标签： Asia

On a sunny autumn day in Tianjin, a group of teenagers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their parents were actively engaged in harvesting corn and sweet potatoes at Hui’ai Farm. Established by eight families with autistic or intellectually disabled children, the farm, whose name translates to ‘collecting love,’ has become a sanctuary for these youths to develop essential life skills. Yunyao, a 17-year-old autistic youth, shared his joy after tasting the corn he helped grow, saying, ‘It’s very yummy.’ His father, Zhu Xijun, a former lawyer, has dedicated himself to the farm since leasing the land in October 2024, emphasizing that the initiative is not about profit but about providing meaningful activities for the children. Autism spectrum disorder, which affects 13 million people in China, presents challenges in social communication, repetitive behaviors, and emotional regulation. Guan Xiaoyan, another founder, quit her job as a software engineer to care for her autistic son, who had regressed in life skills after leaving school. She noted that farm work has helped him become more cooperative and sociable. The farm has also received support from local enterprises and individuals, including Liu Zhiqiang, a villager with a limb disability, who finds fulfillment in helping the children. China has made strides in early screening, diagnosis, and rehabilitation for ASD, with initiatives like inclusive education and employment programs for disabled individuals. Hui’ai Farm, which yielded over 500 kg of corn and 15,000 kg of sweet potatoes this year, aims to develop high-value agricultural products to enhance the youths’ skills and the farm’s sustainability. Zhu expressed hope that the farm will inspire similar initiatives to support people with mental challenges.

The Xizang Autonomous Region has witnessed a remarkable transformation in public scientific literacy over the past six decades, evolving from a largely uninformed population to a society where science drives social stability and high-quality development. This progress was highlighted by Zhang Hongwei, vice-chairman of the regional association for science and technology, during a recent press conference. He emphasized that the region’s efforts to promote science began shortly after Xizang’s peaceful liberation, with the establishment of basic science boards in towns. Today, the proportion of scientifically literate residents has surged from a mere 0.1% in 2010 to 7.6% in 2023, marking a 75-fold increase. This growth is particularly pronounced among young adults aged 18 to 39, as well as farmers and herders. Xizang now boasts a regional natural science museum, 14 mobile science museum exhibits, and over 300 school-based science museums, ensuring county-level coverage. Additionally, 86 science caravans traverse the region, supported by bilingual science materials and multimedia programs. The region has also extended science outreach to monks, nuns, and grassroots officials, achieving full social group coverage. Digital platforms have further bridged geographical barriers, enabling remote communities to explore advanced fields like astronomy and artificial intelligence. Science education in schools has become a cornerstone of curiosity and discovery, with students like Tsering Yudron expressing newfound fascination with scientific principles. This comprehensive approach underscores Xizang’s commitment to fostering a scientifically literate society.

In a remarkable journey spanning over four decades, Professor Zhao Liming of Tsinghua University has dedicated her life to the preservation and study of Nvshu, the world’s only script exclusively created and used by women. Now 78 and retired, Zhao remains as passionate as ever about this unique writing system, which originated in Jiangyong county, Hunan province, during a time when formal education was largely inaccessible to women. Nvshu, characterized by its delicate, slanted strokes of dots and arcs, served as a private medium for women to express their emotions, document their lives, and support one another in a patriarchal society. Zhao first encountered Nvshu in the 1980s while teaching at Tsinghua’s Department of Chinese Language and Literature. Her fascination with the script led her to conduct extensive field research in Jiangyong, often traveling on hard-seat trains and trekking through remote mountainous areas to gather information before the script vanished entirely. Zhao’s work revealed that Nvshu was not related to ethnic scripts like Miao or Yao but was a local variant derived from Mandarin, confined to a small geographical area she termed a ‘script island.’ The urgency of her mission was underscored by the passing of Yi Nianhua, an elder Nvshu inheritor, before Zhao could deliver asthma medication to her. This loss deepened Zhao’s resolve to preserve the script, which was traditionally buried or cremated with its practitioners, leaving little behind for future generations. With support from Tsinghua University and fellow researchers, Zhao published a comprehensive book on Nvshu in 1992 and later developed a digital Nvshu character set, successfully lobbying for its inclusion in the International Unicode Standard in 2015. According to Zhao, Nvshu represents a unique form of ‘Eastern feminism,’ offering women a private outlet for self-expression and emotional support without directly confronting the patriarchal system. Though the era of natural Nvshu transmission ended with the death of its last traditional inheritor in 2004, Zhao believes the script’s legacy endures as a symbol of female resilience and cultural identity. Today, Nvshu has gained global attention and inspired new generations, evolving from a hidden women’s script into a celebrated cultural artifact. ‘Nvshu was like a meteor — it shone brightly and fulfilled its mission,’ Zhao said. ‘Now, women have access to education and can travel freely. Nvshu’s initial purpose may be complete, but its spirit lives on.’ Even in retirement, Zhao continues to study and promote Nvshu, driven by a belief in its beauty and historical significance.