The fact that all top leaders of the country attended the opening ceremony of the conference of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) sends a message that science and technology occupy a special position in the national development strategy.

President Hu Jintao quoted four ancient epigrams in his speech to emphasize the role of talented scientists and the urgent need to be innovative in scientific research.

The role of top scientists can never be overestimated in blazing a trail in a particular field or leading important research projects. The revolutionary achievements of Yuan Longping, the father of hybrid rice, and Wang Xuan, the inventor of the photo typesetting system for Chinese characters, are examples of such outstanding figures.

The more than 1,000 top scientists working with the two academies are the pride of our country. They represent the strength of the nation's science and technology and epitomize the spirit of diligence and dedication to scientific work.

But the warning given by CAS President Lu Yongxiang about the conduct of some academicians should serve as a wake-up call to members of both academies.

There are indeed some academicians who hold too many titles in irrelevant organizations and participate in too many activities that are irrelevant to their scientific research.

Some even accept payments for attending these activities.

These bad apples have already tarnished, to some extent, the reputation of this prestigious group of academicians, Lu said.

It is a great honor for a scientist to be elected as an academician, and it is also an honour for the institution where the scientist is working. Such a title not only enhances the reputation of scientists, it also affords them certain privileges.

In some cases, these privileges have become a kind of intangible resource. For instance, it will be much easier for a university with professors who are academicians to get sponsorship from the state for their research projects.

Some academicians are invited to take part in activities that have nothing to do with their research, not for their authoritativeness but for their reputations, which are believed to be able to add to the significance of the event in question.

Some have even lent their names to research projects because this will help these projects get approval and funding from higher authorities.

This becomes a trap for some academicians, whose behavior becomes increasingly unethical as the temptation of money and fame becomes harder to resist.

Self-discipline is, of course, important. But a better mechanism will help prevent these talented scientists from losing their sharp edge to such temptations.

(China Daily June 7, 2006)