Science in China: publish or perish?

Recent suicides among young Chinese scientists have prompted questions over the levels of stress and responsibility that inexperienced researchers are expected to cope with.

But more fundamentally, reports Ding Yimin in Science, some academics are questioning China’s growing obsession with the ‘publish or perish’ dictate of Western science — a strategy it is adopting to compete with wealthier nations.

The article highlights the growing discontent among young scientists, many of whom are lured back from abroad by well-paid, high profile jobs.

The rewards offered to promising scientists can be accompanied by intense competition and pressure to try to overtake scientists in the West.

Yimin concludes that China needs to take better care of the physical and mental wellbeing of its young scientists, by providing counselling and by ensuring that they are not overburdened with responsibilities.