The municipal government of the Chinese capital has set up a "Mayor's Prize" to encourage scientific innovations by youngsters, according to the city's science association.
The move aimed to stimulate and encourage wider participation by youngsters in scientific innovations, said Tian Xiaoping, deputy president of the municipal science association.
Under the rules of the Mayor's Prize, five talented youngsters would be selected annually, said Tian, adding that only middle school students who had won prizes at national or international science contests qualified to take part in the competition.
According to the rules, middle schools from various districts and counties of Beijing will recommend candidates and a qualification examination committee will check their qualifications.
A prize appraisal committee will take charge of the initial and final selections of prizewinners.
Moreover, the list of prizewinners would be made public in the media under public supervision, Tian said.
The first Mayor's Prize would be awarded during the Beijing Youth Science Contest scheduled for Mar. 30. The prizewinners will receive certificates signed by the mayor.
(Xinhua News Agency March 21, 2003)
