Large-scale scientific facilities, which make it possible to carry out top-level research and produce innovations, are instrumental in building Shenzhen’s comprehensive national science center, according to Yang Xueming, a deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC), Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported Thursday.

Yang, dean of the College of Science at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), is currently helping Shenzhen build an X-ray free electron laser facility in the city’s Guangming Science City.

“After completion, the device will be able to produce the world’s brightest soft X-ray free electron laser light, which represents the real next-generation free electron laser technology,” Yang told the Daily.

According to Yang, the facility will become part of the core of large-scale scientific facilities in Shenzhen, and will greatly promote basic scientific research and the research and development of industrial technology in Shenzhen and even the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Yang, a renowned chemist in China, also suggested that more importance be attached to high school chemistry education.

Yang and many other NPC deputies have noticed that in recent years, chemistry has been given the cold shoulder as it is not mandatory for the national college entrance exams.

Yang pointed out that from the perspective of disciplines, chemistry is the foundation of life science, material science, energy science, resources and environment, food and medicine. The level of chemistry knowledge is an important indicator of national scientific literacy.

“If measures are not taken in time, this situation will certainly affect the development of chemistry-related disciplines in China, as well as related industrial technologies and the long-term sustainable development of the economy and society in the country,” said Yang.

As dean of the College of Science at SUSTech, Yang said the university has witnessed an exponential growth in the number of papers published in top journals in recent years.