China eclipsing US when it comes to science funding

Irecently visited the offices of our Ohio senators and Columbus-area legislators as part of congressional visits organized by the American Physical Society (APS). The goal of these visits was to discuss the importance of science to the American economy.

One of the most striking graphs provided by the APS showed the growth of research and development funding in both the United States and China over the past 10 years. The funding in both countries has increased over time, but whereas U.S. funding increased about 2 to 3 percent per year, China’s funding has increased almost 10 percent per year. This year is projected to be the first year that R&D funding in China will be more than that of the United States.

Why is China investing so heavily in science, including basic research in astronomy and particle physics? The answer, as any economist can tell you, is that science is the driver of economic growth.

Just think of all the technology that goes into a smartphone. At the heart of the device are electronic circuits based on the transistor, a 20th-century invention. The screen display is based on light-emitting diodes, or LEDS, which are from the late 20th century. The optics that go into the camera are quite advanced, providing pictures of exceptional quality.

In his State of the Union speech Tuesday, President Donald Trump mentioned science twice. He said that in the 20th century, America “transformed science.” Later, he talked about “our giant leaps of science and discovery.” There are many examples that show how advances in science have led to manufactured products that contribute to a strong economy.

China also has a strategic plan, issued in 2015, called Made in China 2025, with the goal of transitioning from manufacturing cheap, low-technology products to those of higher value, such as high-tech products. In products ranging from robotics to pharmaceuticals, China plans to overtake the United States, Germany and other high-tech countries in selling these high-value products by 2025. To do this, China has invested large sums of money in basic science and the training of engineering and science students.

The China 2025 plan is having noticeable effects worldwide.

For many years, applications for the graduate programs in physics and astronomy at my university included many highly qualified Chinese students. This pool of talent provided the doctoral students that helped on the research projects of many professors. Most of those students stayed in the U.S. after graduating, providing a trained workforce for both industry and academic research. But in the past few years, the number of Chinese applicants has decreased rapidly. Those students are now finding opportunities in teaching and research in cutting-edge science facilities in China.

On the international stage, China’s space program has made incredible progress. You might have heard about the Chinese rover that landed on the far side of the moon in early January. None of the Apollo moon missions landed on the far side, making China the first to do so. In addition, China intends to have its own space station, to be completed in 2020, and hopes to put a person on the moon by 2025. Equally rapid progress has been made in areas such as astronomical observatories and particle accelerators.

The bottom line is that the United States could lose its position as the scientific leader of the world within the next decade. Action by Congress to increase government funding of science would help, but this will happen only if our representatives are aware of the value of science to the economy and aware of the competition from other countries for new discoveries.

Kenneth Hicks is a professor of physics and astronomy at Ohio University in Athens. hicks@ohio.edu