Authored by: Yincheng Zhou, Ganlu Yang, Yingnan Jiang, Xiaoran Zhao, Tianlin Hou, Zheng Yu, Yan Liu, Zitong Li, Yixuan Huang, Yiran Yao, Xiuyi Zhang
Project Summary
In the beginning, we adopted a combination of online and offline research models and conducted a large number of secondary studies. We explored the relevant background knowledge through a literature survey, expert interviews, youth interviews, questionnaire surveys, and other methods. We consulted journals, literature, and media reports on professional websites and in libraries to learn about the history of fireworks and the current government demands to ban them.
On the basis of data retrieval, we interviewed experts in many fields, from the preparation of fireworks, emission safety, air pollution, to government management, and other aspects to further discuss the status of the fireworks ban and to verify the feasibility of smokeless fireworks implementation.
Based on the above survey results, we conducted a questionnaire survey and face-to-face interviews on the demand of the public (mainly teenagers) for fireworks. It is understood that due to the restrictions of policy, environmental pollution, safety, and other factors, people lack experience in actually setting off fireworks, so they do not understand the knowledge behind fireworks. However, they are eager to get close to the firework culture and inherit it.
Combined with the above research results, we approached from three aspects of practice. The aim is for more young people to be able to hear, see, and use the knowledge of fireworks.
First, we held a combination of offline and online lectures, mainly for our classmates and teenagers of the same age to let them know more about fireworks culture. In addition, we designed and distributed brochures, applied for online public accounts, and published relevant articles, spreading through multiple channels to let more teenagers see the knowledge of fireworks.
Moreover, we designed an online fireworks design and discharge platform, including formula distribution, shape design, scene selection, and other content, so that more teenagers can use the knowledge of fireworks.
Through our efforts, we have achieved better results. Our lectures covered more than 2,000 people, more than 300 brochures were distributed, and the article was read more than 3,000 times on our WeChat official account. In the future, we will continue to optimize the program and make efforts to inherit the fireworks culture.
Choose the Topic
Topic Description
Fireworks, known as the "art of the sky," represent a historical and cultural heritage. As early as fourteen hundred years ago, people used gunpowder to create fireworks, marking a long-standing tradition. As an integral part of our traditional culture, fireworks are often used to celebrate significant events in our lives, earning them the title of "romance in the night sky."
In recent years, the pollution and safety issues associated with fireworks have raised significant public concern. In response, the government has enacted laws that prohibit the use of fireworks. As a result, people have had fewer opportunities to engage with the act of setting off fireworks, leading to the gradual disappearance of fireworks culture from everyday life.
The raw materials used in fireworks contain special components such as sulfur, potassium nitrate, and charcoal powder. The discharge of fireworks poses serious safety risks and leads to severe air pollution. Considering these concerns, we propose the innovative concept of smokeless fireworks.
By integrating metacosmic technology, we aim to promote the use of an online fireworks discharge platform. This approach will allow individuals to experience the beauty and excitement of fireworks in a safer and more environmentally friendly manner.
Significance of the Topic
As one of the most historic relics in ancient China, fireworks are not only used to celebrate traditional festivals but also serve as a carrier of Chinese culture. They carry people's hopes for good harvest, good health, and good luck. Additionally, fireworks showcase the creativity and enthusiasm of the Chinese people.
Considering the important role that fireworks play in traditional Chinese culture, it is necessary to protect and pass them on to the next generation. However, the inheritance of fireworks culture is currently facing multiple difficulties.
Firstly, the chemical composition of fireworks will pollute the environment, causing pollution during both the discharge and manufacturing processes, which seriously affects the personal safety and health of citizens.
Taking into account the above factors, the government has introduced a series of policies to ban and restrict fireworks. As a result, due to the lack of practical experience with fireworks and insufficient interest in and knowledge of fireworks culture, young people cannot take on the role of the backbone of cultural inheritance. This directly affects the transmission of fireworks culture.
Positive Impact Objective
The objective of this project is to ensure the inheritance and spread of fireworks culture among young people, promoting its continuation. Faced with the current multiple difficulties in the cultural inheritance of fireworks, we aim to achieve our project objectives from five perspectives.
1. Raising Awareness and Changing Perceptions:
To improve young people's awareness of fireworks culture and to change their ideas, we will hold more than 10 to 20 offline and online lectures, reaching over 3,000 students. These lectures will introduce fireworks-related knowledge, including the development history, composition, discharge design, and the inheritance significance of fireworks. We will ultimately test the effect of our publicity through questionnaires.
2. Encouraging Action and Providing Guidance:
To motivate teenagers to take action and to provide them with relevant information, we will distribute 300 to 500 brochures and put up posters. Additionally, we will apply for online WeChat public accounts and publish relevant articles in schools and communities. Our goal is to reach a total page view of more than 2,000 to 5,000, ensuring that more teenagers can access knowledge about fireworks and consciously take action in various ways to inherit the fireworks culture.
3. Leading by Example:
To set an example for young people, we will promote an online platform for personalized fireworks design and discharge through various methods and channels. This will allow them to engage with and "discharge" fireworks in new ways, inspiring them to explore innovative approaches to inheriting the fireworks culture and fostering a more profound cultural inheritance.
Develop Communication Strategy
Identify the Target Audience
Our target audiences are students in middle school and high school, ranging from age 13-18, those who have not built an awareness of sustaining our own cultural traditions in the modern world. Our target audiences are seen as the hope of the entire society and world, they take the main responsibility on preserving traditions to the later generations in the rapidly changing world.
Identify the Key Message
Key message: Technology Brings Back Fireworks, Teenagers Responsible For Culture.
Media Form and Communication Channel
The selected platform is WeChat. Because it has the highest total score adding up by the four criteria. We apply for the WeChat public account and release the knowledge about fireworks culture, physical chemistry, safety protection, etc., and forward it in the moments and group chats, so that more teenagers can see the fireworks culture. In addition, the online questionnaire was spread through WeChat mini program, so that more teenagers could fill in the questionnaire so that the research members could obtain more accurate data analysis of teenagers' demand degrees.
Action Plan and Implementation
Set the Agenda
The Importance of Inheriting Fireworks Culture:
Symbol of China: Fireworks are a symbol of Chinese culture.
Memory for the Elders: They hold significant nostalgic value for older generations.
Festive Atmosphere: Fireworks enhance the festive atmosphere at various celebrations.
Reasons for Limiting the Discharge of Fireworks:
Safety Hazards: There are significant safety risks associated with the preparation and discharge of fireworks.
Air Pollution: The act of setting off fireworks leads to severe air pollution.
Enforcement Costs: The cost of government law enforcement regarding fireworks is prohibitively high.
Choosing Teenagers as the Target Audience:
Cultural Inheritance: Teenagers are the primary bearers of cultural inheritance.
Interest in Novelty: They have a higher interest in new and innovative things.
Social Media Engagement: Teenagers are constantly engaged with social media platforms.
Ways of Getting in Touch with Target Audiences:
Online Chatting: Engaging with teenagers through online communication.
Offline Visiting: Direct interaction through school visits and community outreach.
Ways for Researching:
Literature Review:
Library reading.
Online searching.
Expert Interview:
Fireworks safety expert.
Environmental pollution expert.
Government dangerous goods management expert.
Questionnaire Survey: Gathering data through standardized questionnaires.
Teenager Interview: Conducting interviews to understand teenagers' perspectives.
Ways to Practice:
Holding Lectures:
Offline in schools and clubs.
Online through digital platforms.
Making an Online Official Account and Publishing Articles: Creating content to educate and engage the audience.
Use of the Online Platform for Personalized Fireworks Design and Discharge: Offering a modern approach to experiencing fireworks.
Functions of Online Firework Platform:
Formulation: Allowing users to create their own fireworks formulas.
Modeling Design: Enabling customization of fireworks designs.
Scenario Selection: Choosing different settings for the virtual fireworks display.
Content Lectures and Articles Contain:
Development History: The evolution and history of fireworks.
Inheritance Significance: The importance of preserving the tradition of fireworks.
Chemical Composition: The science behind fireworks, including their chemical makeup.
Risks of Fireworks: The dangers associated with fireworks, including safety and environmental impact.
Current Policy: An overview of the government's current stance and regulations on fireworks.
Design the Package
[Communication package is submitted as photos, screenshots, pdfs, and urls.]
The Execution Plan
Stage | Description | Date | Participant | Actions |
Stage 1: More teenagers hear about fireworks | Offline lecture | 21st Feb. 2023 | Zhang Xiuyi, Members of the environmental Club | Held offline lectures in schools in Jiangsu Province. Contacted school teachers, prepared presentations, and collected feedback. |
Stage 1: More teenagers hear about fireworks | Offline lecture | 22nd Feb. 2023 | Li Zitong | Same as above. |
Stage 1: More teenagers hear about fireworks | Online lectures | 26th Feb. 2023 | Li Zitong, Junior and senior high school classmates | Promoted online public account articles and online fireworks discharge software. Invited participants, prepared presentations, and collected feedback. |
Stage 1: More teenagers hear about fireworks | Offline lectures held by friends | 4th Mar. 2023 | Li Zitong, Teenagers | Expanded influence by holding offline lectures in various schools. Coordinated with friends to hold lectures and documented the events. |
Stage 2: More teenagers can see fireworks knowledge | Public number article release and promotion | 22nd Feb. 2023; 3rd Mar. 2023; 11th Mar. 2023 | Zhang Xiuyi, Yang Ganlu, Li Zitong | Wrote articles to publicize fireworks knowledge and analyzed the development process. Selected relatable points and assigned writing tasks. |
Stage 2: More teenagers can see fireworks knowledge | Posters posted in school | - | Yang Ganlu | Made posters to show the project to teenagers, sought feedback, and improved the project in real-time. |
Stage 3: More teenagers can use fireworks knowledge | Online fireworks design, discharge software promotion | - | Li Zitong | Promoted the application of the platform, tracked user experience, and provided continuous optimization. |
Measure Impact
Impact Statistics
Our project has made significant progress in engaging with the target audience and disseminating knowledge about fireworks culture:
Questionnaire Results: Our questionnaire has garnered over 1200 responses. Approximately 85% of the participants indicated that they do not understand fireworks knowledge, and a remarkable 96% expressed their willingness to explore new ways to learn about fireworks.
WeChat Public Account Articles: The articles published on our WeChat public account have been viewed more than 3000 times, indicating a strong interest in the content we are sharing about fireworks culture.
Lectures Conducted: We have successfully delivered 13 offline and online lectures, reaching an audience of over 2,000 people. These lectures have played a crucial role in raising awareness about fireworks among teenagers and fostering a deeper understanding of this cultural heritage.
Positive Changes
Through the research team in the later stage, we continuously tracked the interviewees from the early stage. We interviewed:
Bao Han from Class 2, IB High School 2, Nanjing Foreign Language School
Liao Changning from Class 1, IB High School 2, Nanjing Foreign Language School
Jiang Yunxi from High School 2, Wuxi Tianyi High School
Shi Shanbang from the High School Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University
We delved into the changes in their lives caused by using the online platform. More than 80 percent said they approved of the platform. By using the online platform to understand the knowledge behind fireworks culture, they gradually explored the chemistry and physics knowledge behind life skills in daily life and cultivated their deep thinking.
At the same time, more than 90% of interviewees independently consulted other intangible cultural heritage and the knowledge behind it, such as the principle behind the culture of Kongming Lanterns.
The experts, including:
Beijing Winter Olympics fireworks safety supervision expert team leader, Teacher Pan Renming
Jiangsu Province Granule Society vice president, Professor Yang Yi
Nanjing Public Security Bureau dangerous goods management team instructor, recognized by Jiangsu Science Artists Association, Bu Jimei, president of the children's art education committee
Hunan Yihelong fireworks Limited industry expert, Zhang Zuwen
They highly recognized our project and believed that our project was a very bold idea, which was in line with the needs of social and technological development. They hope that we can extend to the direction of the meta-universe and are very happy to provide guidance to us, willing to help us promote in the future so that more teenagers can know and experience the knowledge of fireworks.
Review and Reflections
What Are Successful
Thanks to our efforts, we have given a total of 13 online and offline lectures, covering more than 2000 people. The attack page views of our official account reached more than 3,000 times. These data reached the target set by us in the early stage, which proved that the research work and communication methods we carried out in the early stage are practical and effective.
What to Improve
Throughout the whole process of our project, there are several aspects we think we should improve.
Teamwork Improvement: Firstly, the most important part we should improve is the teamwork. Due to improper consideration of personnel management and planning in the early stage, we wasted nearly a month doing work without actual promotion results, leading to accumulated work and pressure in the later stages. Some members did not participate in field research, remaining at the stage of literature review and questionnaire survey. This resulted in missed opportunities to further understand the knowledge of fireworks and the public's demand and experience.
Participation in Practical Work: Some team members did not participate in the final practical work due to personal growth and examination commitments, missing out on an extremely important period of self-honing experience. This included tasks such as publicity, lecture venue arrangement, content setting, poster design, and promotion platform setup, which are crucial for expanding the project's influence.
Lecture and Article Preparation: In the original plan, we aimed to conduct more than 20 offline and online lectures. However, due to the aforementioned issues, we only held 13 lectures in total until March 16, 2023. This only achieved our primary goal of reaching over 2,000 people and greatly limited our ability to extend the project's reach.
Regional Limitations: As a result, the project's influence remained centered in Nanjing, within the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, and was not well extended beyond these areas.
Content and Presentation Issues: Furthermore, due to the rush in preparation, there were significant deficiencies in the content setting and presentation form of our lectures and articles. This affected the thinking logic, speech skills, and overall appeal, which in turn impacted the reach and effectiveness of our lectures and articles.
Future Outlook: In the future, we will pay more attention to these issues and continue to expand our influence to promote the inheritance of fireworks culture among young people.
Summarize Learning
What we have learned most is how to leverage our network, conduct research on our project, and design a systematic solution.
Research Process: Initially, through our own efforts, we consulted books, literature, and gained a preliminary understanding of fireworks-related knowledge. We designed and disseminated questionnaires and interviewed our friends. Utilizing our network of middle and high school students in Nanjing, Shanghai, Wuxi, and other places, we gathered insights into teenagers' experiences and demands for smoke and fireworks.
Expert Consultation: On this basis, by identifying existing resources around us and interviewing more professional experts, we further analyzed the problem and the feasibility of our program from an authoritative perspective. For instance, we interviewed Beijing Olympic fireworks safety supervision expert team leader Pan Renming, Jiangsu Province Particle Society Vice President Professor Yang Yi, and Nanjing Public Security Bureau Dangerous Goods Management Brigade Instructor.
Systematic Solution Development: In the process of practice, we have been exploring how to implement a systematic solution. Considering the current challenges in the inheritance of fireworks culture, by examining a multitude of outstanding high school student projects and researching college student topics, we decided to adopt a multi-angle and multi-sensory approach.
Implementation Strategy: We aimed to integrate lectures, online public account promotion, and an online discharge platform to ensure that fireworks culture could be heard, seen, and engaged with by teenagers. This approach was designed to bring fireworks culture to life in the everyday lives of young people, thereby facilitating its preservation and inheritance.
Comments From the Evaluation Panel
Your project on the inheritance and dissemination of fireworks culture among teenagers is an interesting and ambitious one. I appreciate your use of a combination of online and offline research methods, including literature surveys, interviews, and questionnaires, to gather a wealth of information about the history and current state of fireworks. Your efforts to understand the perspectives of both experts and teenagers on this issue are commendable, and I think it's great that you have identified a desire among young people to learn more about fireworks culture. Your practical approaches to sharing knowledge about fireworks through lectures, brochures, and an online design platform are also impressive. I believe that your efforts to promote the safe and responsible use of fireworks can help prevent accidents and environmental damage, while also preserving an important cultural tradition. I believe that your project shows promise and has made some valuable contributions to promoting the understanding and safe use of fireworks.
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