Chinese Journal of Nature ›› 2011, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (5): 294-299.

• History of Natural Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Rewarding Precedence for Scientific Discovery is a Double-edged Sword

YANG Jian-ye   

  1. Professor,Physics College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Wuhan 430074, China
  • Received:2011-03-31 Revised:2011-04-20 Online:2011-10-25 Published:2011-10-25

Abstract: The historical events in physics and the competition among scientists to establish precedence for scientific discovery were examined. The rewarding precedence for scientific discovery can be resulted as a double-edged sword.  Ensuring that credit is given to scientists for the discoveries they made may protect scientists’ rights and interests, inspire them, generate enthusiasm, and accelerate the development of scientific knowledge within a particular domain.  The race to publish findings, however, may lead to arguments over disputed claims of precedence or to the inappropriate actions that impinge upon the research of others.