Children play with a robotic dog at the Jiaxing Science and Technology Museum in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, on July 18, 2026. [Photo/IC]

China's second National Science Popularization Month began on Sept 1, with Zhejiang set to stage more than 10,000 science popularization activities across the province.

This year's event is themed "Science Transforms Lives, Innovation Secures the Future". Zhejiang will hold more than 100 provincial-level demonstration events and over 1,000 key activities.

The province has organized its program around a "3+6+6" framework, comprising three categories of demonstration activities, six major branded programs, and six groups of coordinated activities involving scientific societies, universities, industrial parks and companies, science popularization bases, science and technology museums, and science and technology backyards — grassroots agricultural research and extension hubs.

This year's activities will focus on Zhejiang's innovation drive and artificial intelligence. The provincial science carnival will feature AI-assisted learning and science study tours, with new study sites, mentors, routes, and selected programs to be introduced.

Across Zhejiang, science experience venues, science cafes, and on-site classes at industrial facilities will turn advances in emerging technologies into activities the public can understand and take part in.

The program will also bring more science resources to mountainous and island areas, rural communities, older people, and children through mobile science museums, science outreach vehicles, and other initiatives.