SSTM & Tsung-Dao Lee Institute Co-hold “Meet the Scientist” Special Event to Honor Academician Zhou Guangzhao

On May 10, 2025, the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum’s flagship education program “Meet the Scientist” - a special tribute event honoring Academician Zhou Guangzhao - successfully concluded at the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Thirty lucky participants who share the same birthday with the renowned theoretical physicist were invited to visit the institute, where they experienced the spirit of scientific exploration through guided tours and lectures.

The attendees first arrived at the Tianwen Hall of the Tsung-Dao Lee Institute, where Associate Professor Ge Shaofeng guided them through the grand atrium connecting the institute’s north and south wings. Strolling along the circular corridor, visitors felt as though they were traversing a cosmic space-time tunnel. The Tianwen Scroll begins with the ancient Chinese astronomical poem Tianwen (Heavenly Questions). Professor Ge vividly narrated how the universe has begun and evolved over the 13.8-billion-year history since the Big Bang, along with humanity’s relentless quest to understand the laws governing the cosmic development.

This event specially invited Dr. Ning Zhou, Distinguished Professor and Doctoral Advisor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, to deliver an engaging science lecture titled “Dark Matter Detection: Cosmic Observations in Underground Laboratories.” With remarkable clarity, Professor Zhou unraveled the mysteries of dark matter in our universe and explained why dark matter detection is necessary in underground laboratories. He said that although dark energy and dark matter are invisible to the naked eye, they collectively constitute 95% of the universe’s mass-energy content, hence the pivotal role of dark matter research in deciphering the cosmic structure and evolution. Through introduction to the PandaX liquid xenon direct detection experiment at the Jinping Underground Laboratory, the audience got to know how scientists use advanced experimental equipment and technical means to search for traces of dark matter and reveal the mysteries of the universe.