The Professional Committee aims to establish a branded popular science competition in the field of underground space and cultivate future talent for the underground space sector. Building on the foundation of the first Popular Science Innovation Competition, and under the guidance of the China Urban Science Research Society, the Chongqing Association for Science and Technology, and other organizations, the committee collaborated with the Green Exploration Professional Committee of the China Green Alliance, the Jiangsu Underground Space Society, and the Chongqing Mining Society to jointly organize the second Underground Space Popular Science Innovation Competition. The competition centered on the theme “Smart, Green, Resilient Underground Space—New Productive Forces for Cities,” aiming to enhance public understanding and awareness of underground space.
On September 24, 2024, the award ceremony for the competition and the 2024 First Green Exploration Summit Forum were successfully held at the Chongqing Natural History Museum. Attendees included Ge Fan, member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the Chongqing Association for Science and Technology; Dong Jiangmin, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and First-Level Inspector of the Beibei District People’s Political Consultative Conference; Gao Bichun, Director of the Chongqing Natural History Museum; and Zhang Dingli, Executive Deputy Director of the Professional Committee. Academician Liu Hanlong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering delivered a popular science report. The competition ultimately selected one first prize, four second prizes, eight third prizes, 14 outstanding work awards, 22 outstanding organization awards, and 19 outstanding instructor awards. Concurrently, a popular science promotion month and an exhibition of award-winning works were held at the Chongqing Natural History Museum, attracting a large number of citizens and visitors. The award-winning works were also promoted through channels such as the Professional Committee’s WeChat official account to expand their influence.
With the acceleration of urbanization, the development and utilization of underground space has become an important approach to optimizing urban functional layouts and enhancing urban resilience. To implement national strategic deployments for high-quality development and urban renewal, promote the sustainable use and green, intelligent innovation of underground space resources, and improve disaster prevention, mitigation, and emergency management capabilities in underground spaces, the third Urban Underground Space Popular Science Innovation Competition (“Zhuofang Cup”) is now being launched with the theme “Pioneering Underground Space, Building Resilient Homes.” Through creative popular science works, the competition aims to disseminate cutting-edge technologies and innovative achievements in the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of underground space, enhance public scientific awareness of underground space, and drive the advancement of the underground space industry.
