Chen Siyu, a professor from Lanzhou University, also a winner of the 19th China Young Female Scientist Award, with middle school girls after a talk about science at a school in Guanghe county, Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, Gansu province. [Photo provided to China Daily]

There was a lot the girls wanted to know. "Are scientists inherently brilliant?" "Is science a suitable path for girls?" These were the kinds of questions middle school girls asked Chen Siyu, recipient of the 19th China Young Female Scientist Award and professor at the College of Atmospheric Science, Lanzhou University, when she recently visited and delivered a lecture at No 4 Middle School in Guanghe county, Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture, Gansu province. She also donated 100 popular science books that inspired her during her own youth.

Chen had insisted on traveling from Gansu's capital to speak at middle schools in the province.

"Girls in remote areas deserve equal opportunities to receive popular science education like kids in big cities do," Chen says.

"My teacher once told me I could 'shine onstage', and those words gave me strength. I want to do the same through this program — give strength to more kids and light up their journey in science."

The event was the first stop of the For Girls in Science Empowerment program. With the theme of "Passing the Torch of Science", the program was jointly initiated by L'Oreal China and Sina Yangfan Charity Foundation last month.

The program offers a special opportunity for young students to interact closely with female scientists. Through popular science classes, extracurricular educational resources and visits to scientists' labs, it aims to nurture the interests and aspirations of girls from an early stage.