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China's Research Ambitions Hurt By Faked Results

Posted by kdawson on from the science-fiction dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "AP reports that plagiarizing or faking results is so rampant in Chinese academia that some experts worry it could hinder China's efforts to become a leader in science. China's state-run media recently rejoiced over reports that China publishes more papers in international journals than any other country except the US; but not all the research stands up to scrutiny. In December, a British journal retracted 70 papers from a Chinese university, all by the same two lead scientists, saying the work had been fabricated, and expressing amazement that a fake crystal structure would be submitted for publication. 'Academic fraud, misconduct and ethical violations are very common in China,' said professor Rao Yi, dean of the life sciences school at Peking University. 'It is a big problem.' Last month the Education Ministry released guidelines for forming a 35-member watchdog committee and has asked universities to get tough but Rao remains skeptical. Government ministries are happy to fund research but not to police it, Rao says. 'The authorities don't want to be the bad guy.'"

8 of 338 comments (clear)

  1. not just crystal structures by outsider007 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Some of the Gucci handbags they make are not so authentic either.

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    If you mod me down the terrorists will have won
    1. Re:not just crystal structures by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

      Some of the Gucci handbags they make are not so authentic either.

      But I just love my Chinese Relox watch.

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      Table-ized A.I.
    2. Re:not just crystal structures by Darkman,+Walkin+Dude · · Score: 2, Funny

      Was that not Lolex?

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      What he can't kill, he has sex on. Trent.
  2. Re:Ever done business in China? by JumpDrive · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yeah, that Madoff thing , they were right on top of it.

  3. Re:Maybe they're not to blame. by feepness · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do you have any information to back up this assertion?

    Yeah, there was this study in this Chinese journal...

  4. Bad guy by jprupp · · Score: 3, Funny

    The authorities don't want to be the bad guy.

    Seriously?

    Is there another country named China I'm not aware about?

  5. Re:Why We Do This by mooingyak · · Score: 4, Funny

    I really don't think it's a cultural thing as such.

    followed by:

    I suspect it's really just a "win at any costs" culture endemic on the mainland ...

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    William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
  6. Re:Ever done business in China? by interkin3tic · · Score: 3, Funny

    They took a map, a ruler and pencil, and started chopping up the continent. Literally.

    Wow! The pencil really is mightier than the sword if it can -literally- cleave continents! Or else that was not actually a literal statement.