(Another unexpected update! Are you surprised? Cough... There is one less sheep for the boss. Add update 2/2 for the boss)
Since we want to create a top academic journal belonging to China, it is natural for Xu Chuan to choose a Chinese journal and include papers written in Chinese.
However, when faced with this choice, Principal Tan Shaoyuan gently shook his head and suggested: "I don't really recommend this idea."
"If you only plan to circulate this journal in China or a few countries in Asia, then it doesn't matter."
"If you choose to create a journal with great influence around the world, an all-Chinese academic journal and paper, I am afraid that the number of scholars and the number of people you are willing to submit will be greatly reduced in the next few years, even more than ten years or even longer.
Everything inside will be restricted and locked to a great extent.”
"Because at present, the influence of Chinese is too small, both in terms of expanding the influence of academic journals and in terms of the default language in academia."
"Although this is cruel, it is indeed true."
"A journal that is purely in Chinese does sound very good, and I also long for a top academic journal that is purely in Chinese. But I can only say that the current foundation is far from enough."
"From the perspective of science communication, if we want to spread it around the world, as scientists, we currently have no choice."
"So overall, compared to pure Chinese journals, I recommend bilingual or dual-edition journals in Chinese and English. First, expand the influence of the journal little by little, and then slowly promote Chinese journals."
After a pause, Tan Shaoyuan sighed, and then said: "Also, let me tell you a story."
"A few years ago, I think it was 2014, when a foreign professor published a paper in Nature called "Convergence of Terrestrial Plant Production in Global Climate Gradients."
"And in this paper, 90% of the data studied came from the thesis of a Chinese Ph.D. from Fudan University."
"Another Australian non-Chinese professor later felt that there might be a problem with this paper, so after carefully reading the translation paper by Natuer and Dr. Fudan, he discovered the problem. Eventually, Nature published a correction to this paper."
"But later, through his own efforts, the Ph.D. from Fudan University confirmed that there were no problems with his paper and data."
"So do you know what the problem is?"
Before Xu Chuan could answer, he went on to give the answer.
"The problem is not that the data itself is wrong, but that the Chinese paper was translated by others and had translation problems, which led to errors in the paper on Natuer."
"In other words, if we choose a purely Chinese journal, similar problems may arise in terms of submission, appointment, review, and publication of Chinese and English papers."
"Not all contributors will choose to select and translate into two completely different languages. Similar situations may occur when other people read the paper."
After carefully listening to Principal Tan Shaoyuan's opinions and suggestions, Xu Chuan still had a smile on his face.
However, he did not change his opinion.
Indeed, what Principal Tan said were all problems.
To be honest, in the final analysis, the language of academic journals does not depend on the academic community, but on the internationally accepted language.
If Chinese were to be an internationally accepted language, then there would be no problem in creating purely Chinese academic journals. But unfortunately, due to issues left over from history, they are currently not.
Even though there are more than one billion Chinese speakers, the world's common language is still English.
As Tan Shaoyuan said, if we want to reverse it, we can only rely on the country's development bit by bit, expanding its influence around the world, and expanding the popularity of Chinese around the world.
but......
Thinking about this, Xu Chuan smiled. Xu Chuan looked up at Tan Shaoyuan and said, "Being bilingual is indeed a good suggestion, but...someone has to stand up and change this, right?"
"It might be good to take your time, but it might be difficult to change anything."
"I believe in the development of the motherland, and I am willing to be the wave of this trend and be at the forefront!"
Although English is now the mainstream of scientific research papers, with the changes of the times and the flapping of butterfly wings, the historical process has already changed.
Although there is still a certain gap between them and those Western countries in some fields such as chips, materials, precision instruments, and semiconductors.
However, with the realization of controllable nuclear fusion technology, as the first country to master the 'ultimate energy' in the early stages of mankind, these gaps are no longer so big.
Energy, materials, and information are the three important areas for the development of production science and technology in modern society, and are also the main support for scientific development.
But the most important thing is energy.
Even if materials and information are slightly inferior, they can be compensated for by cheap energy.
Therefore, the liberation of energy means endless productivity, and it also means that in various backward fields, they can quickly catch up through various means.
And when China leads the world in science and technology, if there is really not a single scientific research paper in Chinese.
Then Chinese will never become the mainstream language for scientific research papers.
Because once the mainstream language in high-level cultural exchanges is formed, it will have great inertia. Unless the world pattern is fundamentally reversed, it will be difficult to change.
Take your time, maybe it will be good, maybe not.
In severe cases, sometimes strong medicine is needed!
...
Seeing that Xu Chuan did not change his mind, Tan Shaoyuan also sighed inwardly.
In fact, if you really want to make the "Hope" journal bigger and stronger quickly, the best way is to use both Chinese and English.
He very much hopes to see a domestic journal that can stand up and carry the banner of domestic academic journals. The person in front of him is undoubtedly the person best able to realize this dream.
That's why he tried his best to help analyze the pros and cons, hoping to make the best choice.
It can be said that almost all domestic SCI journals with an impact factor of more than 10 are English journals, or have both Chinese and English versions.
Because only in this way can we be able to integrate with world academics, maximize the influence of journals and papers, and attract scholars from other countries to contribute.
It is really difficult for purely Chinese journals to establish their own authority and influence in today's international academic world.
Taking a deep breath, Tan Shaoyuan looked up at Xu Chuan and couldn't help but persuade him again: "Purely Chinese journals are really too difficult."
"Not only in terms of submissions and invitations, but also in terms of whether the academic community will accept such a journal, it is a very difficult task. Does Academician Xu really no longer think about it?"
Xu Chuan smiled and said confidently: "Even if they can reject a sub-magazine of "Hope", no one can reject a general issue of "Hope"!"
"As for the first issue of "Hope", I have already decided on the content. I believe no one will refuse!"
Hearing that Xu Chuan had confirmed the papers of the first issue, Tan Shaoyuan subconsciously asked: "What is the content?"
Xu Chuan smiled and said: "Unified Theory of Strong Electricity!"
Tan Shaoyuan: "...????"
Upon hearing this answer, his eyes widened immediately and he sucked in the cool air blown by the air conditioner.
Damn it!
"Unified Theory of Strong Electricity?"
This person actually plans to publish this ‘epic’ paper in a new journal that has not yet been officially established?
Although he may no longer care about the journal's divisions and the reputation of the journal itself, is this too... too fierce?
Unable to help but swallow his saliva, Tan Shaoyuan looked at Xu Chuan in shock, as if trying to get an answer from his face as to whether he was mistaken.
Seeing the question on his face, Xu Chuan smiled and said, "Why, can't you?"
Hearing this, Tan Shaoyuan came back to his senses, calmed down the shock in his heart and said with a smile: "Not really, it's just a bit too shocking."
"After all, this is the Unified Theory of Strong Electricity, the biggest crown in physics in the 21st century."
Xu Chuan said with a smile: "For the academic community, the most important thing about a result is not which top journal it is placed in, but its own value."
"Just like when Perelman posted the proof of the Poincaré Conjecture on arxiv instead of submitting it to authoritative journals such as the Annals of Mathematics or New Advances in Mathematics."
"The academic community did not bury it or deny it just because he posted the paper on a website like arxiv, which does not even have a public impact factor."
"Just like for an academic achievement, winning the prize is never its most glorious moment, but the moment when it is verified to be correct!"
.......
PS: Looking for opinions on a journal name, I suddenly got confused tonight.
Should it be called "Transcendence" or "Hope"?
Vote, give your opinion, and you can make changes while it's just getting started.
Another note: It’s the last day. Those of you who have monthly votes can vote. There will be an update in the afternoon.