Society

Voice from scientific workers in policy-making urged

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-29 21:19

BEIJING - Scientific workers should be more active in expressing their opinions as a way to support the country's scientific and technologic policy making, said Shi Laide, chairman of the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society.

Shi made the remarks on Sunday during a workshop of the eighth national congress of the the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), which opened in Beijing Friday.

He stressed that scientific researchers and workers should assume more responsibilities during the discussion and decision making process before the launch of the country's major projects.

Shi's opinion was echoed by other participants at the workshop.

When it comes to the country's major projects, economic interests shouldn't be the only factor considered, said Lin Donglu, secretary general of the Chinese Society of Rare Earths.

"The scientists should help to do research for the projects from scientific perspectives as well," Lin said.

Shi also emphasized the role of CAST as an organization to help the scientists to make contributions for the country's economic and social development.

Founded in 1958, CAST is a national, non-governmental organization of scientific, technological and engineering workers. It has member societies and local branches throughout the country.

Participants of CAST's eighth national congress also called on the scientific circle to make more efforts to promote the understanding of science among the general public.