Shanghai, October 24, 2025 — With the theme “Generation to Generation · Go Beyond,” the 2025 World Laureates Science Education Forum and the 2nd Women in Science Empowerment Forum were grandly held at the Lingang Center in Shanghai.
Jointly organized by L’Oréal China, the Shanghai Lingang Science and Technology Innovation Development Foundation, and the East China Normal University Faculty of Education, and hosted by the World Laureates Forum Organizing Committee, the event gathered key leaders from government, academia, industry, and education to discuss breakthroughs in the internationalization of science education and the cultivation of young scientific talent.
Last year, the inaugural Women in Science Empowerment Forum released the “Women in Science Empowerment Initiative,” which called on society to become guides, providers, and advocates for science education. Over the past year, L’Oréal’s Women in Science Empowerment Program has responded actively, making tangible progress in international collaboration, talent development, and ecosystem building. At this year’s forum, L’Oréal China, together with the Lingang Special Area, officially inaugurated the Lingang Base for the Women in Science Empowerment Program and launched the Women in Science Empowerment Camp, offering young women a comprehensive learning and research experience， from participation and practice to showcasing achievements.
The Lingang Base of the Women in Science Empowerment Program Officially Opens, The Empowerment Camp officially launched in Lingang
Wang Jianzhang, Vice President of the Shanghai Women’s Federation, delivered the opening speech, “Empowering women’s development through science education and lighting up young women’s dreams of science is a concrete action in response to the country’s expectations for women’s advancement.
We are heartened to see growing efforts from all sectors of society and look forward to more enterprises, schools, and organizations joining together to foster a social environment of respect, innovation, inclusion, and harmony, nurturing fertile ground for women’s growth in science and technology.”
Wang Jianzhang, Vice President of the Shanghai Women’s Federation, delivering the opening speech
Cross-Sector Summit: Exploring the Future of Internationalized Science Education
This year’s forum once again brought together world-leading scientists, educators, science communicators, and corporate representatives to explore pathways for advancing science education toward internationalization and high-quality development.
Serge Haroche, Laureate of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics, shared insights on “Challenges Facing Science and Education Today” from a scientist’s perspective, “The world today faces major issues such as climate change and environmental protection challenges that only science can solve.” He also encouraged young women to pursue their dreams fearlessly, “When we talk about the Nobel Prize, we must prepare everyone for the possibility of achieving it.”
Serge Haroche, Laureate of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics giving his speech
As creators and practitioners of the “Chinese experience” in science education, Li Zhengtao, Director of the National Training Center for Secondary School Principals (Ministry of Education) and Director of the Institute for Basic Education Reform and Development at East China Normal University, presented on “Reflections on China’s Philosophy and Practice of Science Education.”
They proposed building a training system based on knowledge, practice, and collaboration among schools, families, and communities, and emphasized promoting equity in education through the dual mechanisms of ‘bringing in’ and ‘going global.’
Jiang Changjian, Associate Professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University, discussed motivating young women in science, “It is encouraging to see the growing number of female laureates in natural sciences from 2010 to 2025. Behind this, neither family background nor academic credentials are decisive factors. What truly matters is passion, perseverance, and dedication. Those who once dreamed of science can be the laureates of tomorrow!”
Jiang Changjian, Associate Professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs of Fudan University giving his speech
Regarding the role of enterprises in science education, Lan Zhenzhen, President of Public Affairs, L’Oréal North Asia and China, summarized the achievements of the Women in Science Empowerment Program over the past year. She noted that enterprises should not only act as supporters of science education but also as innovators and connectors, “We believe an initiative is not just a slogan, it should ignite a spark in young women’s scientific dreams. That spark is now spreading across the country, and we hope to bring China’s creativity and inspiration to the world, contributing new ideas to global women’s science education.”
Lan Zhenzhen, President of Public Affairs, L’Oréal North Asia and China summarizing the achievements
Roundtable Dialogue: Research Stories and Educational Insights from Diverse Perspectives
Moderated by Dr. Yuan Lanfeng, Deputy Director of the Department of Science Communication at the University of Science and Technology of China, the roundtable gathered scientists, educators, and young women in science for an open discussion themed “Generation to Generation · Go Beyond.” They explored topics including international collaboration in science education, program development, and the growth of young women scientists.
Roundtable Dialogue
Scientists from home and abroad shared their experiences to illustrate the inheritance of the scientific spirit and discussed how to cultivate the next generation of scientific and technological talents.
Karolin Luger, Laureate of the 2023 WLA Prize in Life Science or Medicine shared, “The foundation of research is not knowing, but wanting to know. In my lab, I often encourage and even ‘reward’ mistakes, because true exploration often begins with learning from them.” Joan-Emma Shea, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California, Santa Barbara, encouraged students with her personal story, “It’s okay if you don’t enter a top university. What matters is recognizing your strengths and weaknesses. As mentors, we must see our students’ potential and support them at every step.”
Chen Wen, Deputy Director of the Institute of Science at the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites, Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized the importance of women’s strength in scientific research, “In aerospace engineering, women often bring unique ways of thinking and problem-solving. Many outstanding women are making irreplaceable contributions in key positions.”
Representatives from the education sector explained international experiences and local explorations in science education from a practical perspective. Zhang Wei, Executive Director of the UNESCO Associated Schools Network International Center and Director of the International Center for Out-of-School Education Studies at East China Normal University, noted, “The core of science education is not rote instruction, but nurturing children’s curiosity and space for trial and error. Even in under-resourced areas, low-cost approaches can allow more girls to access science and find their own independent paths. “Shen Yuting, Deputy Director of the Shanghai Science and Art Education Center, highlighted the city’s inclusive approach to science education, noting that the proportion of girls engaged in scientific innovation has grown significantly in the past five years, “Embrace science bravely, even if you don’t become a scientist, scientific literacy is invaluable for every girl.”
Weng Jiayu, a first-year student at Fudan University and participant in multiple sessions of the Women in Science Empowerment Program, shared her reflections, “Girls doing science are not breaking the glass ceiling, because we’ve already been standing in the sky. Like the Monkey King, we too can wield our own ‘golden staff’ and carve out our scientific journey.”
“Stars in Motion”: Inspiring More Girls Through Science Education
As a special satellite event of the forum, the “Stars in Motion” Women in Science Empowerment Camp debuted in Lingang. The camp focused on three goals: enhancing scientific knowledge, expanding scientific thinking, and promoting scientific spirit, and guided participants into the World Laureates Forum venue and the Innovation Academy for Microsatellites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, offering over twenty young women an immersive research experience.A lakeside dialogue session, led by Chen Saijuan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and Honorary Lifetime Mentor of the Generation-to-Generation Women in Science Empowerment Program, created a warm, open environment for exchanges between leading scientists and young participants.
Female tech students attend the World Laureates Forum
At the recent Global Women’s Summit, China emphasized the need to ensure that more women benefit from high-quality educational resources, a call that adds new momentum to women’s empowerment worldwide and charts a path toward inclusive, gender-equal science education. This year’s empowerment camp also sought to bridge educational resources between eastern and western China, inviting participants from Lanzhou No. 59 Middle School to join students from Shanghai. Together, they experienced the transformative power of science. As generations of young women continue to pursue their scientific dreams, “Generation to Generation” is no longer just a theme, and it is a living story of courage, curiosity, and creation under the light of science.
