Abstract

Science fans (minjian kexue aihaozhe) are a special group devoted to so-called scientific activities outside of the science community. They are different from amateur scientists (or science amateur) (yeyu kexue aihaozhe) in the way that they do not have proper channels for communication with the scientific community. The populations of Science fans' numbers increased sharply in the early 1980's in China because of the social environment, the public perception of science at that time, the misunderstanding of scientific activities by mass media, and the paranoid tendencies of science fans themselves. Research upon science fans can address the problem they have caused and provide some advice on the development of science communication in China.