Botanist Xu Zhihong and urologist Sun Yinghao were honored on Saturday for their contributions to the public's understanding of science. Xu, former president of Peking University, and Sun, president of the Second Military Medical University, were named "outstanding people" at the 6th Shanghai Science Education and Innovation Awards. “Scientists have a responsibility to spread scientific knowledge to the public. Scientists should walk into the crowds,” said 76-year-old Xu at the Shanghai Children’s Art Theater, where the award ceremony was held. “I always think that the popularization of science is as important as scientific research.”