This book analyses and compares the origins, evolutionary patterns and consequences of different science and technology controversies in China, including hydropower resistance, disputes surrounding ...genetically modified organisms and the nuclear power debate. The examination combines social movement theories, communication studies, and science and technology studies. Taking a multidisciplinary approach, the book provides an insight into the interwoven relationship between social and political controls and knowledge monopoly, and looks into a central issue neglected by previous science communication studies: why have different controversies shown divergent patterns despite similar social and political contexts? It is revealed that the media environment, political opportunity structures, knowledge-control regimes and activists’ strategies have jointly triggered, nurtured and sustained these controversies and led to the development of different patterns. Based on these observations, the author also discusses the significance of science communication studies in promoting China’s social transformation and further explores the feasible approach to a more generic framework to understand science controversies across the world. The book will be of value to the academics of science communication, science and technology studies, political science studies and sociology, as well as general readers interested in China’s science controversies and social movements. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/e/9781003160212, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.
This essay critically traces the development of public engagement with science in China in the past decade and relevant scholarly studies. While confirming the country’s tremendous progress in the ...field achieved either by official efforts or by social media empowerment, it argues that science communication advances have not realized the public engagement with science ideal of enabling the public to participate in constructive dialogue for policymaking. However, citing recent studies on the specifics of China’s science communication, ranging from scientists’ reliance on their organization, to the consequences of attitudinal polarization, this article appeals to an alternative research agenda to broaden our understanding of the dynamic science communication process in the world’s most populous nation.
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A large body of research has found that people's beliefs in conspiracy theories about infectious diseases negatively impacts their health behaviors concerning vaccination. Conspiracy belief-based ...vaccination hesitancy has become more rampant after the global outbreak of COVID-19. However, some important questions remain unanswered. For instance, do different versions of conspiracy theories-particularly conspiracy theories about the origin of the epidemic (e.g., that the SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a Wuhan virology laboratory or that the virus was of foreign origin) and the general theories about vaccine conspiracies (e.g., pharmaceutical companies covered up the danger of vaccines or people are being deceived about the effectiveness of vaccines)-have the same effect on vaccination intentions? Through a national survey adopting quota sampling in China, the current study tested the relationship between people's conspiracy beliefs and their intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. The findings show that people's embrace of conspiracy theories did indeed affect their intention to take COVID-19 shots. However, only conspiracy theories related to vaccines had a significant impact, while belief in more general theories about COVID-19 did not significantly affect vaccination intentions. People's knowledge of vaccines (vaccine literacy) played an important role in this relationship. People with lower beliefs in vaccines conspiracy theories and higher levels of vaccine literacy were more likely to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.
The high-speed welding of friction stir welding can improve the production efficiency of the equipment. The orthogonal experiment method was used to study the high-speed welding process parameters of ...aluminum alloy. The mechanical properties of welded joints were tested, and the influence of process parameters on welding quality was analyzed. A data collection platform was designed, and the spindle axial force of the spindle and the three-directional force of the worktable were collected during the welding process. The relationship between the process force and process parameters was studied. From the perspective of macroscopic metallography, the causes of welding defects and the influence of process parameters are studied. The research results show that the mechanical properties of the welded joint are optimal and meet the requirements of welding quality when the process parameters are the tool rotational speed of 5000 rpm, the welding speed of 3000 mm/min, and the plunge depth of 0.25 mm.
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This study examines Chinese civil servants' attitudes toward genetically modified organisms by reviewing a national survey of 3,018 Chinese civil servants. The findings show that Chinese civil ...servants hold a more positive attitude to GMOs than the wider Chinese "general public", with a similar level of genetic scientific literacy and belief in GMOs conspiracy theories and their influence mechanisms. While the Chinese civil servants' occupational literacy plays an important role in their GMOs attitude. This study provides a new mind-set for studying some specific groups' attitudes toward GMOs and related food policies.
In 2014, China launched the so-called Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21 st-Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative＇ （officially abbreviated as Belt and Road Initiative, or B＆R） to promote economic and ...infrastructure cooperation in Asia and East Europe. Besides promising billions of dollars＇investment and financial aid, China has also vowed to increase science and technology （S＆ T） collaboration with countries covered in the initiative： currently 65 countries in West Asia, Southeast Asia, South and Central Asia, former Soviet Union, and East and Central Europe. The B＆ R Initiative reached a milestone when leaders of 28 nations gathered in Beijing between 14 and 15 May 2017for a summit to map out its roadmap. At the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinp ing announced investment of 100 billion yuan （US$14.5 billion） into the Silk Road Fund established in 2014 by China. Along with the government＇s investment, President Chunli Bai of the Chinese Academy of Sciences （CAS） has also announced a blueprint of an S＆T cooperation network, to be completed by 2030.
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Nanjing University, where Zhu was a professor of environmental chemistry, is among the world's best research institutions in the Earth and environmental sciences, but he was attracted to Peking ...University's College of Urban and Environmental Sciences for its resources, its concentration of leading scientists, its location in the capital, and the offer of a fully tenured professorship. Beijing's position as the number one science city in the Nature Index is based on article output in 82 high-quality journals chosen by an independent group of researchers. The practice of leading scientists having multiple labs at different universities or research institutes, particularly those where they previously worked, is common, because it not only helps their graduate students finish their programmes smoothly, but it helps former employers harvest more authorships and research grants.
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