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Science and Technology in China


Personal recommendations for the advancement of Chinese technology
BY SHING-TUNG YAU

he prosperity of China is inextricably linked with technological progress. In the past ten years, China has shown significant leaps forwardin economics, politics, and other arenasundergoing a complete make-over from the past two hundred years. The world pays close attention to Chinas developments, not only because China is the biggest market for their products, but also because Chinas accomplishments in technology are gradually maturingadvantageous to them on the one hand for opportunities in collaboration, and on the other hand, a potential competitor who might warrant counter strategies. Speaking from the perspective of todays Chinese, we are proud of prospects for the future, but also worry that excessive confidence might overshadow the many problems we face, which need to be looked at squarely. Technology is all about basic and applied sciencescience and technology are intimately related. Without sufficient science as a foundation, technology would find it impossible to meaningfully advance. Vice versa, technology can catalyze scientific advances, and promote progress in industries. Technology in China has been advanced before the Tang and Song dynasties, but since the Ming and the Qing dynasties, it gradually fell behind other nations. The European Enlightenment happened during this same period, triggering a flowering of technology, and later touched off the Industrial Revolution. The advancements in land, sea, and air transportation in recent history significantly spurred the great volume of exchange between the cultures of the West, catalyzing technological and cultural progress.

SHING-TUNG YAU is William Casper Graustein Professor of Mathematics at Harvard University, and Fields Medalist in 1982. This article is a translation of a speech Professor Yau delivered in Zhejiang, China.

On average, only when a nations economic foundation is secure does it expend excess energy to build culture. Guanzi, the ancient philosopher, said, Pride comes after food and shelter. So, if there is no conception of shame, there cannot be law and order or serious academics. Therefore, satisfactory treatment is necessary to technological progress. Culture can endow a person with restraint and self-discipline. In modern society this is especially important: pirating and forging have become a serious cause behind economic downturns. In science and technology, pirating the fruits of others work is everywhere. Those whose research papers show serious errors but still shrug off correcting them are not novelties. Some well-known young scientists have even acquired great personal success while practicing this sloppiness! In this kind of environment, science and technology naturally cannot achieve great progress. Since opening up to the world, Chinas technology has seen considerable development, however, the flaws of some young Chinese scholars lie in hoping to follow the fastest route to achieve the goal of fame and success. This is linked with a lack of training in ethics. Under the sole influence of material achievement, group and personal discipline have no ground upon which to stand. In Western countries, many outstanding secondary and primary schools instill at a very young age the concepts and understanding of law and ethical behavior. Often, lawyers or judges utilize free time to rehearse potential legal problems with secondary school students, inculcating a spirit of fundamental respect for the law. Understanding the law and the importance of teamwork is of extreme importance to a good scientist and engineer. Science builds upon the cultural foundation of an entire race, while new technology builds upon the foundation of science and previous technology. It is Harvard Asia Pacific Review 37

widely applied to economics, investment, social manno coincidence that the Industrial Revolution of agement, and other areas that directly impact society. Europe took place after its cultural enlightenment and scientific revolution. Up to modern times, every Here, we can see an important fact. A nations progress in industry has been directly linked to investment in science and technology can be shortprogress in science and technology. term and long-term. In short-term, its doubtlessly Two months ago, the inventor of laser, Protaking advantage of mature technology to achieve fessor Charles Townes, upon meeting vice prime minmassive production to realize economic prosperity. But if the emphasis is only on this kind of investister Li Fengqing, pointed out that fundamental sciment, economics can only prosper short-term. Afence was the force behind his invention of the laser, terwards, there would be inevitable reliance on overwhich later spawned countless new industries and seas science and technology, at most maintaining only businesses. Without the idealism to uncover the mysa bourgeoisie situation. Long-term investment is teries of the natural world, there would hardly be any advanced technological inventions. The United closely related to the entire social and cultural milieu of a society. Progress of society and culture not only States investment in fundamental science and techcan aid technology progress, in fact it is the most nology through all these years has reaped enough important element in technological and scientific inprofits from the invention of laser alone. novation. That important technological and scienBesides research into the laser, research in matific discoveries occur in places of culture is not a terial science has been an extremely important project coincidence. The culture of a society not only catafor the past forty years. A great number of discoverlyzes the congregation of first-class scientists and ies share intimate connection with fundamental reengineers, but also allows for the maturation of their search into the seemingly rarified world of quantum ideas. Of course, taken the other way, wondrous mechanics. Most recently, some fruits in fundamengrowths in science and technology also promote the tal research have found practical applications after development of culture. only one or two years. For instance, the science beThe place to nurture culture takes on different hind atomic cooling and trapping can be used to conapproaches in a country, such as fine arts museums, struct extremely accurate atomic clocks, which enscience and technology museums, opera houses, exable advanced communications technologies. hibitions, good journals and magazines to let the genComputer research and modern information eral public express its opinion, and so forth. But the technology require large amounts of research results most important is the building of first-class univerfrom material science. In software there is great apsities and institutes. This plication of ideas from applied should be a place of academic mathematics. Although hardUnderstanding the law and the nurture where quality and not ware is powerful, it cannot act only quantity is emphasized; entirely alone. Many problems, importance of teamwork is of an institution led by accomsuch as finding the shortest extreme importance to a good plished scholars with vision route to go through all and foresight; a place of integwebsites in a large network, scientist or engineer. rity, dedication, and excellence; must utilize mathematics in a place to train academic or sotheir solutions. Whether in orcial leaders; a place to discuss national issues; a place ganizing networks or handling imaging, all kinds of where teachers and students wholeheartedly coopproblems have direct and surprising connections to erate and collaborate in technological progress. mathematics. Mathematicians, through their understanding Universities are the wellspring of technologiof theoretical mathematics, are gradually unearthing cal and scientific progress for an entire nation. The the potentials of applied mathematics, applying it United States has the most copyright and patents in widely in information technology, engineering design, the world, and over three-quarters comes from uniand computer securityfields unrelated to theoretiversity research. Progress in industry, commerce or cal mathematics. Surprisingly, mathematics in these the military, is inextricably entwined with research in situations all touch very advanced ideas, such as reuniversities and institutes, especially long-term investsults in number theory which are widely used in softments in research, which are undertaken by a colware engineering. Not only in these physical sciences, laboration among universities, corporations, and the but profound mathematical theories are already government. 38 Fall 2002 Volume 6, Number 2

Study science and prepare to serve the motherland . . . or perhaps study science for its own sake? 39

Harvard Asia Pacific Review

a whole field. In comIn corporateparison, the situation sponsored research in China is vastly diflabs such as the famed ferent. In technical Bell Labs, or IBMs fields, there is only but T.J. Watson Research a single Natural SciCenter, many research ence Foundation. The discoveries have been evaluation process is awarded with a Nobel not sufficiently transPrize. These discoverparentonly a small ies often do not have number of people any direct connecmake decisions on tions to commerical funding, and to a reproducts. For insearcher not being stance, in the 1960s funded in this way the engineers at Bell means that it would Labs obtained data on be nearly impossible the Big Bang through to conduct their proefforts to improve inposed research. formation technolIn technologiogy. In a place of scically and scientifically entific freedom, the advanced countries, most important feats besides the availability in the theory of uniand diversity of fundverse can be con- Materials science is basic science, but leads naturally to technology ing, the evaluation ceived. process of research results is relatively objective and The United States investment in biotechnolflexible. In China, the distribution of funds and proogy in the last twenty years has already surpassed motion of teachers and researchers are all held in hundreds of billions of dollars. Up to this point there the hands of a few. But these few do not necessarily have been no real profits, but schools and governknow the opinions of contemporary experts. Even ment are actively participatingnever giving up if they seek the opinion of overseas scholars, they because this is a quest with huge potential future for usually end up being those who concur with the opinboth science and technology. The entire society is ions of this decisive minority, not the experts in the also excited by this new research. Because of coopfield. eration among pharmaceutical giants, the governWhile domestic science and technology rement, and research institutes, many important drugs search still lags far behind other countries, a domeshave already been manufactured, and have saved hutic bureaucracy has already formed in our nations man lives. intellectual circle. Because fellows of institutes do To encourage collaboration in research benot have to retire, the turnover rate in this stratum tween schools and the private sector, the United often takes a very long time. Some young and acStates has a variety of organizations to provide recomplished scholars seek the only route they can: search funds, including the National Science Foungoing overseas. Those modestly able young scholars, dation, the National Institute of Health, the Defense if they can acquire the patronage of the intellectual Advanced Projects Research Agency, the Office of aristocracy, can receive large material rewards, the Naval Research, among many other sources of govamount of which can reach over several millions plus ernment funding, as well as significant private founfrequent publicity in newspadations, such as the Ford, pers. But given that their acRockerfeller, and MacArthur That important technological and tual accomplishments are only foundations, which all subsidize a large part of research. scientific discoveries occur in places of modest, once they reach some level of fame no impetus for The advantage of the depth culture is not a coincidence. true academic pursuit remains and breadth of funds is that at all. nobody can control funds for 40 Fall 2002 Volume 6, Number 2

dition. Chinese civilization indisputably has outstandChinas universities are mostly public universiing traditions, but in sustaining long-term progress ties, administrated by the Department of Education. in science and technology, it has not yet achieved Over the past decade the Department of Education greatness. The Chinese believe that science and techhas loosened the rein considerably, but funding is nology serve the peoples daily lives. Thus Shunzi still controlled by the Department of Education or said, It is the divine mandate to make in order to via subsidies from provinces and cities. Private douse. Because of this there was not that spirit of unnations and foundations are still rare. Brand name diluted curiosity and investigation as evidenced by universities like Beijing University and Qinghua Unithe Greeks and post-Enlightenment scientists. Withversity, because of their publicity, naturally receive out seeking out the source of technology, there naturelatively more funding. The increase in funding in rally cannot be progress. recent years, though undoubtedly a good thing, has China treats the family resulted in much waste from as the primary unit, and treats inefficient administration. The United States investment in human relationships as the Some universities hire shortterm overseas scholars and infundamental science and technology primary moral fiber, which directly impact scientific and ternational students. Many inthrough all these years has reaped technological progress. Beternational students go to several universities to collect enough profits from the invention cause of filial piety, there must be respect for the elders, and compensation but stay there of laser alone. by logical deduction, the acfor an extremely short time. In tions and words of the elders the end, not only are funds of a clan and the elders of a society overshadow the wasted, but also this results in a harmful influence. law and the truth. Cooperating with filial piety has There are also some international students, whose shown the Chineses reverence for the old, not the academics are only average, but demand various spenew, and thus, the first emperors are the supreme cial treatments, usually surpassing the costs of nalimits on human accomplishment. The extremes of tive young scholars by more than ten fold. This kind filial piety hamper creativityThree years after the of inequity in academics is equivalent to encouragfathers death and not changing his ways is filial piing the brain drain of the young and able. ety. When this philosophy is too extensively applied, Many of the well-known professors at wellin laboratories students must pursue the research diknown universities spend half a year visiting overrections of their mentors. In factories apprentices seas, and upon their return spend more time on admust pursue the ways of the master, not daring to ministration than research, impeding the growth of explore new paths. As time passes, the influence of their graduate students. This situation is absolutely clans and schools overshadows everything else. In discouraged at well-known universities overseas. A China, a successful scholar often is supported by a celebrity like Kissinger, upon retirement from being groupby clans and elders in villages and by a proUS Secretary of State, was refused by Harvard Unifessor in school. Therefore, one has the responsibilversity a faculty position because he refused to teach ity to give back in return for the support, and at the courses. Most of the world-class universities treat the same time, the impetus to support the growth of education of students and research as paramount obdisciples under ones own school in the future. jectives, and so professors must accomplish this obThe outlook that extends from the clan to sojective to gain respect. ciety and a nation takes deep hold of the hearts of Still, when economic conditions are satisfied the Chinese intelligentsia. Intellectual development and the evaluation processes are standardized, how is circumscribed by bigotries of schools. During the does one encourage young people to innovate? This Three Kingdoms, the Yuan Shao clans achievement is the biggest problem that Chinas science and techof four generations with three high officials and nology circles face today. Since ancient times Chinas disciples and students all over has been admired even engineering and technology has been extremely acto this day. To secure ones status, a considerable numcomplished, but every time technological progress ber of intellectual aristocrats promote scholars on reached a certain level advancement slowed, as if the basis of marriage and blood relations. Even if people were content. But Western societies can overthe relatives academics are poor, there are plenty who step this malady, because of the spirit of integrity still can rise to as high as fellows and institute direcand beauty brought through the Greco-Roman traHarvard Asia Pacific Review 41

Science is a cultural phenomenon, and is the foundation upon which all technology must stand tors. What the intelligentsia scramble for is the intermany schools flourished. After the Qin and Han dyest of a faction, rich but outside of ones homeland nasties, conditions became more institutionalized. is like wearing luxuries in the dark. Learning is no The scholarly atmosphere was satisfactory during the more than showing off in front of ones fellow counSong Dynasty, but became more confined during the trymen, while the spirit of integrity and beauty does Ming and Qing Dynasties. There had been a direct not receive encouragement. correlation between technoThe fact that children logical advancement and the do not receive societal encourgovernments respect for the agements to satiate their curi- Any academic evaluation needs to be intelligentsia throughout the osity and pursue integrity and just, by a standard of quality instead dynasties. The technological beauty is undeniably a weakprogress of today depends on ness of the cultures of the of quantity, and must promote young promoting a lively and free East. Overly advocating academic atmosphere, and scholars by the actual content learning for applications, or also shattering the baneful of their work. study in order to receive a potrend of age-based systems. sition, distracts scholars away Any academic evaluation from devoting themselves to the studies of the needs to be just, by a standard of quality instead of worlds essential questions. quantity, and must promote young scholars by the In contrast, the universities of other countries actual content of their work. Schools should base are relatively more open and encouraging of extheir pride on nurturing truly excellent research and change. After students finish their studies, mentors outstanding students. often insist that they go to other places for employSo, professors in academic or research institument or research to expand their points of view. tions should be appointed by just evaluation methOriginality needs an environment of academic ods, funds should be distributed according to ability freedomthe paramount example of this occurred and results, and not by age and or by connections. during the before the Qin Dynasty in China, when Any researcher or professor should have regular sab42 Fall 2002 Volume 6, Number 2

Since opening-up, China has attracted considbaticals, and only during those sabbatical should they erable number of experts, but most of them are take up positions in other research institutes, and regraduate students, and most of those are short-term search personnel should not have to spend too much time participating in politics. Academic accomplishvisiting scholars or engineers. They have indeed contributed significantly, but we still need to have our ments should not be rewarded by increasing adhearts in China, with scholars and engineers who volministrative burdensthe society should reward acauntarily stay for long-terms, and we should also atdemic activities that have a direct positive impact on tract some scholars and engineers of non-Chinese the economy, technology, and most importantly in descent. From the Hang Dynasty to the Yuan Dyfundamental science that might have long-term imnasty, China had always invited outsiders to China to pact. be officials. Through this interaction, technology exA technologically advanced country must experienced great developments. plore all the ways possible to provide outstanding sciThe increasing isolation of the Ming and Qing entists and engineers with a satisfactory work envidynasties impacted Chinese scholars in that they did ronment. Give them satisfactory compensation to alnot have contact with the scholars after the Eurolow them to wholeheartedly create, transforming their pean Enlightenment. Although missionaries did imideas into scientific results or industrial products. port some technology, they did not represent the leadIn the past, our country measured industrial ing edge of innovative science. progress by the quantity of China also did not send young steel produced. Today, if schools only measure their The most important is the building of people to follow the scientific giants of Europe, and domesprestige by the quantity of pa- first-class universities and institutes tic scholars intractably resisted pers, fellows, and scholars, Im afraid this method of sur- . . . universities are the wellspring of Western studies. The scholars passing England and catching technological and scientific progress of mid-Qing overemphasized studying ancient mathematical up with the United States will for an entire nation. texts and lacked creativity, thus be hard pressed to bear fruit. causing technology to lag far Developing curiosity and probehind. Since Truth and technology do not distinmoting scholars justlybased on quality and origiguish between the East and the West, when looking nalityare the most important links in scientific infor the able, one should not be limited to the few novation, while equal competition is the most imschools or institutes in China, and furthermore portant link in technological innovation. should not be limited to Chinese, or scholars of ChiTechnology today can quickly find applications nese descent. in production, but while many domestic scholars are The Meiji emperor of Japan began his reign in able to create new technology overseas, they encoun1868 with the Meiji Restoration. With effective central ter difficulties domestically, and one of the causes command, he vowed to the whole nation to improve is the lack of protection for intellectual property. domestic education and to pursue knowledge from From creating new technology to producing softthe whole world. He sent many visiting scholars overware, hardware, production; and to marketing, they seas who later returned to Japan to work, and forall need a comprehensive plan, and also need ineign scientists and engineers were welcomed. In an vestment. In nascent industries, entrepreneurs hardly astonishing short amount of time, Japans accompossess the inventive spirit and the capital, while plishments in industry and technology had become inventors dont have this kind of stamina, so plans comparable to the West, and to this day Japan has, must be government-sponsored and comprehenon its own soil, cultivated seven Nobel Laureates and sively planned. three Fields Medal winners. Regardless of new technological developTodays Chinain economics, politics, and in ments, nurturing and commercialization require a the educational level of the popualtionsurpasses great deal of expertise. In technologically advanced many times the situation during Japans Meiji Restocountries, not only do universities cooperate by culration. After China has appropriately handled issues tivating talent and the government establishing rerelating to scientific and technological development, search institutions to cooperate, they also attract large in a short time China will become a giant in science amounts of expertise and capital investment from and technology. all over the world. Harvard Asia Pacific Review 43

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