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High-tech spectacle blends with science engagement – SHINE – BEYOND A SINGLE STORY

High-tech spectacle blends with science engagement – SHINE – BEYOND A SINGLE STORY

Business Mayor18-05-2025
Ti Gong
A huge humanoid robot waves hands in the virtual world while humanoid robots walk the red carpet in real world.
Humanoid robots strutted down a red carpet alongside scientists and tech leaders at the opening of the 2025 Shanghai Science Festival on Saturday, blending a high-tech spectacle with public science engagement.
Held at Zhangjiang Science Hall, the event spotlighted China's rapidly advancing robotics industry, positioning Shanghai as a showcase for emerging technologies including AI, XR, and humanoid automation.
Fourier's founder and CEO Gu Jie, and vice president Zeng Xiang, walked the carpet with two humanoid robots developed by the company: GR-2 and N1.
Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE
Fourier's founder and CEO Gu Jie (second from the left) and vice president Zeng Xiang (left) with two humanoid robots developed by the company.
The GR-2 stands 1.75 meters tall, weighs 63 kilograms, and is designed for heavy lifting and interactive training. It can carry more than 10 kilograms and is being developed for physical labor tasks across industries.
The smaller N1 model focuses on endurance, and is capable of running for more than two hours on a single charge. It is also fully open-source, with all blueprints and code publicly available, offering developers around the world a platform for collaboration and experimentation.
'When a 1.75-meter-tall robot walks alongside a human on the red carpet, it's not just for show. It's a glimpse into what's possible,' said Gu. 'These robots have undergone tens of thousands of hours of testing across various terrains and scenarios.'
Another crowd-pleasing moment came from Agibot's A2 robot, which performed a tai chi routine while explaining the martial art in real time. The 1.69-meter-tall robot moved with surprising fluidity, drawing applause from the audience.
Ti Gong
Agibot's humanoid robot plays tai chi on the red carpet.
'The pace of development is incredible,' said Wang Chuang, Agibot's general product line president. 'Last year, some robots still stumbled while walking. This year, they're performing. The red carpet is a perfect stage to show how fast we're advancing.'
The company has hundreds of humanoid robots deployed in real-world settings, with each unit produced on a standardized manufacturing line – 'ready to use, like a car,' he added.
This year's red carpet also featured an upgraded AI-powered experience using XR. As guests walked, their movements were merged live with dynamic virtual environments – from an immersive 'brain universe' to surreal, aurora-lit dreamscapes – each reflecting the creativity and innovation behind their work.
Ti Gong
A purple ocean where a huge whale is swimming appears at the site when Jo Quinton-Tulloch, director of the UK's National Science and Media Museum, and Ni Minjing, director of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, walk on the red carpet.
Ti Gong
Ni Minjing, director of the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum and Quinton-Tulloch, director of the UK's National Science and Media Museum.
The event drew a diverse crowd: top scientists, start-up founders, science influencers, and young inventors.
International guests included Jo Quinton-Tulloch, director of the UK's National Science and Media Museum, and Cho Sook-kyoung, president of the Network for the Public Communication of Science and Technology (PCST).
One emotional highlight saw neuroscientist Mu-Ming Poo and cell biologist Yuan Junying encounter AI-generated younger versions of themselves.
Yuan embraced her 18-year-old self and said: 'I want to tell my 18-year-old self that you've made the right choice. That's something I truly believe.'
Ti Gong
Xu Jian, deputy director of the university's School of Media and Communication, unveils the 'Global Urban Science Communication Capacity Index 2025.'
The report assessed 40 major cities across six continents, ranking New York first, followed by London and Boston. Other Chinese cities included Beijing (7th), Hong Kong (12th), Taipei (22nd), Shenzhen (23rd), Hangzhou (25th), and Guangzhou (26th).
The index mainly looks at how well research institutions, companies, governments, and media share and communicate science with the public.
New York leads by excelling across scientific outreach, organized communication, and public engagement. London and Boston follow closely, thanks to their vibrant scientific communities and diverse communication channels.
Shanghai's high ranking reflects rapid growth in science communication. It leads in offline public participation (1st), ranks fourth in media-driven outreach, and fifth in scientists' communication impact.
Zeng emphasized the PCST 2027's vision.
'We want this conference to bring science closer to everyday life,' he said.
'By building an innovative science communication network across the Yangtze River Delta, Shanghai aims to become a global hub for science communication and innovation.
'This will strengthen China's influence worldwide and inspire more people, especially youth, to engage with science and become future scientists.'
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Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be deemed forward-looking. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on MIRA's current expectations, estimates, and projections only as of the date of this release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond MIRA's control) that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including related to MIRA's potential merger with SKNY Pharmaceuticals, Inc. These and other risks concerning MIRA's programs and operations are described in additional detail in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the Form 14A filed by MIRA on June 18, 2025, and other SEC filings, which are on file with the SEC at and on MIRA's website at MIRA explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law. Contact: Helga Moya info@ (786) 432-9792 SOURCE: MIRA Pharmaceuticals View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire

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