inviting award winners from various research areas to give lectures at the Forum. It will enhance communication between different disciplines, and help students develop their abilities of academic expression, learn to use the simplest language to interpret the most profound knowledge.
Honorary President Dongsheng Chen believes that the combination of competition, awards and forum will maximize the guiding role of top scientists from around the world, as well as encourage student interaction in exploration, thinking and creation. Dongrun Foundation’s effort of working closely with the media and report the students’ achievements will attract more young people to engage in science innovation.
Director Xu Chen pointed out that the Foundation had been operating under strict regulations since its establishment. She suggested setting up sub-forums for different research areas at the Science Forum for better communication.
Director Lo Yang made the suggestion of establishing a Best Lecture Award to encourage young Chinese students consciously learn to express their ideas clearly so that more people could learn about their academic work.
Director Le Ma suggested inviting scientists from home and abroad to talk about their life experiences to inspire young people and advocate the true spirit of science.
Director Xichun Qiu suggested the Forum give young people an opportunity to express their views of the future of science, and select popular topics on science and technology as the theme of lectures.
Supervisor Yan Zheng praised the Foundation’s work, and believes that the Science Forum will open up yet another channel for more technology enterprises and institutions concerned about youth education to join in the effort.
With all items on the agenda complete, the meeting ended in success.