Zhang Zhengrong, vice president of Shanghai Normal University, was a contestant in the 2nd Mind Olympiad Innovation Competition in 1989 (the person in red in the second row from the right in the front row). Photo courtesy of Shanghai Education Press Headquarters

"In 1989, as a high school student, I participated in the second Mind Olympiad. Our challenge was to complete 13 tasks with a snooker ball. This included jumping a giant space, cross 'a river', transport it to a building, etc. While solving the problem, there is also a wonderful performance. You see, the young man in the lion dance costume in the photo is me. "

On the afternoon of May 14, at the establishment of the Advisory Expert Committee of the Shanghai Brain Olympics Association and the theme seminar of "Stimulating Interest in Science and Cultivating Innovation Power", an old photo evoked the participation of experts——Zhang Zhengrong, vice president of Shanghai Normal University Professor full of memories.

Zhang Zhengrong was a participant in the 2nd Brain Olympiad Innovation Competition in 1989, and is now employed as a consultant expert of the Shanghai Brain Olympics Association.

At the inaugural meeting of the day, Lin Zhongqin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former president of Shanghai Jiaotong University, was hired as the honorary chairman of the Shanghai Brain Olympics Association. Ni Minjing is in charge.

On the same day, Zhang Zhengrong was hired as a consultant expert of the Shanghai Brain Olympics Association: Chu Junhao, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the Institute of Optoelectronics of Fudan University; Yu Lizhong, former president of East China Normal University and former president of Shanghai New York University; former Shanghai Municipal Education Commission Su Ming, director, Xiang Shiqing, researcher at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Li Xuanhai, president of Shanghai University for the Elderly, Gao Deyi, president of Shanghai Private Education Association, Zheng Junqi, vice president of Shanghai Institute of Electrical Appliance Science and chairman of Shanghai Robot Industry Technology Research Institute, Sun Jian, deputy editor-in-chief of The Paper, and others.

Mind Olympiad has been rooted in China for 36 years

Olympiad of the Mind (OM) is an international activity that fosters the creativity of young people. It was created in the United States in 1976 and quickly became an event attracting millions of competitors from all over the world. In 1987, its founder, Professor Miklus, came to Shanghai to participate in academic activities and introduced it to China. In 1988, the first Mind Olympiad Innovation Competition was held in Shanghai. At that time, there were only about 20 participating teams. After more than 30 years of development, by 2019, the year before the new crown epidemic, there were more than 650 participating teams across the country, including teams from 19 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions including Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Xinjiang, and Tibet. Millions of people have participated in this activity. The Mind Olympiad has also achieved outstanding results during the more than 30 years since it was launched in China. As of 2022, China has won a total of 75 world champions, 58 world runner-ups, and 49 world third runner-ups in the Mind Olympiad world finals.

According to Chen Weixin, the founder of China's Brain Olympiad and the executive chairman of the Shanghai Brain Olympiad Association, since 1988, the Brain Olympiad has been held in China for 36 years. Millions of students have participated in this activity, and it is very popular among teenagers. From kindergarten to elementary school students, middle school students, and even college students, everyone can participate in this activity. There are no fixed answers to the questions of the Mind Olympiad, and each participating team will have its own unique method of solving the questions. Chen Weixin said, "When solving problems, children can apply their own interests and expertise to problem-solving practice and have a lot of fun, and this creative practice will benefit them throughout their lives."

The development of the Mind Olympiad in China is not just satisfied with participating in a competition, but is constantly carrying out localized practice and exploration in the cultivation of young people's scientific and technological innovation ability. Starting from the Brain Olympiad Innovation Competition, activities such as the "Ten Thousand Thousands Challenge", "Parent-Child Challenge Competition", and "Coding Hour" featuring different contestants and themes have also been derived, which run through various periods of the year; At almost any time of year, children can participate in the Mind Olympiad.

"Today's Mind Olympics activity has developed 129 characteristic schools across the country. Every school and every coach is a banner of Mind Olympics." Zhong Lixin, President of Shanghai Education Press and President of Shanghai Mind Olympics Association I told The Paper that in the past April, the 2023 Mind Olympiad teacher workshop was held in Kunming, Yunnan. 87 teachers from all over the country who love the Mind Olympiad gathered at the Guandu Experimental School Affiliated to Shanghai Normal University in Kunming to discuss the teaching and participation experience of the Mind Olympiad.

Lin Zhongqin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former president of Shanghai Jiaotong University, was hired as the honorary president of the Shanghai Mind Olympics Association. Photo courtesy of Shanghai Education Press Headquarters

Expand influence, improve status

"If young people are not chasing stars at the airport, but exploring the spirit of innovation and sharing ideas on the stage of the Mind Olympiad, I will be proud from the bottom of my heart." At the seminar that day, he was just hired as the honorary president of the Shanghai Mind Olympiad Association Academician Lin Zhongqin's remarks aroused the thinking of everyone in the venue. Academician Lin believes that although the Mind Olympiad has been quite influential in China, it is possible to make this meaningful activity accessible to more people in a more popular way. "For example, by learning from a platform similar to the "Chinese Poetry Conference" that is popular in the study and popularization of ancient poetry, more people can understand the charm of technological innovation through mass media." Frank Wilczek, the author, who wore a dress to participate in the award ceremony of the science and technology competition when he was a teenager, gained a special and proud experience as an example. He suggested that the Mind Olympiad event should create more sense of ceremony during the holding process, "this will Let children have a deep memory and have an impact on their lives."

"Have the dream of science and technology in mind and set up the ambition of innovation." Su Ming, the former director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission, sent this message to the Mind Olympics on the new journey. Su Ming believes that the reason why the Brain Olympiad has achieved so many excellent results and fruitful educational results for more than 30 years is that the competition itself is certainly a standard for testing, but the greater influence should actually be produced outside the field. In his opinion, shaping the spirit of innovation and teamwork is not only the core of the Mind Olympiad, but also the "soul" in the current student training process, even more important than the award itself.

According to Zhong Lixin, president of the Shanghai Education Press and president of the Shanghai Brain Olympics Association, the participants in the Brain Olympics range from kindergarten children to college students, and there are no fixed answers to the questions. The purpose is to support students daydreaming, whimsical, and express their opinions. Let them discover the joy of innovation and teamwork in the process of solving problems, which is of great benefit to stimulating students' creativity and planting the seeds of innovation in their hearts.

The Mind Olympiad not only requires innovation in the competition topics, but also needs innovation in its development in China. The continuous deepening and development of localization is a crucial step in the future. Zhong Lixin said that he is gratified by the continuous innovation and expansion of the event form, organization method, and topic construction of the event in recent years, as well as the participation of more and more students and families. "This also strengthens our determination to take the path of Chinese-style innovation in the Mind Olympiad."

The establishment of the Advisory Expert Committee of the Shanghai Mind Olympics Association and the theme seminar of "stimulating scientific interest and cultivating innovation power" are jointly sponsored by the Shanghai Mind Olympics Association, Shanghai Science and Technology Art Education Center, and Shanghai Education Newspapers and Periodicals.