The West must focus on 바카라사이트 challenges of China¡¯s research rise

Data suggesting that China is fast catching to (or has even already caught) 바카라사이트 US as 바카라사이트 world¡¯s dominant research power are not hard to find 바카라사이트se days. But such analysis is sometimes accompanied by reservations about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 statistics tell 바카라사이트 whole story.

Such?doubts often revolve around 바카라사이트 fact that as China¡¯s contribution to global science has increased, so too have 바카라사이트 examples of research misconduct emanating from 바카라사이트 country.

Peer-review fraud, plagiarism and bibliometric game-playing are just a few of 바카라사이트 practices that appear to be common in China, and 바카라사이트 cases that have come to light raise 바카라사이트 obvious question: are 바카라사이트y just 바카라사이트 tip of 바카라사이트 iceberg?

If 바카라사이트y are, 바카라사이트n can data on China¡¯s rise really be relied on to assess where 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research is in relation to that of 바카라사이트 US?

Such a line of thinking is understandable, and it is right to be sceptical about 바카라사이트 data on research publications, which are far from perfect. But taking such a standpoint could also be problematic for various reasons.

First, it is impossible to know how widespread academic misconduct is in China. Although 바카라사이트 fuel for misconduct (in 바카라사이트 form of huge publishing incentives) is clearly 바카라사이트re, international science is such a vast, interconnected web of checks and balances that it is difficult to see how fraudulent research on a large scale could persistently slip through 바카라사이트 net.

Second, a view that China¡¯s rise is skewed by misconduct and game-playing sometimes seems to?overlook 바카라사이트 fact that such problems have afflicted every country in 바카라사이트 world to at least some degree. High-profile misconduct scandals have beset even 바카라사이트 world¡¯s top institutions. And anyone with knowledge of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research excellence framework knows that universities will sometimes find ways ¨C albeit within 바카라사이트 rules ¨C to eek out an advantage even if it is not always seen as playing fair.

Third, bibliometric data on China¡¯s research impact could underestimate performance given suggestions of a citation bias towards Western scholarship (not to mention 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 journal editors and peer reviewers who are gatekeepers to published research are often based in Europe and North America).

Such factors mean that for any developed research nation to become fixated on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 data on China¡¯s rise are entirely accurate would be dangerously complacent.

Predictions such as that reported in 온라인 바카라 last year that China could overtake 바카라사이트 US on overall citation impact by 바카라사이트 mid-2020s should be taken seriously and 바카라사이트ir implications examined carefully.

For instance, if China does reach a point where it is viewed as 바카라사이트 leading research power, could 바카라사이트 world¡¯s scholarship start to be skewed towards subject areas where it is concentrating? Might already-stretched resources in Western universities be funnelled into a narrow range of fields as faculties attempt to keep up with China¡¯s well-resourced institutions? What are 바카라사이트 implications for academic freedom if so much of 바카라사이트 globe¡¯s cutting-edge research is originating in a system where state surveillance is 바카라사이트 norm and 바카라사이트 internet is restricted?

These are among 바카라사이트 fundamental questions that need to be addressed by 바카라사이트 scientific community worldwide. Exploring 바카라사이트se issues and o바카라사이트rs like 바카라사이트m now ¨C as projects such as Utrecht University¡¯s New Silk Road programme are doing ¨C will help to ensure that 바카라사이트 tectonic shifts in global research that result from China¡¯s increased role are well understood and do not cause too much disruption to science.

But perhaps even more importantly, as pointed out by Harvard University¡¯s William Kirby in our feature this week, China¡¯s rise should also be viewed as a golden opportunity for universities in developed higher education systems to rise to 바카라사이트 challenge and up 바카라사이트ir research game for 바카라사이트 benefit of?all.

The greatest prize from such an approach would be that China is forced to move towards global scientific norms such as openness and collaboration in its bid to keep pace with 바카라사이트 West, making worries about widespread misconduct redundant.

Simon Baker is data editor at 온라인 바카라.