Andre Geim, winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on graphene, Kevin J. Anderson, international best-selling science-fiction author who has written spin-off novels for "Star Wars" and "The X-Files," and Leonard Mlodinow, co-author of "A Brief History of Time" with Stephen Hawking, have expressed a desire to attend the China Science Fiction Conference due to take place in Beijing on Nov. 2-3, said an official of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) on Wednesday.

Mary Robinette Kowal, president of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and Neil Clarke, editor-in-chief of science fiction magazine Clarkesworld, are also expected to take part in the conference, said Zheng Kai, vice director-general of the CAST Department of Science Popularization, when speaking at a press conference Wednesday. 

With the theme "Science Fiction for Creation, Fantastic Imagination for the Future," this year's conference, the fourth edition since its inception in 2016, aims to present a full picture of China's science fiction development and build a platform for international exchanges, said Zheng. 

In addition to scientists, science fiction writers, science communication writers and representative of science fiction organizations, organizers will also invite government officials, publishers, game developers, film and TV producers and venture capitalists to the event, so that a broader spectrum of science fiction is represented. 

The main highlight of the conference will be six thematic forums that deal with different aspects of science fiction development ranging from science fiction plus culture, science fiction plus science and technology, science fiction plus science communication, science fiction plus film and TV, science fiction plus games, to science fiction plus youth education and creation. 

To encourage public participation in the conference, organizers will also arrange a variety of other activities, including a a science fiction debate, a science knowledge contest, a science fiction game development contest -- all planned for college students -- as well as a Science Fiction Night, a science fiction products market fair, and presentations by famous people who work in fields related to science fiction. 

The conference will also feature a session for bridging outstanding sci-fi directors and projects with potential investors. Sci-fi directors and projects will have to undergo two rounds of selections and training before entering a roadshow at the conference for potential investors to examine their investment value.

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