(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-01-09 07:32

The announcement that two prestigious scientists, 92-year-old botanist Wu Zhengyi and 84-year-old petrochemical catalyst expert Min Enze, were awarded the State Scientific and Technological Award yesterday, has given due recognition to the unswerving dedication of both scientists to their scientific research career.

Their old age signifies that any scientific research endeavor requires whole-hearted devotion and perseverance.

China initiated the national science and technology award system in 2000 to pay tribute to those who have made outstanding achievements in scientific research and technological innovations, to encourage more scientists to devote themselves to the pursuit of advancing the country's ability to make worthy breakthroughs.

The mechanism established in the early 1980s to provide financial aid to scientific research projects, along with the various awards for remarkable achievements, has created a good environment for fostering the field's development.

But the fact that none of the award winners are middle-aged or young scientists should serve as a reminder that a good environment is not necessarily a must for great breakthroughs.

Should those younger scientists learn anything from these top award-winners, it is that perseverance and dedication enables top minds to continue their research in whatever working conditions.

While we hold both national top science award-winners in great reverence, we can hardly turn a blind eye to the repeated reports of plagiarism and other unhealthy tendencies in academic research circles.

Some researchers or professors are obsessed with establishing connections to get their research projects approved, and then get financial aid. Some have been known to even cheat with fake scientific research findings for fame.

In comparison, winning an award is not the ultimate goal of conducting scientific research. Instead, what really matters is the entire process, in which these scientists enjoy the repeated results of seeing substantial progress made with honest research.

Those who view scientific research with the prism of expediency will never get anywhere. This has been confirmed by the experience of many remarkable scientists both home and abroad.

(China Daily 01/09/2008 page8)