China's Science Revolution
bbc.co.uk
China's Science Revolution
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Re: China's Science Revolution
#2I find these reports both exciting and deeply reassuring.
As research in the west becomes more politicised and regulated (the biosciences especially), having serious Chinese investments in science, with aspirations to become world leaders, is precisely what we need to promote competition and drive progress.
Another example is the use of CRISPR gene editing in human embryos. While we are dragging our feet ruminating over the ethical implications (largely ignoring the prospect of curing countless diseases), the Chinese have used the opportunity to get a head start.
As China continues to progress, it won't be long until we have another "Sputnik moment". If we won't fund and regulate science rationally, hopefully fear and national pride will motivate us instead.
Re: China's Science Revolution
#3While the world is traditionally looking at the West to lead new scientific advancements, they might be wrong. India and especially China are heavily investing into their science projects which are costing less than comparable projects in the US or the EU. India today launched a model of the reusable space shuttle prototype that took 5 years to develop and cost less than $15 million. How is that awesome? On the other hand, the US spends more on the defense R&D than on all other sectors combined (health, energy, space, environment etc). The EU's science projects often suffer from project decentralization, bureaucracy and member countries' varying public approval rating that are affected by political issues: Greek debt, migrant flood, situation in Ukraine, terrorism etc.
Re: China's Science Revolution
#4I find these reports both exciting and deeply reassuring. As research in the west becomes more politicised and regulated (the biosciences especially), having serious Chinese investments in science, with aspirations to become world leaders, is precisely what we need to promote competition and drive progress. Another example is the use of CRISPR gene editing in human embryos. While we are dragging our feet ruminating o…
Well one reason for us dragging our feet is our collective memory of eugenics.
Re: China's Science Revolution
#5I find these reports both exciting and deeply reassuring. As research in the west becomes more politicised and regulated (the biosciences especially), having serious Chinese investments in science, with aspirations to become world leaders, is precisely what we need to promote competition and drive progress. Another example is the use of CRISPR gene editing in human embryos. While we are dragging our feet ruminating o…
Well one reason for us dragging our feet is our collective memory of eugenics.
I think a lot of the issues come from conflating positive and negative eugenics.
Promoting and enabling people to have healthier progeny is in no way comparable to forcibly removing people from the gene pool through sterilisation or murder.
People are going to have children regardless. If there's an option to reduce suffering, I think we have an imperative to follow it.
Re: China's Science Revolution
#6Earlier quoted context omitted.
Well one reason for us dragging our feet is our collective memory of eugenics.
I think a lot of the issues come from conflating positive and negative eugenics. Promoting and enabling people to have healthier progeny is in no way comparable to forcibly removing people from the gene pool through sterilisation or murder. People are going to have children regardless. If there's an option to reduce suffering, I think we have an imperative to follow it.
How do you know that enabling people who happen to have resources in one of the current political regimes to edit their embryos will reduce suffering? It could just as easily increase it.
Re: China's Science Revolution
#7I find these reports both exciting and deeply reassuring. As research in the west becomes more politicised and regulated (the biosciences especially), having serious Chinese investments in science, with aspirations to become world leaders, is precisely what we need to promote competition and drive progress. Another example is the use of CRISPR gene editing in human embryos. While we are dragging our feet ruminating o…
Really? I've been waiting for over a decade for China and India to step onto the world stage. We should encourage and help more. These two countries with a combined 2.6 billion people should be able to easily outpace the research in the west. Does it matter if basic research is done in the US, India, or China?
Imagine if China and India could each double the amount of research done by the US.
Re: China's Science Revolution
#8http://www.npr.org/2011/08/03/138937778/plagiarism-plague-hi...
I don't believe I can put it better than the article above,
"These days, China is lavishing money on Mr. Science. But without the checks and balances provided by Mr. Democracy, the corruption plaguing the rest of the system is infecting the reputation of Chinese science. "
Re: China's Science Revolution
#9http://www.npr.org/2011/08/03/138937778/plagiarism-plague-hi... I don't believe I can put it better than the article above, "These days, China is lavishing money on Mr. Science. But without the checks and balances provided by Mr. Democracy, the corruption plaguing the rest of the system is infecting the reputation of Chinese science. "
Once they arrive at the proper tech level, the reputation will get fixed by itself (and the corruption, too, probably) :)
Re: China's Science Revolution
#10http://www.npr.org/2011/08/03/138937778/plagiarism-plague-hi... I don't believe I can put it better than the article above, "These days, China is lavishing money on Mr. Science. But without the checks and balances provided by Mr. Democracy, the corruption plaguing the rest of the system is infecting the reputation of Chinese science. "
why do you think that "good" science is dependent on having democracy? is there a reference study to support this notion?