A Chinese defense engineer who donated his eight million yuan (US$1.17m) prize as a top science award winner to support education for underprivileged children in his hometown of Kunshan, Jiangsu Province has sparked discussions online.
Qian Qihu, an 82-year-old defense engineer with the Chinese Academy of Engineering, won the National Science and Technology Award for his achievements in modern defense engineering on January 8, media reported.
Some on social media praised Qian for his donation to the scholarship fund, saying it shows his desire to help educate China’s next generation of scientists.
However, a recent Beijing Youth Daily commentary offered a rebuttal, saying that award winners should not feel a moral obligation to donate their prizes.
This year marks big changes for the top national science and technology award. Previously, the award was only five million yuan (US$735,000), of which only 500,000 yuan (US$73,500) went to the winner. The remaining prize money was used for scientific research.
Not only were this year’s winners given access to the full amount, but the State also granted them the freedom to spend it as they wished.
Society should not force award recipients to cater to popular opinion, the paper commented. For example, a winner who donates prize money wins widespread praise from the public, which puts pressure on winners who do not make donations.
Also, the public should not criticize winners for using the prize money to purchase houses, cars and other personal items.
No matter how a winner uses their prize money, the public should not overlook their achievements. Otherwise, the prize money becomes more of a burden than an honor, read the commentary.
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