2007-9-13

In the recent days, as the Nobel prizes of the year are being announced, the complex of Nobel Prizes is triggered in the hearts of Chinese people. Some say we were awarded no Nobel Prize because we failed to apply for it; some say there was bias in Nobel assessment, so it is OK to have it or not; and others are angry about the academic corruption which is regarded to be the vital point, and so on. Yesterday, our reporter specially visited Mr. Jianye Yang, professor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, researcher on science history and Nobel Prizes, and the chief editor of series of History of Nobel Prizes, and Thesaurus of Nobel Prize Winners in 20th Century, for this hot topic.

No Chinese Won Nobel Prize: not because of failure of application

Jianye Yang is the chief editor of series of History of Nobel Prizes, and Thesaurus of Nobel Prize Winners in 20th Century.

Professor Yang said, 'The reason why Chinese won no Nobel Prize, as far as I know, has nothing to do with unfamiliarity of application procedures and rules of Nobel Prizes. As for the assessment process of Nobel Prize, it can be summarized as one simple word: Secret! It is commonly known that the assessment committee consists of 15 people who form the pre-investigation commission. Hundreds of people will be invited each year to submit the name lists of candidates for reference. The committee will survey the materials of these candidates within 8 months to make sure no falsity in them. And the assessment board of each prize will vote for the final winner or winners. The prior mentioned procedures are kept in secret which have been rarely disclosed before. So, there is no foundation for the application saying.'

Figure: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry of this year is now announced

The equity of Nobel Prizes: argued from the very beginning

Some say the assessment of Nobel Prize was often affected by the bias in country, nationality and region, or it was rewarded to non-outstanding scholar for balance consideration. Therefore, Chinese people should not care about the award of this prize. Yang, confirmed that the argument on equity of Nobel Prizes started even from the first award in 1901. For example, the great master Tolstoy, famous Russian writer missed the Nobel Prize in Literature, which surprised the whole world. And Einstein raised his special relativity theory and photon theory in 1905, but it is as late as 1922 when he won the Nobel Prize in Physics, which reflected inequity caused by bias.

However, it is even strange enough to have no bias, argument or dispute in this Prize which has great influence over world. But it is commonly regarded that the equity of science prizes is better guaranteed, while the prizes in literature, especially in peace, were biased for sake of languages, ideology, etc.

Reporter: In private chatting, Chinese people often talk about some celebrities who deserved Nobel Prize but lost them, such as Bajin, Siguang Li, and Longping Yuan, etc.

Jianye Yang: as for these celebrities, I rarely hear any comment. Bajin, he is alive who still has chance; but it was a pity for Laoshe who was dead without being awarded Nobel Prize.

However, the assessment of Nobel Prize, as mentioned before, is a secret, therefore, the reason discussed is also not reliable. Actually, some reasons summarized by Chinese people are out of foundation, but just for satisfaction of Nobel Complex.

Restriction to winning prize: Obstacle of traditional thoughts

Some regard that the vital reason is the problem of Chinese scientific research management system. The real scholar cannot be supported by funds, while the authority and big talkers can find market. Are the scientific research management system and academic corruption the vital reason which restricts Chinese people to access Nobel Prize?

Jianye Yang: For this, I can only say, it is kind of emotional. The scientific research management system of China is now under reform. It may have many problems, but we can see lots of progress it made. The scientific research management system and academic corruption were not, and should not be the restriction factor.

Reporter: Professor Chen Ning Yang once summed up two reasons to explain the phenomenon of no Chinese winner, that is, insufficient research fund, and tradition. How long do you think the two factors will affect the scientific development of China?

Jianye Yang: Even if lots of scientific research funds are added right now, it is still far away from demand.

It is true that the traditional thoughts block our progress, but as the international communication is growing, and there are more students back from abroad, I believe there will be big change of our traditional thoughts and methods. I personally agree with Professor Yang's estimate, maybe we need not to discuss such question in 20 years, because we would already have Nobel Prize winners in each field.

Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine: most probably be awarded

Reporter: In recent years, people criticized severely that the Nobel Prizes are out of time because the prizes are concentrated in traditional fundamental subjects, but the hi-tech field such as IT, biological pharmaceutics is excluded from the prizes. Does it mean that the Nobel Prizes are out of date?

Jianye Yang: It is not true because they don't know exactly about the origin of Nobel Prizes. The five prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace were prescribed in the will of Nobel, which was guaranteed by law force, that is to say, the later generations cannot randomly change the fixed prizes. In 1969, the Nobel Committee once planned to add the prize in economy, but failed because the will of Nobel was not changeable; therefore, the nature and fund source of the economy prize are quite different from the original five prizes.

The reason why Nobel Prize is so charming is that it focuses only on fundamental science. Any country, especially big power, if fails to concentrate on fundamental science, will fall behindhand sooner or later. We should thank Nobel Prizes for focusing on fundamental science.

Reporter: according to practical conditions in our country, which one among the six Nobel Prizes, do you think, is most probably to be awarded to Chinese?

Jianye Yang: Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine, because we started from almost the same level and have less gap with foreign countries.