Gezhi Forum

Dedicated to cross-disciplinary exchange of extraordinary ideas, it advocates exploring the development of technology, education, life and the future in the spirit of "ge...

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When scientists step off the podium and sit down beside you

Official website: http://www.self.org.cn/

Imagine this scene: the lights dim, a researcher walks to the front of the stage — no formulas, no reading from papers — and calmly recounts the countless nights of failure spent in the lab, and how the moment of breakthrough finally arrived. In the audience sit university students, office workers, and parents who have brought their children along. This picture is everyday life at the Gezhi Forum. It is a science culture forum launched by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, jointly hosted by the Computer Network Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Bureau of Science Communication of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, with technical support from the CAS science popularisation cloud platform — China Science Communication.

The biggest difference from academic conferences lies in its posture: no thresholds, no airs. With technology, education, life and the future as its core themes, the forum holds a themed lecture event each month, inviting outstanding figures from various fields onto the stage to replace abstruse jargon and data with stories, viewpoints and personal experiences. In this way, a crack has been pushed open in the door of science.

Why “SELF Gezhi Forum”? An East-West pairing in one name

People encountering this name for the first time often have two questions: what does SELF stand for, and where does “Gezhi Forum” come from? Taken apart, the answers are quite interesting.

SELF: four words, four thematic territories

SELF does not mean “self”; it is an acronym of four English words — Science, Education, Life and Future. Put together, the four words form almost a content map of the forum: tracking cutting-edge technology, observing educational change, and exploring ways of living as well as visions of humanity’s future.

Gewu Zhizhi: an ancient wisdom echoing into modern times

The Chinese name “Gezhi Forum” comes from the ancient Chinese philosophical concept of “gewu zhizhi” — attaining knowledge by investigating the essence of things. This idea is embodied in its way of expression: the forum encourages free, independent expression of personality and thought, and speakers bring their most genuine reflections rather than scripts read off the page. An acronym from the West and a philosophy from the East — one Chinese, one Western, one surface, one substance — together form the spiritual undertone of this science culture forum.

Beyond the monthly lecture: a constantly growing content family

If you think the Gezhi Forum is only a monthly themed lecture, you are underestimating it. Around the needs of different regions, audiences and speakers, the forum has incubated a series of spin-off events, forming a richly layered content matrix:

• Gezhi Forum+: an extension series beyond the main lectures, offering more room to expand topics and presentation formats;
• Zhujiu Lundao (Discussion over Wine): a name with a relaxed vibe of its own, letting ideas collide naturally through conversation;
• Gezhi Youth: events for the younger generation, sowing the spark of science into children’s hearts.

Different entrances lead in the same direction — making science part of public life. Some people hear a scientist talk about the twists behind research for the first time; some children become a little more curious about the world because of “Gezhi Youth”. This is precisely what this content family exists for.

Three frequently asked questions, answered all at once

Question 1: Does the forum only cover hardcore technology?

Not at all. Science and technology are certainly the main thread, but topics such as culture and art also have their place; the forum aims to interpret scientific achievements for the public in an all-round, multi-angle way. Take the 61st event, for example: it focused on the scientific achievements of the CAS “Pioneer Initiative” programme, showing audiences how technological innovation genuinely affects how society runs and how we live day to day.

Question 2: Who takes the stage to share?

Those on stage are outstanding figures from various fields. What they bring are personal experiences, real stories and independent views, not simple restatements of established conclusions. This continues the tradition of “gewu zhizhi” — treating the process of inquiry itself as the story most worth telling.

Question 3: Is it suitable for the general public?

Very much so. The forum’s main audience covers three groups: science and technology professionals, university students and the general public. For researchers, it is a platform for expression and exchange; for students, a widening of horizons beyond the classroom; for the general public, a low-threshold path to encountering and understanding science.

Want to know more? Start with the official website

To track each month’s lecture themes, revisit past highlights, or follow the latest news on series such as Gezhi Forum+, Zhujiu Lundao and Gezhi Youth, the most direct way is to visit the forum’s official website. Jointly hosted by the Computer Network Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Bureau of Science Communication, with technical support from China Science Communication, the authority and stability of the website’s content are well guaranteed.

In an age of fragmented information, being willing to spend some time listening to someone earnestly recount their encounter with science is itself a rare thing. The Gezhi Forum offers exactly such moments — once a month, face to face with ideas.