Current status, issues, and strategies of researchers from national scientific institutions participating in science education

Science education constitutes the essential foundation and critical underpinning for achieving the national strategy of integrated development across education, technology, and talent. The participation of researchers from national scientific research institutions in science education is of significant and far-reaching strategic importance for improving the overall scientific literacy of the Chinese public and cultivating top-tier innovative talent. This study focuses on researchers within the research institutes of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Employing a questionnaire-based survey, we investigate and analyze the current status and challenges of researchers’ engagement in science education from the perspective of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). The findings reveal that researchers at national scientific research institutions generally hold positive attitudes toward participating in science education, while, their subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions require strengthening. Based on these findings, this study proposes recommendations to further promote the engagement of Chinese researchers in science education.