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Policy Briefs

POLICY BRIEFS PROJECT

The Policy Briefs summarize the latest available information on science and technology (S&T) in China. they are designed to address specific concerns of decision makers, other experts, and the informed public in the United States. We hope you will participate in producing and developing the Policy Briefs and you are invited to send comments and suggestions for additions to the briefs. Email us your comments.

Page Contents:

 

Current Policy Briefs

The Policy Briefs Project remains a work in progress.  Currently available briefs are described below.  Others will be posted as they become available. 

The opinions expressed by the principal editors and panelists who produced these policy briefs are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the organizations at which they are employed or are otherwise associated.

Chinese Defense, Security and Space Policy, Kathleen Walsh, US Naval War College, Primary Editor.  She was assisted in preparing this policy brief by Andrew S. Erickson, U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI; James A. Lewis, Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), Washington, DC; Jeffrey Lewis, New America Foundation Washington, DC, and Project on Managing the Atom, Harvard University; and Lt. Col. Dana Struckman (USAF), U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI.  Ms. Walsh makes use of China’s successful test of an anti-satellite weapon on January 12, 2007, as a point of departure for presenting significant issues associated with China’s defense, security and space policy.  “Several interpretations of China’s intentions have emerged,” she writes, “with no clear consensus among experts on which most accurately discuss Chinese government policy.  The essay ends with a brief discussion of US policy responses to the January 2007 test, and what might be in store for future US-China relations.”

The Chinese Academy of Sciences, by William A. Blanpied, Senior Research Scholar, George Mason University, with advise from Richard P. Suttmeier, Professor of Political Science, University of Oregon.  The Chinese Academy of Sciences is by far the largest performer of research in China’s academic community through over 90 research institutes. It also manages the largest graduate school in the country.  This Policy Brief highlights the history of CAS from its establishment in 1949, through the early years of the current century, touching upon ongoing efforts at reforming and reorganizing the CAS institute system.

Nanoscience and Technology in China, Evan Michelson, Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He was assisted in preparing this policy brief by Andrew Maynard of the Emerging Nanotechnology Project at the Woodrow Wilson International Center, and Richard Appelbaum and Rqachel Park, both at the Nanotechnology Policy Center at the University or California, Santa Barbara. Mr. Michelson first describes the potential and current state of nanotechnology applications, along with an overview of worldwide governance and oversight strategies. Second, he focuses on the rise of nanotechnology in China, highlighting China’s increased policy emphasis, funding, and infrastructure development for nanotechnology. Third, he addresses some of the key actions China has taken to address the broader social impacts of nanotechnology, including the development of environmental, health, and safety regulation; participation in international oversight activities; and emphasizing public outreach and engagement. He concludes with the assessment that China’s rise as an elite nanotechnology country has the potential to create a renewed interest in ensuring that the technology is developed in a safe and responsible manner.

Engineering Education in China and the United States, James L. Melsa, Dean Emeritus of the College of Engineering at Iowa State University. He was assisted in preparing this policy brief by Jane Chu Prey of Microsoft Corporation, Winfred M. Phillips, University of Florida, Gretchen Kalonji, University of California, and Stephen W. Director, Drexel University. Dr. Melsa provides a comprehensive look at engineering education activities in China beginning with comments on the high interest in engineering education at the pre-college level. He notes that undergraduate engineering education in China is changing rapidly with movement towards quality assurance being assisted of US-based organizations. With regard to graduate, post-doctoral education and faculty exchanges, Chinese universities are entering into partnerships with US universities with the dual goals of improving graduate education in China as well as providing opportunities for Chinese students to get a quality graduate education with the goal of retaining them in China. Distance education presents some very great opportunities for China as it struggles to provide high-quality education to a large number of students in a variety of locations. Finally, the brief speaks of university-industry partnerships.

Embryonic Stem Cell Research in China, Amanda Dickins, Centre for Biomedicine and Society, School of Social Science & Public Policy, King's College London and Aaron D. Levine, School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology. The brief, based on research carried out in Global Politics of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Science project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of its Stem Cell Programme, begins with an introduction to embryonic stem cell science, the ethical controversy surrounding this research, and the policy environment that has emerged to govern this field.  Laws and regulations in several countries are listed.  The authors then focus on China's role in this emerging field.  Specifically, they discuss China's oversight system for human embryonic stem cell science and the funding available for stem cell research in China.  The brief concludes with a listing of some of the leading embryonic stem cell scientists in China and an assessment of China's research output in this field.  Based on data and information summarized in the brief, with the authors conclude that China is a rapidly emerging, but not dominant, player in embryonic stem cell research.

 

Information About the Policy Briefs Project

Since 1999, with support from the National Science Foundation, the Program on U.S.-China Cooperation in Science Policy, Research and Education of the George Mason University Science and Trade Policy Program has held nine seminars, workshops and forums.  All have addressed the U.S.-China relationships in science and technology (S&T) policy.

The Policy Briefs represent an attempt to summarize this information (and other information and data from reliable sources) to address specific concerns of decision makers, other experts, and the informed public in the United States.  A list of intended topics for Policy Briefs is given below. These topics emerged in part from a series of interviews and consultations held with decision makers in the Washington, DC area.  The list is dynamic not static, and suggestions for changes are welcomed.

We hope the topics, unique format and reliable content of the Policy Briefs will make them useful.  The intended output is a better informed decision making process and a better informed public in this country.  The Policy Briefs will be updated through a modified "Wikipedia" approach.  Both the results of this process and the process itself should attract many people who are engaged in or interested in S&T policy in China.   We hope they will participate in producing and developing the Policy Briefs.  You are invited to send suggestions for additions to the list or your comments on specific briefs.  Email us your comments.

POLICY BRIEFS LIST

Topics of Broad Interest

A list of intended topics for Policy Briefs is given below. These topics emerged in part from a series of interviews and consultations held with decision makers in the Washington, DC area.  The list is dynamic not static, and suggestions for changes are welcomed. Email us your suggestions.

  1. R&D in China (including structure, how much, who does it, who pays for it)
  2. Basic Research in China
  3. Research in China’s Academic Sector, including bilateral cooperation and co-publication with US scientists
  4. China’s Evolving Role in Global Science Megaprojects
  5. Industrial Research in China
  6. Role of SoEs (State Owned Enterprises) in China’s Industrial Research
  7. Standards (and their policy role) in China and the United States
  8. S&T in U.S. Business Relationships with China (including role of Chinese Americans)
  9. Role of American (and other Foreign) Companies in Chinese Research
  10. Commercialization of Research in China
  11. High Tech Industry in China
  12. E-Commerce/Cyberinfratructure in China
  13. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in China
  14. Export Controls and the U.S-China S&T Relationship
  15. K-12 S&T Education in China
  16. Undergraduate S&T Education in China
  17. Engineering Education in China
  18. Graduate (and Post-Doctoral) Education in China
  19. China’s International S&T Relations
  20. Approaches to Evaluation of Research from project to Program to National Leval as well as Prioritization of Government Investments
  21. Challenge to Fund Long-Range, Fundamental, Risk-Taking Research with no Obvious Payoff
  22. Mechanisms to Promote Multi-Disciplinary and Multi-Institutional Research Activities in High Priority Areas
  23. Integration of Research and Education at the University Level
  24. Adult Education Science, Engineering and Technology – Retraining to Meet Technology Needs of the Workforce
  25. China’s Role in ‘South-South’ S&T Collaboration

Research in Key Disciplines in China

  1. Nano Science and Technology in China
  2. Biosciences in China
  3. Earthquake Science and Engineering in China
  4. Environmental Science in China
  5. Information Technology in China
  6. Astronomy and Astrophysics
  7. Atmospheric, Oceanographic and Climate Science

Research in Key National Areas of Emphasis for China

  1. Energy R&D in China
  2. Health Research in China
  3. Agricultural Research in China
  4. Environmental and Global Change Research in China
  5. Defense and Space Research in China

Major S&T Institutions in China

  1. Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)
  2. National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
  3. Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
  4. Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE)
  5. Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
  6. China Association for Science and Technology (CAST)

Integrative Phase

The list above represents an approach to policy that in some cases is pursued by breaking complex issues into small parts. The logical next question is how will they be synthesized?  One approach is to pursue some integrative efforts aimed at linking elements of the list. Brief 19 (above) hints at this. How this can best be done is under study. Suggestions are welcome.

FORMAT/CHARACTERISTICS OF POLICY BRIEFS

 

STEERING GROUP

General oversight of the Policy Briefs Project is provided by a Steering Group co-chaired by Ed David and Neal Lane. The Steering Group suggests and reviews policy topics and potential authors, comments on individual briefs, and suggests ways to make the dissemination of briefs more effective.

The Steering Group approves the general process by which Policy Briefs are produced.  Its members may agree or disagree with specific content of individual briefs. The content of individual briefs, including associated editorial and policy judgments, is the responsibility of the authors and reviewers, and should not be attributed to the Steering Group itself.

Members of the Steering Group are:

Edward E. David, Jr., Co-Chair
President, EED Inc.

Neal Lane, Co-Chair
Edward A. and Hermena Hancock Kelly University Professor
Rice University

Erich Bloch
The Washington Advisory Group

Joseph Bordogna
Alfred Fitler Moore Professor of Engineering
University of Pennsylvania

Rita Colwell
Distinguished University Professor, University of Maryland College Park and
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health

Evan Michelson
Research Associate for the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies
Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars

Norman Neureiter
Director, Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy
American Association for the Advancement of Science

William A. Wulf
AT&T Professor of Engineering 
University of Virginia 

©2006 George Mason School of Law