China's Science Ideology Education Program “大思政”

This episode explores how Chinese universities are embedding *思想政治教育* (sīxiǎng zhèngzhì jiàoyù, Ideological and Political Education) into physics courses—specifically through the concept of *熵* (shāng, entropy) and the *熵增原理* (shāngzēng yuánlǐ, principle of entropy increase). We’ll examine how thermodynamics is being reimagined not just as science, but as a way to cultivate *科学精神* (kēxué jīngshén, scientific spirit), *家国情怀* (jiāguó qínghuái, patriotic sentiment), and *社会责任感* (shèhuì zérèngǎn, social responsibility). From philosophical reflections on order and disorder to educational experiments blending science with Marxist thought, we’ll unpack how physics is becoming a classroom for values, national identity, and critical reflection.

Time Stamps

00:00 - Chinese Science
00:16 - China’s Physics
02:20 - Background
03:53 - Part 2: Introducing Entropy
06:11 - Part 3: From Science to Values
08:51 - Part 4: Risks and Critiques
10:47 - Conclusion

* 大思政 (dà sīzhèng) – Generalized Ideological and Political Education
* 思想政治教育 (sīxiǎng zhèngzhì jiàoyù) – Ideological and Political Education
* 熵 (shāng) – Entropy
* 熵增原理 (shāngzēng yuánlǐ) – Principle of Entropy Increase
* 科学精神 (kēxué jīngshén) – Scientific Spirit
* 家国情怀 (jiāguó qínghuái) – Patriotic Sentiment
* 社会责任感 (shèhuì zérèngǎn) – Social Responsibility
* 绿色发展 (lǜsè fāzhǎn) – Green Development
* 无序 (wúxù) – Disorder
* 负熵 (fù shāng) – Negative Entropy

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