Scientists awarded nation's top science prize

• Source: Global Times
• [02:58 January 12 2010]
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Visitors look at models of the Shenzhou 7 spacecraft, used in China's third manned mission, at a show at Xidan Bookstore in Beijing on September 27, 2008.

Flawed system hurts innovation

Despite all the praise, critics said the highest science award has only a symbolic meaning, and they noted that a flawed academic system is hurting the country's innovation system.

Shen Jie, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that the blundering social climate, flawed academic evaluation system as well as administrative intervention have contributed to infertility in scientific research in China.

"Under the practical pressures of life, many technical workers can't devote enough time to their research, but they are keen on making quick money and gathering popularity through media exposure," Shen said. "The times of being confined to their cold desks and committed to their research have long gone."

He said the existing academic evaluation system is also flawed in that it emphasizes quantity instead of quality.

"Bearing the pressure of ‘publish or perish,' technical workers are obsessed with producing more papers but give little attention to quality and content. There are fewer works that can have a significant impact internationally," he said.

Shen added that, after 30 years of reform and opening up, China no longer lacks cutting-edge hardware and information, but what China wants most is the integrity in pursuing the truth in scientific research.