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2/8/1961 - A.A.A. S. Symposium on Chinese Science: Part II: China’s Scientific Revolution by C. H. G. Oldham

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT VORLD AFFAIRS CHG0 The Pines Nuns Walk A A A S Symposium Chinese Science Virginia Water Surrey Part II Chlna Sclentlfc Revolution England February 1961o Mr R H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madlson Avenue New York N Y Dear Dick In New York City recently twenty experts reviewed status sciences Communist China The occasion symposium or8anized American Association Advancement Science I discussed background symposium letter about picture contemporary Chinese science which painted these experts To fully appreciate picture first necessary recall relatively condition canvas Communists power Then there scientists little money scientific little industrial production morale Today there scientists money scientific great industrial production science thriving vigorous state China cau6ht Western science experts symposium thouEht probably within fifteen years One China tasks since increase scientific manpower To built versities other institutes higher education Technical training separated universities hands newly created technical institutes At these institutes students given extensive narrow trainin specialised technical subjects In Chinese rapidly train technicians would otherwise possible The universities maintain balance concentrating fundamental subjects Despite training expanded facillties China short scientists Some peakers symposium believe shortage government misplacement scientists drive increased scientific power quality sacrifi quantity Education science technology continues academic ladder peasant Everyone encouraged improve production agricultural methocs 6reat publicity bein8 given successful innovations In order utilize utmost china resources trained manpower finance Communists concentrated applied science Russian Western methods equipment copied applied Chinese problems While methods equipment being introduced often primitive methods equipment encouraged In China called Walking As result backyard factories blast furnaces built The productivity these minor indus tries quite production their purpose They serve train workers readiness factories One China objectives catch Western science realised develop basic research content always behind The basic research lartely carried universities published Althouh constitutes small China scientific effort present quality These eneral trends mentioned speakers there little their validity It difficult symposium assess attitude hinese scientists towards Commtmist regime versa Certainly there evidence scientists suffered because their political beliefs there eneral purge landlords There brain washing scientists required publish confessions That these thins happen reasonably certain What scale which happen result morale scientists I think significant however those Western scientists vsited China recent years impressed tremendous enthusiasm Chinese scientists Professor J T Wilson geophysicist scientist symposium visited China since He overnment excellent library facilities laboratories equipment assistant which provided Chinese scientists Communist 6over nment He impressed enthusiasm which wherever hought fired passionate release nationalistic energy though scientists necessarilx sympathetic towards communism It could argued isolated perhaps applied seophysicists On contrar seems opinion actually visited China For letter I shall confine comments views facts presented symposium But because single exception Professor Wilson experts there visited China recently I would quote given B B C radio program The speaker Dr Kurt Mendelssohn F R S Reader Physics Oxford Unlversity Dr Mendelssohn visited China Technology great Joyful experience adventure which Chinese thrown themselves enormous enthusiasm Anyone watching struck enthusiasm which least appears significant feature their technological advance So I discussed general outline Chinese scientific developments emerged symposium Now I parts outline summarizing highlights sciences One urgent requirements State inventory natural resources The Chinese reallse Iven priority training geologists Dr Edward C T Chao U S Geological Survey symposium World War II there fewer active 8eologists China Now there eologlcal workers thousands being trained every Most these geologists employed exploration mineral deposits They Been quite successful In Dr mineral resources extensive China reckoned world chief reservoirs materials For example found Shansi Central China another deposit estimated discovered Honan Province These lares deposits standard Recent discoveries important alloy molybdenum hardeninE steel China world richest country metal No important uranium deposits reported there unconfirmed reports nickel deposit If important discovery since present Canada produces world nickel supply Minin Metal u_rKY Dr Kung Pin8 Wang U S Department Interior reviewed progress minin6 metallurgy Most modern metallurglcal operations fairly engineering point while comparin favorably European Japanese practices lower productivity U S operations Dr Wan8 pointed China ample supplies Includin8 cokln8 The problem transport where needed Despite problem steel industry growing spectacular Dr Wang expects China progress being seventh world producer today fifth third Electronics Computing Dr Yao T Li Massachusetts Institute Technology interesting things about Chinese electronics industry At present Chinese sufficlent manufacture electronic components within years Dr Li expects overtaken Japanese In million radio twenty television stations operation This peasants gettln6 their television Communists realise value medium propaganda education installed television public halls I rtlcularly interested advanced Chinese construction digital computers Large electronic computers widely scientific purposes America contributed great advancement scientific knowledge during decade Dr Li informed posium hinese built computer which calibre IBM This advanced computers scientific purposes available U S until about years Another computer mentioned Dr Li which fasclnatin posslbilites machine automatic translation Russian language Chinese Its output Chinese characters whlch automatlcally printed screen strgno Professor F B Wood Un verslty Pennsylvania reported recent astronomical routine nature Many latitude longitude determinations theoretical papers published The observational hampered largest Chinese telescope diameter inches The largest telescope United States Mount Palomar diameter inches Btan According Professor Hui Lin Li University Pennsylvania botanical project China preparation massive eighty volume Flora China The project first conceived estimated would sixty years complete Volume Just published hoped volumes published within another years The review Chinese zoology Professor Tien Hsi Cheng Pennsylvania State University based partly published literature partly information gathered visiting professor Hon6 Kong The zoology provides illustration emphasis being placed applied science In nearly zoological research higher production The attack animal insect pests probably spectacular project drive For centuries locust China destructive pests Ussian almost entirely liquidated Professor Chen8 modern pesticides million acres cropland annually China expects completely eliminated locust Sparrows their weight every three The Chinese decided drain Country supply sparrows wiped Apparently thought given useful functions these birds harmful 8rubs flies which formed sparrows themselves problem I would outside bounds symposium again moment repeat amusing story I heard recently which relevant discussion While driving through Pekin8 Earl Verulam asked drive2 meaning Chinese banner spread across street emblazoned black letters The driver informed meant Death enemies People The Earl asked whether included British Am ericans driver replied The enemies people mosquitoes flies beetles sparrows Dr Chen8 group about recent Chinese types plankton These studied primarily locate valuable fishln6 6rounds because provide studying pattern ocean currents water masses Further phosphorescent plankton military significance since ships sailing night areas where abundant bein6 exposed Yunnan Province Southwest China always China backward areas For three years Joint Russian Chinese expedition studied region recommendations development These recommendations being implemented Dr considers expedition One significant happenings decade terms Impact region Genetics Genetics subject which tends colored politics hence something touchy subject scientists Perhaps might interesting topic letter moment I mention experiments animal breeding which Dr C C Li University Pittsburgh about The draught animal North China yellow South China buffalo which requires every These crossed hybrid produced This hybrid ordinary cattle without daily Geophys_i I already mentioned Professor J T Wilson University Toronto speaker symposium visited China since His appraisal status eophyslcs therefore special interest As mi6ht expected eophysics extensively mineral exploration No details 6iven total number geophysical crews operation Professor Wilson mention gravity meters similar number magnetometers electro magnetic equipment recently purchased Chinese Canadian company The amount gravity possible Chinese order gravity meters months meters months This almost identical number months gravity carried United States petroleum exploration It actually exceeds totals Latin America communlst Eastern hemlsphere One important piece seismic research carried geophysicists historians A seismlcity showing frequency earthqualkes China prepared historians searched Chinese literature evidence earth quakes The earliest discovered occurred years B C The useful engineerin studles More surprising prospecting extent physics earth Much falls category fundamental research U S A months raity Latin America E Hemisphere communist quite apparent Chinese Government giving ample support For exsmple hlnes carried quite extensive program research International Goophyslcal Year Due political reasons however results published Much Professor Wilson personal narrative through China which discussed scientists laboratories universities However spoke about visit Taiwan which immediately followed visit Peoples Republic China In Taiwan visited Formosan eophysicists their research facilities He disappointed Professor Wilson found morale Formosan scientists received little support Nationalist Government their equipment antiquated He I doubt there books recent periodicals libraries Peking Sian Lanchow Canton those Taipeh university buildings better equipment newer abundant whole scientific atmosphere greater vigorous Mainland Taiwan Dr R T Beyer Brown University physical sciences China extremely planned Great emphasis placed theoretical while tchnlcal workers taught operate equipment The Russians helpful particularly training hineme physicists For example about third scientific papers originating Soviet nuclear research center Dubna Moscow Chines names attached Dr T C Tsao Columbia University symposium hinese reactors operation They quite small apparently peaceful purposes However likely there others which about predicted would atomic bombs within years Returnlng England I reflected general impressions Chinese science symposium given I decided conclusion drawn midst scientific revolution At moment still relatively backward wheels progress turning second before changes China rapidly become scientifically advanced nations World Sincerely Received New York February C H G Oldham