Shanghai Science and Technology Museum Welcomes Its 100 Millionth Visitor

"How lucky we are! The Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM) has always been a science destination we have long wanted to visit," said Zhang Zhiheng, a young visitor from Binzhou City, Shandong Province, who visited the SSTM with his parents on the morning of August 18 and became its 100 millionth visitor. To commemorate this milestone, SSTM presented him with an exclusive gift package, including admission ticket privileges, special effects theater experiences, and premium science and technology activities, while extending its best wishes to the entire family.

At the venue, many residents and tourists took commemorative photos in front of the "100000000" interactive visitor photo installation and enjoyed engaging interactions with robots, making the wonders of science communication something they could see, experience, and preserve as lasting memories.

On the same day, SSTM launched a series of themed activities under the banner "100 Million Visits, A Scientific Journey Together" to thank visitors for their continued companionship and support. During a special livestream titled "Exploring the Collections Online," the museum director, researchers, and specimen preparators entered the collection storage facilities to explain specimen preparation techniques, showcase the results of collection acquisition efforts up close, and share the scientific stories behind the collections. They also called on the wider public to pay attention to and participate in collection acquisition initiatives, bringing together contributions from across society to enrich the resources available for science communication.

Meanwhile, SSTM launched the "Finding You Among 100 Million" campaign on its social media platforms, encouraging users to share stories of their museum visits, memorable moments captured during their visits, and reflections on their personal growth, fostering a strong atmosphere in which everyone talks about science, appreciates science, learns science, and applies science.

Since opening in 2001, SSTM has remained deeply committed to science communication and innovation, consistently striving to meet the highest standards and achieve the best possible results. It has undergone remarkable development from a single museum into a cluster of three museums, becoming China's only comprehensive science and technology museum cluster integrating a science and technology museum, a natural history museum, and an astronomy museum. It is also the only comprehensive science and technology museum in China to have simultaneously received recognition as a National First-Class Museum, a National 5A Tourist Attraction, a National Demonstration Base for the Integration of Culture and Technology, and a National Demonstration Base for Study Tours, while also operating a postdoctoral research workstation. Having appeared multiple times on the list of the "World's Most Visited Museums," SSTM has established itself among the world's leading science communication institutions. By this summer, the three museums, namely the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum (SSTM), the Shanghai Natural History Museum (SNHM), and the Shanghai Astronomy Museum (SSTM), had collectively welcomed more than 100 million visitors from China and abroad. This remarkable figure not only reflects the public's strong recognition of the museums' science communication services but also vividly illustrates the flourishing development of science communication in Shanghai.

Over the past two decades, through hundreds of millions of encounters with visitors and tens of thousands of science communication activities, SSTM has connected people across society through a shared journey of scientific exploration. It has become an important center in Shanghai and throughout China for popularizing scientific and technological knowledge, promoting the scientific spirit, disseminating scientific ideas, and advocating scientific methods. The three museums have collectively planned and organized 161 temporary exhibitions of various kinds, including the "China's Dinosaur World Exhibition," which received recognition as one of the Top Ten Outstanding Museum Exhibition Projects in China. SSTM has also established science communication brands such as "Science and Innovation Principals' Space Station," "Science New Year Conference," "One Square Meter Museum," "Meet @ Scientists," and "Fun Study Tours." It has organized the Shanghai Science Communication Forum, the Green Conch Lecture Series, and the Galaxy Forum, while conducting science and technology innovation education competitions, courses, study tours, and training programs for science and technology teachers. To date, SSTM has signed cooperation agreements with more than 900 primary and secondary schools across Shanghai, gradually establishing a collaborative education system that serves all age groups and provides differentiated programs for different audiences.

Guided by a philosophy of openness, sharing, and development, SSTM has fully leveraged its leading role in the industry. It has taken the lead in establishing industry organizations such as the Specialized Committee of Natural History and Science and Technology Museums under the Chinese Museums Association and the Yangtze River Delta Alliance of Science Communication Venues. It has continued to support the development of science communication in border regions and former revolutionary base areas, including Xinjiang, Tibet, Qinghai, Yunnan, and Inner Mongolia, helping to enhance grassroots science communication capabilities and strengthen the foundations for rural revitalization. At the same time, SSTM has deepened cooperation and exchanges with industry organizations such as the International Council of Museums, as well as internationally renowned museums. It has signed cooperation agreements with institutions including the California Academy of Sciences in the United States and the National Science Museum Thailand, and successfully hosted several high-level international academic conferences. A number of distinctive temporary exhibitions and branded programs, including "Roaring Tigers of China," "Treasures of China," and "The Traveling Astronomy Museum," have toured overseas, bringing China's voice to the world.

Over the past two decades, scientific literacy among the general public has steadily improved. Scientific and technological innovation and the improvement of public scientific literacy reinforce each other, and the importance of science communication as a vital pillar of innovation-driven development has become increasingly evident. Reaching 100 million visitors is a true reflection of the continuously growing enthusiasm for science throughout society.

Looking ahead, SSTM will continue to serve as a major center for science communication, strengthen its role as a source of innovation and a model for excellence in science communication, and continuously develop new approaches and enrich its content. It will promote the spirit of scientists and foster a culture of innovation, meeting the public's growing demand for high-quality science communication through better resources, more engaging formats, and more professional services. It will also inspire curiosity, imagination, and a desire for exploration among young people, encouraging more of them to make basic research and scientific and technological innovation their lifelong pursuits.