During the 2026 National Science Week, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), as a national medical center, drew on the reach and influence of its national-level research platforms and hosted a series of science outreach activities for young visitors on May 27 and 28, opening the National Facility for Translational Medicine and the State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe and Rare Diseases respectively to the public. Honorary President Academician Zhao Yupu, President Zhang Shuyang, Vice President Wu Peixin, and Vice President Wu Wenming attended the events. On behalf of the hospital leadership, Vice President Wu Peixin encouraged the students to embrace the spirit of science, aspire to serve the country through scientific pursuit, and extended warm wishes to them ahead of Children's Day.
On May 27, the National Facility for Translational Medicine open day welcomed students from Xiaowei Hutong Primary School affiliated with Beijing No. 166 Middle School, as well as children of PUMCH staff. The moment they slipped on their white coats and became "little science stars" for the day, the students were swept into an immersive journey through the world of medical research.
At the microscopy station, students were introduced to the cellular world through an interesting short film, took part in role-play games, assembled cell models using pixel beads, and used optical microscopes to observe cellular structures firsthand, jotting down their observations as they went. At the sample science station, lab technicians guided them through an iodine staining experiment — giving cells a vivid splash of color; students also learned about the principles of biological sample cryopreservation, got up close with liquid nitrogen tanks and ultra-low temperature freezers, and watched an automated sample transport robot in action, experiencing the technology behind a state-of-the-art biobank. In the minimally invasive simulation session, students tried their hand at gastrointestinal endoscopy, virtual laparoscopy, and a vascular intervention simulator under professional guidance, gaining a real sense of the precision and wonder behind minimally invasive medicine.
On May 28, the State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe and Rare Diseases open day invited 30 sixth-grade students and teachers from Xiaowei Hutong Primary School for a guided visit under the theme “Exploring the Mysteries of Life and Lighting the Spark of Science”.
The day opened with two science talks: "How Cells Divide and Cooperate in the Human Body" and "Immune Cells: the Cancer-fighting Special Forces in the Body," both delivered in accessible, engaging language that brought complex medical concepts to life. Students then toured the electron microscopy laboratory, mass spectrometry platform, and biobank, observing up close cutting-edge research equipment and learning about key techniques used in the study of complex, severe and rare diseases. At a science photography exhibition, a guide led them through a display where science and art intersect, capturing the beauty of life science through the lens. At the science fair, students eagerly collected stamps through participating in activities and tackling challenges, and traded the stamps for science-themed souvenirs, deepening what they had learned in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere.
▲Students who participated in the National Facility for Translational Medicine open day received completion certificates
As a national medical center, PUMCH remains committed to its spirit of openness and public engagement, bringing the fruits of medical research to the wider public. This series of science outreach activities is a direct response to the National Science Week and a practical step toward nurturing scientific literacy among the next generation. Going forward, PUMCH will continue to harness the strengths of the National Facility for Translational Medicine, the State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe and Rare Diseases, and other national-level platforms to offer a rich and diverse range of science outreach activities on a regular basis — letting the light of science illuminate young minds and bringing fresh energy to China's pursuit of science-driven national development.