Wang Xiaodong, Director of the Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, talks about Rao Yi's failure to be elected as an academician.

Wang Xiaodong, Director of the Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, talks about Rao Yi's failure to be elected as an academician. Wang Xiaodong, Director of the Beijing Institute of Life Sciences, talks about Rao Yi's failure to be elected as an academician. The standards for academicians are not...

"I feel it is necessary to stand up and speak." Wang Xiaodong, academician of the National Academy of Sciences and director of the Beijing Institute of Life Sciences In an exclusive interview with a reporter from this website on the 22nd, he said, "In this election of academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Rao Yi, who should have been elected in the field of life sciences, was eliminated in the first round, which revealed that the standards for academician selection are unclear, and the merits of voting academicians are unclear. This problem is very serious. If the source cannot be rectified, if things go on like this, it will not only make the country's young scientific researchers lose their way. , discourage overseas scientists who want to return to work in China, and it will also cause the academician group to lose social credibility. "

Rao Yi is a world-class scientist, and his academic level and scientific contribution are significantly higher than the candidates who entered the second round in the same field

In Wang Xiaodong's view, Rao Yi is a world-class scientist, and his academic level is not only far higher than the second-round candidates in the same field, but also higher than some academicians. Wang Xiaodong and Rao Yi both went to the United States to study in 1985, majoring in life sciences. "I started following Rao Yi in the early 1990s, and have maintained close working contacts since then, and I know his conduct and scholarship very well." According to him, while studying and working in the United States, Rao Yi published 10 papers in three major magazines: Science, Nature, and Cell. He made breakthrough contributions to the study of the molecular mechanism of neural development and was highly praised by his peers. Since 2004, Rao Yi has been appointed as a chair professor at Northwestern University School of Medicine and director of the Institute of Neuroscience of Northwestern University.

After returning to China full-time in 2007, Rao Yi changed his research direction from the molecular mechanism of neurodevelopment to the analysis of the neural mechanism of social behavior. "General scientists rarely transform after becoming famous, because it not only requires a transition period of several years, but also has a high risk of failure. In the domestic environment of quick success and quick success, if a paper is not published for a few years, a person with poor determination will go crazy. Rao Yi dares to take this risk." Wang Xiaodong said, "The research field he pioneered attempts to explain social behaviors including homosexuality, violent tendencies, mother-child relationships, etc. from the perspective of molecular and neural pathway mechanisms. Regardless of scientific research. From the perspective of research or solving practical problems, this is very meaningful work. "

" After several years of exploration, Rao Yi has successfully transformed. "According to Wang Xiaodong, in addition to two papers published in "Developmental Biology" and "Nature Neuroscience" in 2007 and 2008, Rao Yi also published two papers in "Nature" and "Nature Neuroscience" in the first half of this year. The former found that the absence of serotonin plays a decisive role in the homosexual tendency of mice, which is very enlightening for uncovering the physiological basis of homosexuality; the latter discovered the molecular and cellular mechanisms of less fighting in group-housed animals. Among them, after the paper on group animals was published, "Nature Reviews Neuroscience" immediately made a long introduction, and "Cell" was promoted as a highlight. "After the transformation is successful, Rao Yi will make many interesting new discoveries in the future and publish many valuable scientific papers."

In addition, in 2005, Rao Yi served as the corresponding author and guided his students at the Shanghai Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, to publish a paper in "Cell". "In the previous 25 years, Chinese scholars had never published an article in this journal." Wang Xiaodong said that Rao Yi had five original high-level papers in China, which were more than enough to be elected as an academician in terms of quality and quantity.

Some commentators believe that the people being evaluated this time are Chinese academicians, and more of Rao Yi’s academic papers were published in the United States. "This statement is very absurd and a typical double standard." Wang Xiaodong said that science has no borders, and academician evaluation should be based on a person's overall academic level. Foreign and domestic research results have inherent continuity. How can they be separated mechanically? "Many academicians elected before, including many candidates this time, have accomplished many of their academic achievements abroad. Why did they not distinguish between foreign and domestic candidates when they participated in the competition, but when they came to Rao Yi, they were treated differently?"

"Rao Yi's contribution to the development of science in China is not only reflected in his own academic research." Wang Xiaodong said that since 1996, Rao Yi has become a part-time researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and often returns to China and has done a lot of groundbreaking work. In 1999, 2002, and 2004, respectively, he helped found the Shanghai Institute of Neuroscience, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Interdisciplinary Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Beijing Institute of Life Sciences. "Among them, Hebei University of Science and Technology has become an important new force in the field of life sciences, and Rao Yi has contributed indispensably."

"Ask yourself, among the candidates shortlisted for the second round in the field of life sciences, how can you say that Rao Yi's academic level and contribution to Chinese science are not outstanding?"

Rao Yi's character of daring to tell the truth reflects the conscience of a scientist. This is precisely the most lacking and valuable thing in my country's scientific community.

"In terms of personal ethics, Rao Yi has no problem." Wang Xiaodong said, "What I admire most is that he is not only an internationally recognized scientist, but also a scholar with a conscience and the courage to tell the truth. He dares to reveal problems without avoiding them. , The courage to tell the truth is precisely what is most lacking and valuable in my country's scientific community." Rao Yi has published many articles to expose and criticize some overall and fundamental issues that hinder China's scientific development, thus offending many officials and academicians. "Looking back, what Rao Yi said and did can stand the test of history."

In 2004, Rao Yi, Zou Chenglu, and Lu Bai jointly published an article in the supplement of "Nature" pointing out that in the process of formulating medium and long-term plans for scientific and technological development, great attention should be paid to solving problems existing in the scientific and technological system.

In September last year, he and Shi Yigong published an article "China's Scientific Research Culture" in Science, criticizing the problems existing in China's scientific research system and culture, believing that these problems "waste resources, corrode the spirit, hinder innovation" and "slow down China's potential innovation pace."

"The loud voices of Rao Yi and others caused the relevant leaders to attach great importance to the scientific and technological system issues, and determined to deepen the reform of the scientific and technological system as one of the three key tasks of scientific and technological development during the 'Twelfth Five-Year Plan' period." Wang Xiaodong said that this will be of great benefit to the long-term development of my country's scientific and technological undertakings.

In order to be successfully elected as academicians, many scientists kept silent during the election of academicians, turning a blind eye and listening to the existing problems. Rao Yi completely ignored these hidden rules and still went his own way even after becoming a first-round candidate.

In response to the demonization of genetically modified genes in China in recent years, in mid-July this year, he published two articles in the People's Daily, "The Situation of Transgenics in the United States" and "Genetically Modified Is an Inevitable New Knowledge of Modern Science and Technology", advocating for my country's research and application of genetically modified genes, which generated great repercussions in society.

Just two days before the announcement of the second round of academician candidates, that is, on August 15, Rao Yi also published an article in the People's Daily, "A step to change the impetuousness of the scientific community: Returning to China as a postdoc to start as an assistant professor." He pointed out: During the period when you are promoted to associate professor in an international university, you can become an academician in China. After becoming an academician in China, there are more and more things to do, and the time and energy for doing science are greatly reduced. The period of scientific activeness ends relatively early, and reforms are called for as soon as possible.

"The problems revealed by Rao Yi and the phenomena he criticized are all related to the fundamentals and overall situation of the development of my country's scientific undertakings, and people in the industry need to stand up and speak out." Wang Xiaodong said that if scientists all respect the "silence is golden" and "mediocre philosophy" and only care about "making a fortune silently", it will be difficult to solve these problems." Rao Yi is holding on to the idea of "benefiting the life and death of the country". The belief and courage to avoid good things and bad things, to serve the public whole, and to speak out for justice truly embodies the conscience of a scientist. "

Academics must be the only criterion, and personal likes and dislikes should be abandoned when voting for academicians

" Since academicians are the 'highest academic title and lifelong honor established by the country in science and technology', their selection must play a huge leading and demonstration role. "Wang Xiaodong said, therefore, the standards for academicians must be clear, that is, academics must be the only criterion.

"Whether it is in terms of academic level, academic ethics or scientific contribution to the country, Rao Yi far exceeds the candidates in the same discipline who entered the second round this time. Therefore, the reason for his failure is not, as a senior academician explained, that two candidates with similar levels 'collided'." Wang Xiaodong said.

"People with low skills were selected, but people with high skills were not selected. This shows that the standards for academician selection are unclear, and they have become little girls who can dress up at will." Wang Xiaodong said that the consequences of this will be very terrible: young domestic researchers will lose the direction of their efforts and will be at a loss; overseas students who want to return to China to devote themselves to academic research will be discouraged.

Many analysts pointed out that Rao Yi's defeat was not a matter of level, but because he offended people by "talking nonsense". "If this is the case, the consequences will also be serious." Wang Xiaodong said that academic democracy and academic freedom are already scarce in our country, and most people choose to remain silent to protect themselves. "If Rao Yi loses the election because he dares to tell the truth, the signal sent is very dangerous: If you want to be an academician, then listen to me and don't talk nonsense. In the long run, China's scientific community will become a kingdom of silence. This situation will be a disaster for both scientific research itself and the overall situation of science and technology." A typical example is the SARS in 2003. At that time, because an academician said SARS is chlamydia, not a virus, so no one else dares to question it, even though the 301 Hospital has discovered that SARS is a virus! Just because everyone does not dare to question authority and is silent collectively, how much time has been wasted, how much resources have been wasted, and how many people's health has been damaged? ! "

Some media published an article saying that the "Details for the Implementation of the Selection of Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences" have strict regulations on the selection criteria and selection procedures for academicians. The standards are clear and the procedures are reasonable; the second round of candidates for this selection is also the result of the secret ballot of academicians and should not be questioned.

" This shows that some academicians did not vote in accordance with the regulations, and the results will be worse. "Wang Xiaodong said that as a voting academician of the "Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine", it is impossible not to understand Rao Yi's academic level, academic ethics and contribution to national science." If they still vote against knowingly, it can only be said that they are mixed with personal likes and dislikes and selfish thoughts. "Wang Xiaodong said that if academicians cannot make objective and fair judgments on candidates based on pure academic standards, then the academicians as a group will lose social credibility just like my country's men's football team.

" Rao Yi's failure to be elected as an academician not only triggered strong reactions at home, but also caused widespread concern in the overseas Chinese scientific community. " Wang Xiaodong said, "As far as I know, there are few Chinese scientific researchers, especially researchers in the field of life sciences, who are not shocked and confused. "

" As a member of the Chinese scientific community, I solemnly appeal for two points: first, the selection criteria for academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences must be clear and clear, with academics as the only criterion; second, academicians must adhere to academics as the only criterion, and abandon personal likes, dislikes and selfish distractions when voting. " Wang Xiaodong told reporters, "The academician selection is a weather vane, and the negative impact of Rao Yi's failure cannot be underestimated. If the source cannot be rectified, it will cause endless harm to the development of our country's scientific undertakings. "