China Wants to Give Scientists Permission to Fail

Maybe this is a sign of growing scientific maturity. Or simple desperation. Either way, Chinese policymakers are putting together new legislation that would allow scientists to own up to experimental failures without jeopardizing their careers.

According to Xinhua, the official press arm of the Chinese government, legislators are hoping to cut down on a wave of recent academic fraud, most of which seems to have been aimed at gaining research funds. Backers of the measure are pointing to none other than Thomas Edison, who famously failed hundreds of times before finding the right materials for his electric light bulb.

Not that the pressure would be altogether off. The draft amendment (as translated by Xinhua) still has high expectations for researchers:

"Scientists and technicians, who have initiated research with a high risk of failure will still have their expenses covered if they can provide evidence that they have tried their best when they failed to achieve their goals."

From a scientific, technical, and even entrepreneurial standpoint, this seems essential. The scientific method is one of constant testing of hypotheses, and mistakes can be as edifying as successes. Sometimes even more so, if unexpected results are treated seriously, instead of massaged into an expected form.

Or take the tech business, one of the biggest beneficiaries of scientific research. How many entrepreneurs start multiple companies, fail, and then try again before finding something that works? How many prototypes fail to reach market, and how many products fail to resonate with the public before one iPod makes it big?

According to Xinhua, the National Natural Science Foundation of
China blacklisted 13 scholars for fraud earlier this month, the fourth round of so-called naming and shaming since 2005. A law freeing scientists from pressure to perform would indeed seem to be in order.

(Photo: Thomas Edison with light bulb. Credit: National Archives)