Shenzhen Commercial Daily chief reporter Yuan Jingxian
On the long road of scientific research, how to better discover and support outstanding and innovative young talents? What should a good scientific reward system look like? What kind of research is considered cutting-edge in science? Should exploration of “no man’s land” continue? On September 24, at the third “Young Scientists 502 Forum”, many academicians of the two academies and well-known scientists gathered together to inquire about science and cutting-edge topics around topics of concern to the academic community and the public.
Give limited funds to the most energetic young scientists
In the roundtable session of the forum, three scientists, Han Qide, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and honorary chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, Dou Xiankang, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Pan Jianwei, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and executive vice president of the University of Science and Technology of China, discussed “how to discover and “Supporting Outstanding and Innovative Young Talents” opened an in-depth discussion.
Talking about tapping the “potential stocks” of scientific talents, Pan Jianwei believes: “The most important thing is to be driven by interests. This is what we emphasized very much when we formed the team. As teachers, we must respect the interests of young people and help them find things suitable for them.”
Talking about a good scientific reward system, Dou Xiankang said: “Although the more money, the better, more or less is not the first priority. The key is how to invest limited funds in the most dynamic young scientists within certain boundaries. .” At the same time, he also said: “Science is a competition for top talents. Scientists must regard research as their biggest hobby in life to go further. Without interest, they will not persist until the end.”
Dou Xiankang also expressed his expectations for the younger generation: “This generation must truly achieve important work in the Chinese scientific community. At a certain stage, they must settle down and stay away from the hustle and bustle of the world.”
How to reform and optimize the review mechanism for scientific awards in terms of personnel selection, project funding, awards, etc.? Pan Jianwei is a member of the Scientific Committee of the “New Cornerstone Researcher Project” and one of the initiators of the “Scientific Exploration Award”. He said: “When the project was first established, a clear avoidance system was established, and the scientists all made solemn commitments. We discussed each project very carefully and meticulously, which also ensured the credibility and reputation of the selection.”
“One of the reasons why the ‘Scientific Exploration Award’ can be successful is that scientists have the final say. Scientific review and evaluation must be decided by the ‘scientific community’.” Han Qide said.
SUSTech encourages more young scientists to devote themselves to basic research
Xue Qikun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and president of Southern University of Science and Technology, shared in his opening speech at the forum the efforts made by Southern University of Science and Technology in recent years to encourage young scientists to explore science and technology and promote basic research.
Xue Qikun said that Shenzhen has gathered a number of outstanding leading companies such as Tencent. SUSTech has also taken advantage of the “strategic east wind” of reform and opening up to achieve leap-forward development. In February last year, it officially joined the ranks of the national “double first-class” construction universities. Currently, SUSTech is seizing the major opportunities in the “dual-zone construction” and the construction and development of the Loop Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, accelerating the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Quantum Science Center, and actively deploying large scientific facilities such as electronic lasers and semiconductor research institutes. and platform, and has reached in-depth cooperation with Pengcheng Laboratory in talent training, part-time employment, and scientific and technological research by co-building a college.
Xue Qikun said that in the future, SUSTech will further innovate the talent evaluation mechanism, encourage young scientists to actively participate in basic research, achieve more “from 0 to 1” breakthroughs, and promote the high-quality development of basic research. At the same time, he also hopes that he can start a new journey of scientific and technological exploration with young scientists.
Top scientists share academic frontiers
In the academic report session, five top scientists shared their academic frontiers based on their own scientific research progress and results.
Qiao Jie, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and executive vice president of Peking University, believes: “To practice the path of medical technological innovation, firstly, we must deeply explore the source of medical technological innovation; secondly, we must provide continuous momentum for the development of medical technological innovation.”
In his report “From Insulating Ceramics to High-Temperature Superconductivity”, Professor Wang Yayu of the Department of Physics of Tsinghua University introduced the physical phenomena of superconductivity and the mysteries of high-temperature superconductivity that currently need to be solved. He said: “Superconductivity is an extremely beautiful and profound physical phenomenon. Finding high-temperature and even room-temperature superconductors is the goal that scientists are striving for. In fact, it may have a profound impact on physical research and human civilization.”
In addition, Chen Xuemei, academician of the National Academy of Sciences and dean of the School of Life Sciences of Peking University, gave an academic report titled “RNA: The Frontier of Biotechnology”, and Song Baoliang, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor of Wuhan University, gave an academic report titled “Diet, Heredity and Cholesterol Metabolism” In the report, Wang Zuankai, a professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, gave an academic report titled “Bionic Ways to Solve the Water and Energy Crisis.”