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在线翻译:
szdaily -> In depth -> 
Candidacy triggered controversies
    2012-05-08  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

    CANDIDATES for the 2012 National Award for Science and Technology were announced in March by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).

    Among them is a research project titled “formulation and application of a theoretical system for Chinese cigarettes,” nominated by the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (also known as the China National Tobacco Corp.).

    The cited achievements include improving the quality and marketability of Chinese cigarettes and new sales revenue of about US$27.5 billion over the last three years.

    The invitation for public comment led to an outcry. On April 3, Yang Gonghuan, former deputy director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and now a professor at Beijing Union Medical College’s School of Basic Medicine, published an open letter to Science Minister Wan Gang calling on MOST to ban tobacco research from being considered for national science awards.

    Then on April 8, editors at China’s foremost science Web site and blog, ScienceNet.cn, began collecting signatures from readers opposed to cigarette research’s consideration for a science award.

    In addition, 30 members of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), mostly from the division of medicine and public health, wrote to ScienceNet editors in support of the petition.

    Yang sees the vigorous response as a sign that Chinese society has awakened to the importance of tobacco control.

    When tobacco scientist Zhu Zunquan was elected to CAE in 1997, there was little comment. But last year, after a second tobacco researcher, Xie Jianping, was elected to CAE, Chinese media and many citizens denounced the academy’s decision.

    Xie’s low-tar research had received the National Science and Technology Progress Second Prize three times: in 2003, 2004 and 2010. Some CAE members who voted for Xie cited the prizes as partial justification for electing him, according to Chinese reports.

    (SD-Agencies)

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