China To Overtake US In Science In Two Years 362
An anonymous reader writes "China is set to overtake America in scientific output as soon as 2013 — far earlier than expected. Chinese research spending has grown by 20% per year since 1999, now reaching over $100bn, and as many as 1.5 million science and engineering students graduated from Chinese universities in 2006. 'I think this is positive, of great benefit, though some might see it as a threat and it does serve as a wake-up call for us not to become complacent,' said Professor Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith. However, the report points out that a growing volume of research publications does not necessarily mean an increase in quality."
Definition of a grad student... (Score:5, Funny)
...a machine for turning ramen into "scientific output".
Re:What, people measure scientific output? (Score:4, Funny)
"China is set to overtake America in scientific output as soon as 2013" sounds like something that would bubble up in a Civ 4 or 5 game.
Re:What, people measure scientific output? (Score:5, Funny)
Is there some way to objectively measure it? Number of patents, number of papers, what?
In two turns their SuperComputer will be completed. Since they have a higher population, they'll get more research points. But if we build a Space Station, we can overtake them in 25 years.
Re:this is the thing that bothers me (Score:5, Funny)
Science is absolutely not a competition. Was Argentina harmed because the US went to the moon?
John F Kennedy, 1961: "We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade, and do the other things, not because it is easy but because it will annoy Argentina."
Not entirely (Score:4, Funny)
The USA's lead in Creation Science is expected to be safe.