In July 2014,the magazine “Knowledge is Power” published its 500th issue. I was lucky to see all the well-preserved sample issues of “Knowledge is Power”, from the first issue in 1956 to the latest issue after revision. From the 1st to the 500th issue, each of the publication is an expedition, underscores the positioning and expectation of the magazine, which is popularizing the scientific knowledge, advocating the scientific method, scientific ideas and promoting the scientific spirit.
Its a huge and arduous project to found an influential popular science magazine. In the 500 consecutive issues, the editors hold strong sense of responsibility, refused to be impetuous and calmed down, worked in a thoroughgoing manner. On the stage of “Knowledge is Power”, the editors showed the “science and civilization play” with a background of era, with the society as the stage, with science and technology as the script to the public. The “special plan” of this issue covers different science areas of astronomy, geography, biology, geology, society, history, culture and archaeology: the radio telescope with a diameter of 500 meters, the terrestrial planets of 500 light-years away, the leatherback turtles weighs 500 kilograms, the 500-year-old black tea and so on, The stage doesnt only make magazine, but also makes the life of a lot of readers and writers. Many of them walked on the stage from the audience, they became on the map and walked toward a new world of personal career development.
"Science" is what the popular science publication bases on. Without science, the science publication may lose the value of its existence.
"Knowledge is power" is in the commitment to provide a rich knowledge to the reader, at the same time, it strives for the fusion of science and society, makes the readers truly feel the wisdom and power of knowledge in the application of science and technology.
“Popularity ” is the necessary quality and characteristics of the popular science journals.“Knowledge is Power”always pays attention to explain the profound in simple terms, as well as the rich and colorful forms, making the readers read and love reading the magazine. There is still much to do in this term, although it has been done well on the whole.
The 500th issue means a highly reach,letting us see our development goals forward.It also means a new based protection,letting us look at our footprints. Sense of mission on our shoulders give us reason to have hopes for “Knowledge is power”. We hope it captures the latest topics of science and technology with a sharp angle, leading people to focus on science, development and even social problems, and provides the basis of deep thinking; We hope it expresses scientific thought with incisive discussing, showing the origin of development, the details of results and the expertspoints of view, therefore providing a path to scientific development for the society; We hope it takes the mission of the Chinese popular science career, leading the tide of popular science media, becoming Chinas window by introducing Chinas latest scientific and technological achievements and releasing them to the world; Of course what we hope the most is that it is of more universality, it can always accompany the countless youth yearning for science, and becomes the driving force of innovation and good mentor or friend for a generation, sow the seeds of science and light up the dreams of science for the youth.