China's Great Science Leap

Episodes

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01Cells and Chips20210824

President Xi Jinping is investing seriously into his strategic vision of turning China into a nation of scientific pace-setters. China's past contributions to modern science have been proportionally lacklustre, but with a reinvigorated focus over the past two decades, China is fast turning from imitator to innovator. What might this increasing scientific prowess mean for the future of China's development as well for the international scientific community?

Whereas once many Chinese scientists chose to go abroad to further their careers, presenter Dr Kevin Fong hears how the government has sought to lure its brightest researchers back. He asks what that means for both scientific collaborations and the culture of science in China and the UK. As scientific research relies on transparent information sharing, what are the challenges of collaborating with an authoritarian regime?

In this first episode, Kevin hears how Chinese science has advanced over recent decades following a low point during the Chinese Cultural revolution. He speaks to a Chinese bio-chemist about his career in the USA and finds out why he decided to move back to China to start a biotech business. At Loughborough University, Kevin meets a team of researchers working on Artificial Intelligence tools with Chinese counterparts, to help monitor and predict air pollution.

But is the UK an equal partner and beneficiary of these academic partnerships? As China is set to become the UK's most significant research partner, at a time of rising geopolitical tensions, we examine how the UK might navigate these choppy waters and what the risks and benefits of scientific collaboration might be.

Will China\u2019s ambitions in space, quantum & biotech lead it to science super-power status?

Dr Kevin Fong investigates China's ambitions to become the next science super-power.

01Cells and Chips2021082420210830 (R4)

President Xi Jinping is investing seriously into his strategic vision of turning China into a nation of scientific pace-setters. China's past contributions to modern science have been proportionally lacklustre, but with a reinvigorated focus over the past two decades, China is fast turning from imitator to innovator. What might this increasing scientific prowess mean for the future of China's development as well for the international scientific community?

Whereas once many Chinese scientists chose to go abroad to further their careers, presenter Dr Kevin Fong hears how the government has sought to lure its brightest researchers back. He asks what that means for both scientific collaborations and the culture of science in China and the UK. As scientific research relies on transparent information sharing, what are the challenges of collaborating with an authoritarian regime?

In this first episode, Kevin hears how Chinese science has advanced over recent decades following a low point during the Chinese Cultural revolution. He speaks to a Chinese bio-chemist about his career in the USA and finds out why he decided to move back to China to start a biotech business. At Loughborough University, Kevin meets a team of researchers working on Artificial Intelligence tools with Chinese counterparts, to help monitor and predict air pollution.

But is the UK an equal partner and beneficiary of these academic partnerships? As China is set to become the UK's most significant research partner, at a time of rising geopolitical tensions, we examine how the UK might navigate these choppy waters and what the risks and benefits of scientific collaboration might be.

Will China\u2019s ambitions in space, quantum & biotech lead it to science super-power status?

Dr Kevin Fong investigates China's ambitions to become the next science super-power.

02Satellites and Space20210831

President Xi Jinping is investing seriously into his strategic vision of turning China into a nation of scientific pacesetters. China's past contributions to modern-science have been proportionally lacklustre, but with a reinvigorated focus over the past two decades, China is fast turning from imitator to innovator. What might this increasing scientific prowess mean for the future of China's development as well for the international scientific community?

Whereas once many Chinese scientists chose to go abroad to further their careers, presenter Dr Kevin Fong hears how the government has sought to lure its brightest researchers back and what that means for both scientific collaborations and the culture of science in China and the UK. As scientific research relies on transparent information sharing, what are the challenges of collaborating with an authoritarian regime?

In this second episode Kevin explores China's booming space programme and quantum advancements; from a newly built space station to the launch of the world's first quantum satellite.

Kevin speaks to Professor Jian-Wei Pan, a scientist whose illustrious career is a list of quantum firsts and hears how China is fast making inroads into quantum computing and communications. We imagine what a quantum future - with China at the forefront - might look like and whether this potentially game-changing technology will be developed in a collaborative or competitive spirit.

Will China\u2019s ambitions in space, quantum and biotech lead it to science superpower status?

Dr Kevin Fong investigates China's ambitions to become the next science super-power.

02Satellites and Space2021083120210906 (R4)

President Xi Jinping is investing seriously into his strategic vision of turning China into a nation of scientific pacesetters. China's past contributions to modern-science have been proportionally lacklustre, but with a reinvigorated focus over the past two decades, China is fast turning from imitator to innovator. What might this increasing scientific prowess mean for the future of China's development as well for the international scientific community?

Whereas once many Chinese scientists chose to go abroad to further their careers, presenter Dr Kevin Fong hears how the government has sought to lure its brightest researchers back and what that means for both scientific collaborations and the culture of science in China and the UK. As scientific research relies on transparent information sharing, what are the challenges of collaborating with an authoritarian regime?

In this second episode Kevin explores China's booming space programme and quantum advancements; from a newly built space station to the launch of the world's first quantum satellite.

Kevin speaks to Professor Jian-Wei Pan, a scientist whose illustrious career is a list of quantum firsts and hears how China is fast making inroads into quantum computing and communications. We imagine what a quantum future - with China at the forefront - might look like and whether this potentially game-changing technology will be developed in a collaborative or competitive spirit.

Will China\u2019s ambitions in space, quantum and biotech lead it to science superpower status?

Dr Kevin Fong investigates China's ambitions to become the next science super-power.