The Shanghai International Popular Science Products Expo 2018 (Shanghai Science Expo 2018) came to a successful conclusion in Shanghai on August 27, 2018. The four-day event was co-hosted by the Shanghai Association for Science & Technology, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film & TV and the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality, under the aegis of the China Association for Science and Technology. The Expo attracted nearly 125,000 visitors, witnessed the signing of agreements valued at nearly 12 million yuan (approx. US$1.7 million) as well as letters of intent and similar documents opening the way to future deals collectively valued at a record more than 100 million yuan (approx. US$15 million).
This year’s event included the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)-themed exhibition area set up by the organizers of the Shanghai International STEM Educational Products Fair 2018. As a new highlight of the Expo, the three and half-day exhibition attracted 12 leading STEM companies from the US, Japan and Germany in addition to domestic players, as well as a multitude of teenagers and young adults who participated in a number of interactive events held within the exhibition area. Notably, the first 3,000 pre-sale tickets to the STEM fair quickly sold out onsite. In addition, the exhibition area provided parents and their children with an open environment where they could take a closer look at the features of STEM educational products on display and learn about the products’ many benefits. Most of the visitors to the exhibition area said that they look forward to experiencing a comprehensive range of STEM-themed products and content at the upcoming Shanghai International STEM Educational Products Fair.
Providing a great way to learn programming by inspiring imagination with technology
Programming knowledge is boring. However, novel and fascinating educational toys and smart robots can inspire a child’s thirst for knowledge by providing the space for the youngster to gradually master the needed knowledge by engaging in interactive games. Revo IT Asia, in concert with well-known STEM educational brands, among them, osmo, sphero and Cozmo, showcased a variety of STEM-themed products at the Expo. Of note, the company’s Star Wars smart robot crammed with innovative technology received rave reviews from visitors of all ages. With a focus on distribution and agency of third-party Apple components and app-compatible connected devices, including STEM-themed educational toys and smart robots, Revo IT Asia has been committed to integrating technology and personalized designs into our everyday lives and sharing the fun engendered by technology with today’s modern-thinking consumers.
MatataLab’s booth received a great deal of attention. The firm’s coding robots for kids on display attracted both children who were seen playing contentedly and their parents who itched to have a go. Using a building-block approach, this STEM education-based product enables learning through play, protects the eyes as it is screen-free, and has no prerequisite for literacy. Unlike existing programming hardware for kids, the MatataLab’s coding robots for kids employ a touchable entity programming method based on image recognition technology, focusing more on the training of the child’s brain in terms of logical thinking. The series won the 2018 Red Dot Design Award in Germany. At the booth, a variety of creative games including Mata Push, Mata Concert and Mata Painter led to visitors forming a long queue at the front of the exhibition hall.
Technology + Education: exploring a new approach to making the acquisition of scientific knowledge into something interesting< Robots were always among the most popular elements at previous expos. In the STEM-themed exhibition area, the Pepper robots showcased by SoftBank Robotics first performed a group dance in unison amid cheers from the audience. Robotic dogs and spiders created by Abilix based on programming and building characteristics grabbed the attention of teenagers passing to such a degree that it was nearly impossible to convince them to leave. The programming robot contest launched by UBTECH provided an opportunity for teenagers to compete on the same stage. Dr. S's online STEM courses and various STEM toys proved popular among young children. In addition, Elenco's One Button Bandit Kit, Cloud Academy's "DNA necklace" courses, Xiaoma Education's programming courses, Shanghai Lanqi Technology's VR SPACE draw courses, HABA's desktop games and Yangshu Culture (Shanghai)'s AR magnifiers, among other STEM experience content, were also showcased at the event, demonstrating and interpreting new STEM knowledge for the many who stopped by their booths. Tong Zhizhong, general manager of World Pride Exhibition Services Co., Ltd and head of the STEM exhibition area, said, the STEM exhibition area is a warm up for the upcoming Shanghai International STEM Educational Products Fair 2018, and more STEM education-related content covering natural science, biology, geography and astronomy will debut at the STEM fair in December. The STEM fair looks forward to making technology education easily accessible, so that parents and children can more intuitively understand and experience technology education is and choose the most appropriate education model for their individual situation. The STEM fair is designed to stimulate local innovation and serve as a catalyst for the development of STEM education in China. While promoting the STEM education model, the fair gave teenagers a hands-on opportunity to experience the enjoyment that can derived from this form of learning and to put that experience into practice by solving problems through an innovative, scientific and multi-faceted approach.