8/14/2019 Confucius Makes Ideal Role Model for Budding Scientists

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Confucius'makesideal role model forbudding scientistsOTTO UN CHUI-CHAUThe Asia-Pacific basin has become thefastest-growing region in 'world economy.A World Bank study estimates that,by 2020, six Asia-Pacific countries willbe among the world's top 10 economies. They are China, Japan, India,Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand andTaiwan.

These achievements do not come.by accident. Over the last decade,many countries in ' the region haveworked diligently in upgrading theireconomies.Undoubtedly, scientists - I use the

term referring to professionals practising science, engineering, and technology - will be the major players for economic development in the region inthe 21st century.

This rosy prospect, however, doesnot guarantee a successful career forevery scientist in Asia-Pacific.First, while a majority of scientistsin the area have derived their advanced qualification from the West, it ,would be pre-sumptuous to say

the accuracy, humility and yearningfor learning of Confucius, whom I regard as a role model for scientists.In the Asia-Pacific culture, there isa general respect for seniority, age, hierarchy and status. This has created afalse conception that someone senior,is often right or more knowledgeable.Arrogance breeds ignorance, andvice versa. Some scientists, once theyhave risen through the ranks, tend tooverwhelm others and presume expertise in fields where they have few or nocredentials. No medal or human honour, not even the Nobel Prize, is a li

cence of.omniscience. 'An individual should be respectedfor what he or she is: race, gender, reli- '\gion, place of birth, occupation, view- :points or family status. When one en- 'joys respect, one will feel equality and 'freedom and have the motivation to "innovate and contribute.Further, it seems incredible that ,ethnic conflicts and provincial scuffles ,'are still rampant in many parts of thisregion. Any country allowing hatredand selfishness to rule will find it diffi-cult to compete:in the 21 st centu- 'ry.hey will automatically do better than their

mentors or peersin the West.

No medal or humanhonour,not even the

Nobel Prize, is a licenceSecond, withrapid changes inscience and technology, if one becomes compla

for omniscience

By extending "respect to thecorporation, one' iwill have the ob- ;ligation to be a '!good employee,ethical and loyal. ,Property rights, :capital or intel- :,cent, one will be caught by acceleratedobsolescence, even before reaching the

prime of one's career.Also, most scientists in this regionare affected by a common problem in

the education system: the after-effectof severe competition for college a d ~ mission. 'In Taiwan, for example, and tovarying degrees in Hong Kong, China,Japan and Singapore, college admissiop is almost solely on She testscores of a 'regimented andexlre,iliely, competitive entrance exam': "" ','Consequently, cram schools haveflourished and students and parentshave ' become much more concernedwith the techniques of passing examsthan learning. This has distorted themeaning of the process of education.

Students lucky enough to enter university are likely to cultivate a different set of learning habits than theyshould: more memorising than reasoning, more imitating than initiating,more responding than inquiring, morefollowing than leading, more responding than venturing.Being good at what one does is notenough - how one does it is also impor- 'tant. I refer to the "how" as the valueor the ethics of a good scientist.

Objectivity is a value which reflectsthe ability to analyse oneselfthoroughIy and in an unbiased manner. 11 enables a person to improve through continuous learning . Confucius oncer e m a r k e d ~ "Knowledge is knowing exactly what one does know and whatone does not". He also said: "In anygroup of three people, one will be ateacher for me." '

These are beautiful reminders of

lectual, will be respected and protect- 'jed. , ,jTeamwork has a special place in hi- ,;

tech fields where the basic characteris- ;tic is multi-disciplinary. A successful '';enterprise is one that enables scientistsand other specialists in marketing,sales, finance and other areas to workas a team with synergy.Finally, concern for the communitY"country and society at lqrge is need-,. ed. ' After all, the purpose of scienceand technology is to serve humankind .These efforts will be more effective if 'carried out in line with national goals 'and aspirations.Further, scientists often believetheir job is to discover, invent, improve and construct new products orprocesses and to leave actual imple- ,mentation of the results to others.Learning from the past, scientistsshould be proactive, conscious andconcerned with the overall effect of .their work. Thus economic growth willindeed bring opportunity, prosperity, 'excitement and hope for present and .future generations. '

Professor Duo Lin Chui-cllau isvice-president for research anddevelopment, Hong Kong, University ofScience and Tecl111ology We welcome contributions ontertiary education issues from academics. Articles may be edited,subject to space constraints. Theyshould be sent to: Campus Post, POBox 323, Tai Po, New Territories,or faxed to 2660 5378.