A modest proposal for a new beginning: a Hippocratic Oath for S&T workers

过去大约30年里，中国的科学研究实现了巨大的发展，经济和社会均取得了奇迹般的进步。作为一名身在海外的华人科学家，我为这些成就深感骄傲。但快速发展向来会带来一些需要解决的次要问题，中国学者学术不端的问题众所周知，造成这个问题的制度性原因也引起了广泛的讨论，此处无需赘述。习近平主席领导的反腐运动取得了成功，减少学术不端行为正是这场运动的一部分。我想提的建议，是朝解决这个问题的方向迈出的一小步。这个建议的优点在于成本低，可能会带来实效甚至开创先河，并在世界范围内产生影响。同时，也有一些实验证据表明，这个办法兴许管用。 
 
 
 
 
在美国和我熟悉的一些中国高校，所有的博士论文作者都被要求签署声明，承诺论文属于“原创，不包含其他个人或集体已发表或撰写过的成果……”，并将声明和论文放在一起，作为论文的一个组成部分。否则，论文就无法通过。尽管有人可能没有如实签署，但一旦被发现，这种行为造成的后果即刻显现。对这样的规定有所了解也有助于从一开始制止不端行为。 
 
 
 
 
因此，我建议中国科学院和中国工程院率先行动，发起一个公开的全国学者签名系统，从学术带头人开始，敦促所有学者签署声明，承诺“从今往后”不会在工作中参与学术不端行为。这一签名系统可以按学科或机构划分，并由相关机构在网上公示，接受广大群众监督。 
 
 
 
 
这种签名系统的好处数不胜数。我只列出其中一些，以解释我为什么认为值得去做。 
 
1. 因为是公开的，这个签名系统会对签署人从事不端行为的念头起到威慑作用。 
 
2. 有了这个系统，任何不端行为都完全由签署人负责。这将使相关机构免受指责和丑闻的影响，并避开“家丑不可外扬”的传统。这一传统往往导致不端行为被掩盖，而非受到惩罚。 
 
3. 一旦知名学者带头签名，其他没签名的学者就会感到有压力。（毕竟，谁能反对这种承诺呢？你为什么没签呢？） 
 
4. 对中国科学院和中国工程院来说，实施这个方案的成本相对较低，同时益处又很多。 
 
5. 此举将向世界表明中国制止学术不端行为的决心，并为其他国家和地区树立榜样。 
 
 
 
 
当然，我知道实施这样一个方案存在障碍，可能会遭到反对。首先，根据我的经验和我对中国的了解，任何事情要想成功，必须自上而下来执行。因此我呼吁，中国科学院和中国工程院如果觉得这么做值得，就带头制定这样的制度。只需要获得他们的批准，其他几乎不需要做什么。我相信，学术界会热情支持。 
 
 
 
 
其次，包括院士在内的知名科学家可能会认为，签署这样的承诺书有损他们的尊严，甚至是对他们的侮辱。的确如此，但我只想指出，医学界要求所有医生（不管知名与否，包括诺贝尔奖得主在内）在约束道德行为的希波克拉底誓词【译注：希波克拉底誓词（Hippocratic Oath），俗称医师誓词，是西方医生按照传统在行医前的誓言】上签名。如果医学界都这么做了，为什么其他科技界不能？如果像中国科学院和中国工程院这样的领头羊机构带头组织这一签名系统，谁都不应该觉得是一种侮辱。事实上，因为带头为中国做出了贡献，人们应该感到这是一种荣誉。签名可以被视为一种爱国主义行为，你签名不是因为个人利益，而是为了鼓励其他人。即便有院士真的感觉签名牺牲了个人的尊严，那就把它看作是政府给予你作为知名科学家或院士的一切待遇后，需要你做出的一个小小牺牲吧。 
 
 
 
 
第三，一些人可能会觉得这是政府耍的花招，对他们过去为不端行为撒谎进行定罪，不管那些失检行为有多么不起眼。因此，这个建议不涉及过去，只针对“从今往后”的情况。 
 
 
 
 
当然，对于这一方案的执行，还需制定具体的细节。但我把它留给中国的研究人员去完成，他们更加熟悉传统和习惯。对于同意这一提议的读者，希望你们致信中国科学院、中国工程院或者《国家科学评论》，表示支持。


Yu-Chi Ho
In the last 30 some years, Chinese scientific research has seen tremendous growth, along with the miraculous economic and social progresses. As an oversea Chinese scientist, I am very proud of the achievements. Rapid growths always come with some side issues that need to be addressed along the way. The problem of scholarly misbehavior in China is well known and the systemic causes of the problem have also been extensively discussed. There is no need for me to repeat them here. Under President Xi's successful anti-corruption effort, reducing such misbehavior is one component of the effort. What I would like to propose is a modest step towards the solution of this problem. The advantages of the proposal are that it is inexpensive, can be effective, possibly precedent setting, and have worldwide impact. There is also some experimental evidence that it may work.
In the USA as well as some universities in China with which I am familiar, all authors of Ph.D. thesis are required to sign and incorporate as an integral part of their written thesis a pledge that the work is 'original and not copied from other sources...'; otherwise, the thesis cannot be approved. While someone may falsely sign such a pledge, the consequence is immediate when discovered. Knowing such a requirement also helps to prevent misbehavior from the start.
Hence, I propose that the Chinese Academies of Sciences and of Engineering take lead in initiating and maintain a public National Register for Scholar Pledges. Every scholar starting with leaders is urged to sign a pledge that from 'this day forward' they will not engaged in scholarly misbehavior in their work. The register can be divided via disciplines and/or institutions publically maintain on the World Wide Web (www) for all to see.
The advantages of such a register are numerous. Let me just mention a few of them as to why do I believe the effort is worthwhile.
1. Since the register is public, it will serve as a deterrent against temptations for misbehavior by signers. 2. Any misbehavior will now be the sole responsibility of the signers. This will absolve the institution from any blame/scandal and avoid the Chinese custom 'not display family dirty laundry in public' which leads to cover up rather than sanctions. 3. Once started by leading scholars as signers, pressure will begin to exist on other non-signers. (After all, how can anyone be against such a pledge? And why didn't you sign?) 4. It will be relatively costless for the Academies to implement such a scheme while the benefits are many. 5. It will show the world China's determination to stop scholarly misbehavior and an example for the rest of the world.
Of course, I am aware that there are obstacles and possible objections to such a scheme. First, it has been my experience and knowledge of China that for any task to succeed, the order must first come from the top. Thus, I urge the CAS and CAE to take lead in initiating this if they feel the effort will be worthwhile. Only their approval is needed. Very little effort on their part is necessary. The scientific public, I believe, will enthusiastically support it.
Second, leading scientists including academicians may consider signing such a register beneath their dignity or even insulting. This is very true. But let me just point out that the medical profession requires all doctors (famous or not, including Nobel laureates) subscribe to the Hippocratic Oath on ethical behavior. If medicine practices this, why shouldn't all sciences and technology? If the S&T leaders such as the Academies of Sciences and of Engineering take lead in organizing such a register, no one should feel this as an insult. In fact, by taking the lead to do something for China, one can feel it is an honor to do so. Signing can be viewed as an act of patriotism. You sign not because of personal benefit but as an aspiration for others. Even if an academician genuinely feels it is a sacrifice of his/her dignity to sign, just consider it as a small sacrifice in return for all the benefits the government bestowed on you as a leading scientist or academician.
Third, some people may feel this is a trick by the government to convict them of lying for any indiscretions however small they may have committed in the Of course, detailed implementation of such a scheme needs to be worked out. But I leave it to Chinese researchers who are much more familiar with tradition and customs to determine. And for readers who agree with this proposal, you are urged to support it by writing to the Chinese Academies or this journal.

MSM and HIV-1 infection in China
Hong Shang 1, * and Linqi Zhang 2, * Addressing HIV-1/AIDS problem in China's complex socioeconomic environment has never been straightforward. Dynamic economic changes over the past few decades continue to create new challenges to intervention efforts, particularly among one of the worst hit and hardest to reach populations, men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM represents a diverse population coming from all walks of life and largely resides in urban settings. Increasing proportion has been coming from young and well-educated professionals, including college students. Developing effective intervention measures to target MSM has become critical to China's HIV-1/AIDS prevention efforts. Not only does recent data indicate that HIV-1 infections have been rising rapidly among the MSM in China, but studies have shown that Chinese MSM commonly participate in high-risk behaviors that make this population a potential bridge for generalized disease transmission. Comprehensive, coordinated and creative strategies from the key stake holders have to be implemented and reinforced in a timely fashion before the epidemic runs out of control and further spread into the general population.

ALARMING STATISTICS
HIV-1/AIDS in China was initially identified among populations of intravenous drug users (IDUs)   where the epidemic was first identified, compared to an average prevalence of 5% overall [7]. We recently undertook a perspective study of 8943 MSM in 11 major Chinese cities and showed the average prevalence of HIV-1 infection to be 9.9% with average incidence of 5.5 per 100 person-years (/100PY), a startling number similar to those reported elsewhere [8-10] and notably higher than that of female sex workers (1.4/100PY) and IDUs (0.7/100PY) in China [11]. Considering China's size and widespread population, national statistics can fail to reflect the severity of localized epidemics. For instance, in one northeastern city, Shenyang, HIV-1 incidence rose from 4.7/100 PY to as high as 10.2/100PY between 2007 and 2009 [12]. These cases were also associated with high incidence