Beijing Women's Federation

To give full play to the exemplary role of women scientists, broaden young people’s international horizons, and enhance their scientific literacy, the 2026 “Girls Shaping Tomorrow” Program was officially launched, co-hosted by the Beijing Women’s Federation and the Beijing Association for Science and Technology, and co-organized by the Beijing Women’s International Exchange Center, Beijing Science Center and other partners, the program kicked off with an engaging session.

The event brought together women in science and technology to explore two cutting-edge themes: smart drones and AI-powered education. Through a combination of keynote lectures and immersive hands-on experiences, the program attracted over 300 young participants and parents on-site, while its livestream generated over 306,000 views, giving young people a firsthand experience of the unique appeal of cutting-edge technologies.

Engaging Lectures Unlock the Secrets of Drone Technology

Zheng Lili, a researcher at Beihang University, delivered a thematic lecture titled From Animation to the Blue Sky: Super Wings Unlocks the Secrets of Smart Drone Technology. Using the beloved children’s animated series Super Wings as an entry point, she introduced real-world drone applications in logistics and transportation, emergency rescue, aerial surveying and mapping, and other scenarios, and explained key technologies such as navigation, obstacle avoidance, and collaborative operations. The lecture sparked the audience’s passion for aerospace technology. “When I grow up, I want to be an aerospace scientist like Ms. Zheng, design even more advanced drones, and use them to help more people!” This vivid and engaging science popularization session planted seeds of scientific curiosity in young minds.

Critical Thinking & Growth: Reflecting on How to Learn in the AI Era

Yang Nan, an associate research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Educational Sciences, gave a lecture titled AI in Classrooms Around the World. Drawing on her own experience studying and conducting academic visits both in China and abroad, she guided children through innovative AI applications in classroom teaching, while also offering an objective analysis of AI’s limitations, including information gaps and content bias. After listening to Yang Nan’s lecture on AI-powered classrooms, children eagerly raised their hands to share their own experiences with AI. “AI is a great study buddy, but we shouldn’t rely on it for everything. True thinking and imagination—that’s something AI can never replace!” Their youthful yet clear-minded remarks captured the essence of learning in the AI era. Technology can empower learning, but the ability to question, think critically, and think independently remains young people’s most precious asset.

Hands-on Experience: From “Listening to Science” to “Playing with Science”

The event featured an immersive sci-tech experience zone, taking science education from theory into practice. At the venue, children could put on VR headsets for simulated drone flights, pilot drones using professional remote controls, and examine full-scale drone models up close. They could also enjoy interactive activities including real-time conversations with AI avatars, AI soccer matches, laser archery simulations, and AI portrait robots. Through hands-on exploration, the young participants experienced the power of technology firsthand and immersed themselves in the joy of science and innovation.

The “Girls Shaping Tomorrow” Program was initiated by the Beijing Women’s Federation and is jointly advanced with the Beijing Association for Science and Technology and other partner organizations. By integrating high-quality resources from China and abroad and leveraging Beijing’s development as an international center for scientific and technological innovation, the program offers science lectures given by women in science and technology, innovation thinking development camps, Model United Nations sessions, and sci-tech innovation showcases to guide girls and young women to explore global trends in cutting-edge technology, develop their scientific literacy, international vision and cross-cultural communication skills, and prepare them to become the next generation of globally minded women professionals. To date, more than 1,000 young people from China, France, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Russia, the United Kingdom, and other countries have participated in the program, making it one of the practical initiatives for implementing the Women’s Action for Scientific and Technological Innovation: Beijing Action.