The Art of Saying No

I am currently on sabbatical at Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University in Yangling, China where I have observed solid systematics work on non-applied groups (becoming rare in the West) and major research on hydroponics, forestry, etc.  While cloned C. elgans worms provide genetic uniformity for pure research at centers worldwide, the cloned sheep and other farm animals here advance practical research with direct consequences for farming and ranching. 

Across Asia, there is widespread support for science in contrast to the politicized anti-science/anti-intellectualism found in many Western countries. Indeed, with the animal rights movement shutting down use of more animal models in the U.S. and E.U., the West is abdicating to Asia the future of critical research based on these models.  Central planning for the public good, a culture of respect for science, and a rapid increase in educational level are overtaking Western private competition economies.

And the rapid increase in education level and general prosperity was only possible by controlling population growth. Those Asian populations that are not controlling growth are lagging behind.

John Richard Schrock