Events

Brave the Waves | Unique Opening of the AFS Global STEM Academies China in Ningbo

On July 12th, 2024 AFS STEM Global Academy in China was  launched in Ningbo, at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, followed by a week-long wonderful learning journey in Shanghai. Young scholars from Ningbo, China, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States gathered on the campus, embarking on the second phase of their exploration journey in the 2024 AFS Global STEM Academies!

Ningbo, a city with blooming social development, boasts a rich cultural heritage and a global perspective as a major port. During the opening ceremony, students from four high schools in Ningbo shared stories about their home city with their international peers.

Wind from the Sea
 "A Grand Port, a Blue Aspiration." Under this beautiful theme, students from Ningbo Binhai International Cooperative School demonstrated Ningbo's unique maritime culture. Through a guided tour, they led their peers to explore the bustling scene of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, highlighting the thriving commerce, the delightful seafood brought by the ocean, and the appealing ocean-themed student club activities. This presentation showcased the profound impact of maritime civilization on Ningbo's economic and social development.

Enchanting Yue Kiln Celadon
"Porcelain Across the Ages, Tides Surging in the East." Students from Ningbo Foreign Language School shared the story of the Yue Kiln celadon from Shanglin Lake. Their presentation highlighted this important node on the Maritime Silk Road, showcasing the ancient history and exquisite craftsmanship of Yue Kiln celadon. The elegant green hue has endured for millennia. A student from Ningbo Foreign Language School, a third-generation inheritor of the Yue Kiln celadon tradition, demonstrated their work on-site, earning enthusiastic applause from their international peers.

Aroma of Tea
 "One Cup, One Belt, One Road." Students from Ningbo Foreign Affairs School demonstrated Ningbo's tea culture through illustrated books and stage plays, telling the story of tea cups and Mingzhou tea. In their presentation, they used tea as a medium to connect various cultural elements of Ningbo, such as the treasured Yue Kiln celadon lotus leaf tea cup from the Ningbo Museum, Jiangxia Park, and Tianyi Pavilion. This display highlighted Ningbo's historical and cultural significance as a milestone in the tea trade.

Galloping Horses
"Horse Lanterns, Shines Bright." Students from the Affiliated School of the University of Nottingham Ningbo presented Ningbo's traditional folk art-horse lanterns. As an intangible cultural heritage, these lanterns symbolize the prosperity and vitality of the New Year. Through stories about the customs of running horse lanterns and their innovative development, the students infused new meanings and expressions into this traditional culture.

The vivid storytelling about Ningbo showcased the charm of the city to the newly arrived international scholars. Over the next ten days, we look forward to the in-depth exploration of Ningbo by outstanding youths from 15 countries, who will join hands to create exciting new stories about this vibrant city!

You are the future!
Now it's your time!

Appreciation          
Ningbo Education Bureau
University of Nottingham Ningbo China
Ningbo Binhai International Cooperative School
Ningbo Foreign Language School
Ningbo Foreign Affairs School
Affiliated School of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China

(In the order of their presentations in the Ningbo stories)