Selecting talents for Nobel Prize sparks controversy  

国家遴选百人冲击诺奖引争议 专家吁莫急功近利

国家高层次人才特殊支持计划(又称“万人计划”)第一批入选名单近日正式发布。据新华社、《人民日报》报道，该计划将用10年左右时间遴选支持1万名高层次人才，包括100名“具有冲击诺贝尔奖、成长为世界级科学家潜力”的杰出人才。这一说法引发网友质疑：诺贝尔奖是可以冲击出来的吗？[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- China has released a national talent plan to support 10,000 outstanding talents, including 100 scientists who have been slated for their potential to win Nobel Prizes, the Beijing Times reports, citing the People's Daily.

Some netizens said the government's support of scientific research can help scientists and researchers mobilize resources to accomplish greater achievements. But more people questioned the move.

"When to win a Nobel Prize cannot be designed," a netizen said. "What China should do now is popularize science and technology to its people."

Some netizens believe the plan reflects China's impatience. One netizen cited Samuel Chao Chung Ting, Nobel Prize winner in physics: "It's dangerous for a scientist to chase after the Nobel."

Zhou Zhonghe, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who is among the 100 talents, didn't quite agree with the statement either. "The Nobel can't be won on purpose," he said.

Chinese scientists should pay more attention to fundamental research, Zhou added.

Wang Yangzong, deputy director of the Institute for the History of Natural Science, said it's acceptable to set winning the Nobel as a goal, but the purpose of the plan could be misrepresented.

Besides winning Nobel Prizes, the plan should focus on developing high-level talents, Wang said. "The talent plan only supports a limited range of science and technology. Government should set up systemic policies to stabilize and support fundamental research."