As one of the students who got the opportunity to get up on the stage and ask questions directly to scientists at the Future Forum Science Symposium, Niu Yingzhuo, 17, said she felt honored and excited.

The discussion, held in Beijing on November 17, was aimed at building a face-to-face communication platform between teenagers and scientists, exposing young people to the world's frontier technologies and immerging challenges. The event also looked to bolster their passion for the field. Participants included laureates of the 2018 Future Science Prize and over 100 school student representatives from across the country.

"I have always had a keen interest in life sciences. It comes naturally to me," Niu, a student from Beijing No.4 High School, said. "Through talking with the esteemed scientists, I have a better understanding of the knowledge that I could not get from textbooks. But what impressed me most was their modesty and perseverance toward their careers and lives."

"I hope that as well as professional knowledge, students can also learn how to be creative, how to deal with challenges and how to be a team player," Burn J. Lin, a scientist who was awarded the 2018 Future Science Prize, said during the dialogue.

Feng Xiaoming is chemist academic at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and also a laureate of the Physical Science Prize category at this year's Future Science Prize. He said that there are four characteristics young people should have when they pursue a career in scientific research: firm conviction, initiative spirit, a down-to-earth attitude and a sense of responsibility.

Established in January 2016, the Future Science Prize is a non-governmental prize initiated by Chinese scientists and entrepreneurs. Currently, it has set up three categories, namely the Life Science Prize, the Physical Science Prize and the Mathematics & Computer Science Prize. The 2018 Future Science Prize Award Ceremony was held in Beijing on November 18.

Copyedited by Craig Crowther

Comments to luyan@bjreview.com