Yes, but is anyone listening?

Scholars have signed a petition for removal of a law that outlaws ``pseudoscience''

BEIJING: A storm is brewing between rival factions within the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) over the place of ``pseudoscience'' in academic research.

One hundred and fifty Chinese scholars have signed an online petition calling for the removal of a clause in the Chinese criminal law, promulgated in 2002, that outlaws ``pseudoscience'', or research that does not follow traditional scientific methods.

Song Zhenghai, a research fellow with the Institute of History of Natural Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), has submitted the petition, including the signatures of leading scholars, to the Ministry of Science and Technology.

``The word `pseudoscience', referring to scientific misconduct such as data fabrication and plagiarism, has often been misused to oppress traditional culture and scientific innovation,'' wrote Mr. Song in the petition.

Mr. Song suggested that the authorities concerned should clearly define ``pseudoscience'', cautiously apply the word and remove it from the Chinese Law on Popularisation of Science and Technology.

``Alternative scientists often feel frustrated that the fruits of their new research have been labelled `pseudoscience' by mainstream scientists,'' Mr. Song said.

Other CAS academics have rejected the petition as ``absurd''. One of them, He Zuoxiu, said, ``I am familiar with most of Mr. Song's supporters who, themselves, uphold pseudoscience and are looking for excuses for it.

``The concept of science originally came from the West and there are a series of scientific norms recognised internationally which we should obey all the time.

``Some people spread their ungrounded theories under the disguise of science, which society cannot accept.'' A few months ago, Fang Shi-min, a science essayist, labelled a prediction of Liu Zihua, a Chinese scholar in 1930s, as ``pseudoscience''. Liu's widow and son sued Mr. Fang and some newspapers for libel and last month a Beijing court ruled in their favour.

Liu used traditional Chinese theory to forecast the discovery of a tenth planet in the solar system, and wrote a thesis which won him the French national doctorate in 1938. — Xinhua