China’s scientific progress hampered by cultural bias, says researcher

Nature : Although China is second only to the US in number of scientific papers produced, the quality of its research needs to improve, writes Peng Gong of Tsinghua University in China and the University of California, Berkeley. In his Nature opinion piece, Gong maintains that the problem is due in part to Chinese culture, which has been heavily influenced by the philosophies of Confucius and Zhuangzi , who encouraged isolation and self-sufficiency. Consequently, Chinese academics and institutions tend not to collaborate, which leads to repetition and redundancy as investigators purchase similar pieces of equipment and do similar types of data processing. And because everyone wants to lead, no one steps up to fill supporting roles. Gong recommends several steps to resolve those problems. The Chinese educational system must begin to nurture the scientific spirit and encourage curiosity. Also, Chinese research institutions and government agencies should divide projects among people with different specializations. Finally, Chinese scientists should be encouraged to participate in international projects, and outstanding foreign scientists should be invited to work in China.