Organizers of a trip that has stirred up controversy, which will take around 20 teenagers as a scientific research team to the South Pole for 100,000 yuan each, argues it is a "worthy educational investment".

The trip, which will select about 20 students from Beijing No 4 High School, based on their spoken English capability and physical ability, will start on Jan 24 and last for 18 days. Scientists accompanying the students will give speeches on the South Pole's history, geography and wildlife during the trip.

The Antarctic exploration project initially captured the public's attention due to an online post, which asked if families "should let the child go or not" considering the high price, according to Beijing Times.

More than 50 comments on the portal 163.com show that the majority of netizens don't agree the project can realize its target of "scientific research", and regard it as a "luxury tourist group".

Despite the criticism, An Ying, assistant to the principal at the school, told METRO the project will go ahead as planned.

Asked if such a project will only enhance the gap between students from affluent families and those growing up in average families, An said the gap is "a social reality" and has no bearing on the trip.

"Even without the project, some students will still be able to show off their rich fathers' luxury houses and top-brand vehicles. The gap still exists," An said.

The school was making no profit from the project, he added.

Gao Dengyi, chairman of the Beijing-based China Association for Scientific Expeditions, the project's main organizer, said it originated with a scientific promotion program, initiated by about 30 academicians and dozens of researchers in the early 1990s.

That program selected top high school students to join scientists in their laboratories with the aim of enhancing their views of the nature.

"It has turned into a wild-expedition project since 2007 and we have organized three groups of high school students to the North Pole. It's first time for us to organize students to the South Pole," he said.

People can't realize the genuine meaning of life unless they go into the wild and explore nature, Gao said.

"When you witness nature's strength and experience it more, you will learn more about how to live your own life."

Gao said he hopes the project can get financial assistance from the government to reduce the financial burden on participating students' families.

Liu Li, head of the international cooperation department with the association, said about 40 students have applied to join the team and most of them are from social elites' families.

"We don't welcome so-called rich-second-generation children, some of whom are spoiled and show little interest in scientific research," she said.

"Most of our applicants' parents are scientists or professors at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. They know the value of such an expedition, which may enrich a student's entire life."

China Daily

(China Daily 09/29/2010 page25)