UESTC "Brain Pearl" Science Popularisation Practice Group Goes to Kangding for Summer Practice
Kang Ding｜UESTC "Brain Pearl" Science Popularisation Practice Group Goes to Kangding for Summer Practice
Paper：Wen Xin ，Quan Ling Photo：Wang Yiran ，Liu Gang ，Liu Yiman
In order to deeply implement Xi Jinping's thought of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era and the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress, to meet the general requirement of national unity of 'the Chinese nation is one family, and build the Chinese dream with one heart', and to meet the general requirement of science popularisation of 'science popularisation should be put on an equal footing with scientific and technological innovation', we'll go to Kangding for summer practice. In response to the general requirement of popularising science and technology, the "Brain Pearl" Summer Science Popularisation Practice Group of the University of Electronic Science and Technology (UEST) left for Kangding, the capital of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, on July 6, 2024, to cooperate with the Ganzi Prefecture Health Commission, Ganzi Prefecture People's Hospital, Kanding High School, ShuiJingZi Township, etc., to conduct an 8-day science popularisation practice, to conduct an 8-day science and technology popularisation exercise to promote the frontiers of the Chinese Brain Project. The group will conduct eight days of science popularisation activities in cooperation with Ganzi People's Hospital, Kangding Middle School and Jingshuizi Community, with the aim of strengthening the systematic construction of psychosocial services in ethnic areas with the cutting-edge achievements of China Brain Project, and forging the sense of community of the Chinese nation.
Working together with secondary schools, brain science popularisation enlightens the mind and heart
From 8th to 9th July, the University of Electronic Science and Technology (UEST) ‘Brain Pearl’ science popularisation group went to Kangding Middle School.
Kangding Middle School was founded in 1939 and has a history of nearly 90 years.In 2018, Kangding Middle School was awarded the Sichuan Primary and Secondary School Mental Health Characteristic School, with classrooms dedicated to psychological counselling and activities, demonstrating the high importance the school attaches to the mental health of its students.
Brain Smart ‘Black Technology’ Exhibition
During the trip to Kangzhong, the ‘Brain Pearl’ summer practice group brought ‘multi-command parkour game based on brain-computer interface’, ‘surface EMG-controlled robot’, ‘portable sleep forehead patch’, ‘neurofeedback-based emotion regulation system’, ‘pico VR-based breathing meditation’, ‘pico VR’ and ‘pico VR’, ‘Portable Sleep Forehead Patch’, “Neurofeedback-based Emotion Regulation System”, “Pico VR-based Breathing Meditation/Attention Training/Star Walking”, and other devices worth more than a million dollars. The company's self-developed equipments.
The practice group invited students from four classes to experience these 'black technologies', which are only seen in films, and sparked their interest in brain science with cutting-edge achievements.
In front of the 'Multi-command parkour game based on brain-computer interface' stand, students marvelled at the magic of controlling the movement of the game's villain up, down, left, right, left, right and in four directions without a keyboard, just by looking.
In front of the 'Surface Electromyography Controlled Robot' stand, the students observed the robot's movements corresponding to the activities of the hands connected to the electrodes of the members of the practice group.
In front of the 'Portable Sleep Forehead Patch' booth, the students put on the forehead patch and curiously watched the real-time display of their brain waves on the mobile phones of the members of the workshop group.
In front of the 'Neurofeedback-based Emotion Regulation System' booth, students watched the small figure on the screen move at variable speeds in response to the subject's emotional fluctuations.
In front of the 'pico VR-based Breathing Meditation/Attention Training/Star Walking' booth, students put on the VR goggles and experienced the 'Rhythmic Lightsaber' level, which varies with the level of concentration, or enjoyed the freedom of roaming the starry sky.
Construction of the ‘Brain Pearl’ Mind Station
On 8th July, the practice group went to Kangding Middle School to build the ‘Brain Pearl’ spiritual station for the students of Kangding Middle School.
The station is divided into two sections: ‘spiritual refuelling station’ and ‘science and technology supply station’.
The ‘Spiritual Fuelling Station’ on the right side of the classroom consists of a wooden board covered with messages and two hanging nets filled with paintings. The messages on the heart-shaped pieces of paper were the good wishes of the students of the University of Electronic Science and Technology (ESTU) to the students of Kangzhong collected by the team on the campus of ESTU before the trip, while the paintings were the outstanding works selected by the students of Kangzhong in the ‘Eye on Science and Technology’ activity of drawing the future together.
The ‘Technology Supply Station’ on the left side of the classroom consists of ‘black technology’, paintings, science books and ornaments. The long cabinet placed against the wall was full of popular science books selected by the members of the practice group, and on the top of the cabinet were the scientific and technological paintings given to the students of Kangzhong by the seniors of the Electronic Science and Technology University. The low table was not left out either, with books on science, Brainware ornaments and pamphlets customised by the group placed neatly.
In addition, the practice group also brought three activities to the students of Kangzhong, namely ‘Talking about Brain-Computer Interfaces’, ‘Wisdom Evolution’, ‘Brain Game’, and ‘Technological Eyes’, ‘Drawing the Future’. Three activities were held. At the end of the programme, the team collected 240 questionnaires about the demand for brain science in secondary schools.
The science popularisation activity held in Kangding Middle School is not only a transfer of scientific knowledge and interactive experience, but also a vivid embodiment of the cooperation in science and technology and education between universities and middle schools, and between different ethnic groups and regions. In the future, the University of Electronic Science and Technology (UEST) BrainSmart Pearl Science Practice Group will also carry out more extensive cooperation with Kangding Middle School, and bring more achievements of science popularisation to the students.
Entering the Hospital, the Frontier of Brainpower Recreation and Wellness
On July 10-11, the "Brain Pearl" Science Promotion Mission entered the Ganzi People's Hospital and, in cooperation with the Ganzi Health Commission, held four activities, including a psychological group counselling tour, an "Expert Navigation" lecture, a "Frontier Science and Technology" lecture, and a "Black Science and Technology" exhibition for college students. Frontier Science Lecture and Brain Intelligence 'Black Technology' Exhibition
Psychological Group Counselling Tour
The fair was divided into six booths, namely the Departure Guidance Station, Canvas of the Mind, Emotional Kitchen, Book of Hope, Flower Workshop and Handmade Fragrance Sachet.
At the Starting Point, members of the internship group introduced the details of each booth, interviewed people about their participation, and gave them tissues, mobile phone holders, and other small gifts.
At the ‘Canvas for the Heart’ booth, participants were encouraged to use colours to express their emotions and regain happiness.
At the ‘Emotional Kitchen’ booth, participants were invited to customise their own ‘Emotional Soup’ by assigning a specific emotion to each food item.
At the ‘Book of Hope’ booth, participants were encouraged to write down their worries, throw them into the worry box and draw rainbow cards to encourage their hearts.
At the ‘Flower Art Workshop’ booth, participants were invited to customise their own dried flower creations and gain peace of mind and happiness in the process.
At the ‘Handmade Scented Sachet’ booth, members of the practice group prepared spices and needles and threads for participants to DIY scented sachets with their favourite scents, relaxing their body and mind with olfactory comfort.
In the course of the garden tour, the practice group also experienced many touching stories.
There was an uncle who was forced to stop his painting hobby due to illness, but gained the courage to continue to move forward during the time with the brush.
There was a box of worries filled with love for the motherland, expectations for the future, and blessings for friends and relatives.
Lecture on 'Experts' Navigation
On 11 July, the delegation invited Professor Luo Cheng, Vice Dean of the School of Life Science and Technology of the University of Electronic Science and Technology (UEST), Sichuan Qingcheng Plan Leader in Science and Technology Innovation, Sichuan Academic and Technical Leader (in the field of medicine and health), Professor Duan Mingjun, Doctoral Supervisor and Director of the Department of Psychiatry of Chengdu Mental Health Centre, to conduct training for medical and nursing staff from hospitals in Ganzi Prefecture. Professor Duan Mingjun, Doctoral Supervisor of Chengdu Mental Health Centre, conducted training for medical and nursing staff from various hospitals in Ganzi Prefecture.
In the morning, Professor Luo Cheng gave a lecture entitled ‘Brain Science Evidence-based Prevention of Brain Ageing - Let the Brain Age Slowly and Gracefully’.
In the afternoon, Prof Duan Mingjun gave a lecture entitled ‘Bio-emotional Mind Integration for Adolescents’.
The lectures of the two professors not only introduced the related knowledge of the two medical research fields of brain aging prevention and adolescent psychology, but also introduced the basic thinking process of medical research to the medical staff, encouraging them to pay attention to and participate in scientific research after work, and to cultivate their own spirit of scientific research.
Lectures on the Frontiers of Brain Science by University Students
On 11 July, the student lecturers of the ‘Brain Pearl’ Practice Group also brought the cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements of the China Brain Project to the medical staff.
Zhang Tianrui's lecture on ‘Brain-computer interface’ introduced the history of brain-computer interface, the latest achievements of the brain-computer interaction research team of the University of Electronic Science and Technology (UEST), and shared with the medical staff the future of this technology.
Zhihuan Yang's ‘MRI-guided Precision Emotion Regulation’ led the healthcare professionals to re-conceptualise emotions and common abnormal emotions, and introduced them to the emerging emotion regulation method - TMS regulation.
Huang Changbin's ‘Digital Twin Brain’ introduced this ‘computational neuroscience theory based on the integration of multi-modal neuroimaging data, the whole brain scale dynamic brain function computational simulation platform’, and elaborated the superiority of this technology compared with the traditional treatment methods. He also elaborated on the superiority of this technology over traditional treatment methods.
Zhou Yue's presentation ‘Good games have magic powers - games and brain plasticity’ introduced the way games ‘shape the brain’, and introduced the research on games and brain plasticity conducted by a team from the University of Electronic Science and Technology (UEST) to healthcare professionals. The group introduced the current research results of the University of Electronic Science and Technology (UST) team on games and brain plasticity, as well as the world's first game prescription, EndeavourRx, to the healthcare professionals.
The group also brought the ‘black technology’ of brain intelligence to the hospital for the medical staff to experience.
After the activity, the group distributed questionnaires to patients and healthcare workers and collected a lot of data.
So far, the lectures and demonstration activities of the practice group in Ganzi State People's Hospital came to an end. The ultimate goal of scientific research is not to be a top journal or a conference, but to be able to do something for the people in this world. This activity made the members understand the significance of what the group is doing more deeply, and gave them endless motivation to continue to go forward. At the same time, we believe that the lectures brought by the Practice Group to the medical staff will definitely open their horizons and enable them to walk more steadily and farther on the road of treating the sick and saving people.
Getting close to the people, popularising brain science in tens of thousands of homes
During the trip to Kangding, the BrainPearl Science Popularisation Practice Group, in collaboration with the Ganzi Provincial Health Commission, conducted both centralised and radiating surveys, targeting the residents of various communities in Kangding City to conduct a census of demand for brain science popularisation and the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The team used Kangding Love Song Square as the centre to conduct a decentralised and radiating survey for the surrounding communities. Working in pairs with carefully designed questionnaires, the members went out into the community to gather information about the needs of local people for the popularisation of brain science.
During the research period from 7 to 12 July, the team went out among the people and sampled the local customs of Kangding. The connection between Tibetans and Chinese was also deepened in the sound of 'hello', a smiling face and a phrase of conversation.
In this research, the group collected 190 questionnaires, and the data will be summarised to the Ganzi State Health Commission, which will add bricks and mortar to the construction of brain science popularisation and mental health service system in Kangding City.
On 12 July, the practice group went to ShuiJingZi community and brought the "Brain Science and Technology" exhibition and psychological counselling tour to the community residents.
In an interview at the end of the event, community leader Lv Junjie said, 'We are very grateful to the Brain Pearl team for bringing us these activities and so many devices that we don't usually have access to. I believe that with the opportunity to experience these devices, the children's life plans will be influenced accordingly. At the same time, there are many elderly people in the community and this kind of social activity brings everyone together.