Volume 1: Student Life Chapter 371 I Really Can’t Spend It…
"President Sun, let me ask you, what do you mean by not spending more or less?"
Chen Zhou asked with a strange expression.
After Dean Sun’s reminder , Chen Zhou noticed that he was indeed the first person to complete a project among the national “Thousand Talents Plan”.
He is also the person who has completed a project submitted for a national plan in the shortest time in history.
Especially in the current public opinion environment, his use of funds is likely to be infinitely magnified.
Chen Zhou is not unaware of the strange phenomenon of scientific research funding in the domestic academic circle.
Earlier in 2013, the national science and technology department said the word "angry" twice at a press conference.
Expressing anger, sadness and surprise about the "vicious problems" in scientific research funding.
In fact, China's investment in scientific research funds has been increasing year by year. However, compared with the continued high growth in funding and the ever-expanding scientific research team, there are very few scientific and technological innovation capabilities and breakthrough and original results in scientific research.
We have more money and more people, but why are our scientific research results not improving?
In addition to the basic reason of weak foundation, there are also certain problems in the management and use of scientific research funds.
However, he had never paid much attention to this aspect, so he naturally ignored this issue.
But now, he has the country's scientific research funds in his hands, and it is time to complete the project, so naturally he needs to face this problem.
Dean Sun glanced at Chen Zhou and asked softly, "Do you know about the 'zero surplus ?"
Chen Zhou nodded: "When the project is completed or expires, all unspent funds must be returned."
Chen Zhou still knows this basic common sense.
"That's right." Dean Sun glanced at Chen Zhou and continued, "But do you know? If you have too much surplus funds, it will affect your next funding application."
Chen Zhou was slightly stunned and asked in confusion: "Shouldn't the funding be based on the project?"
Dean Sun explained: "It is based on the topic. However, the difficulty of the topic is there, and the uncertainty of the topic is also there."
"Take the Jebov conjecture that you proved, for example. It's a world-class mathematical problem that has troubled the mathematical community for hundreds of years. So, you applied for 1.8 million in research funding all at once."
"But have you ever thought about it? If it weren't you, generally speaking, no one would directly take it as a research topic."
"Even if we apply for funding for a research project, it will be done step by step, one step at a time, and it will take many years to produce a result."
At this point, Dean Sun glanced at Chen Zhou and said helplessly, "Because no one is like you. Solving mathematical conjectures is as easy as eating and drinking water."
Chen Zhou said unhappily: "No way, I also spent several months..."
"Yes, yes, several months..." Dean Sun smiled helplessly, but did not argue with Chen Zhou about this issue. Instead, he said, "You solved it in several months and did not spend much money. But it's different for others. Others need to spend a lot of time to solve the same difficult problems."
Chen Zhou roughly understood what President Sun meant.
If this is my first completed project, it didn't cost me much money at all.
Other people's topics, especially those in terms of difficulty, are not as difficult as my own.
When it comes to the end of the project, how should I write about the use of funds?
Dean Sun glanced at Chen Zhou who seemed to be thinking about something, and then said, "Moreover, the funds for your project this time were too little. The next round of scientific research funds will also be approved based on this sample."
"Since you have solved such a difficult problem with such a small amount of money, then naturally, you can solve a problem of the same difficulty with the same amount of money ."
Chen Zhou frowned slightly. Isn't a scientific research project an engineering construction with a clear time node?
Scientific research is the exploration of the unknown world and has a great deal of unpredictability.
It is common that plans are not as fast as changes.
And "accidents" are always around.
Sometimes, "unexpected" discoveries are often outstanding.
Such rigid regulations actually disrespect the laws of scientific research.
Effective budget management is necessary, but it cannot be rigid.
However, Chen Zhou thought so after his last conversation with Wu Xiping and Zhang Zhongyuan.
He would not take the initiative to do anything out of the ordinary.
So Chen Zhou asked: "President Sun, I understand what you mean, so what should I do now?"
Dean Sun thought for a moment and asked, "How much have you spent on your research?"
Chen Zhou calculated silently for a moment, then said somewhat embarrassedly: "I spent less than 100,000..."
Dean Sun was surprised and asked, "So little? You spent less than 100,000 yuan out of 1.8 million yuan?"
Chen Zhou nodded: "I really can't spend it..."
This is the result of Chen Zhou spending a lot of money.
If he follows his usual simple style, he probably won't even spend 20,000.
Dean Sun glanced at Chen Zhou and asked, "Where did you spend all your money?"
Chen Zhou replied: "I bought all kinds of study supplies, such as draft paper, pens, document downloads, website memberships, etc. You know, some websites don't allow downloads if you are not a member..."
Chen Zhou talked a lot, and Dean Sun became more and more confused the more he listened.
But Dean Sun also felt somewhat relieved and appreciative.
Chen Zhou said so much, but he didn't spend a penny on himself.
This is completely different from some "project bosses".
However, based on the expenditure of 100,000 yuan, it is really too little.
If Chen Zhou continues to apply for funding for the next project, I'm afraid he won't even be able to get 500,000.
But then again, scientific research in the field of pure mathematics really doesn't cost much.
But this is the first time I have seen so few people like Chen Zhou.
If you figure out computer configuration and software and hardware requirements, it will cost more than 100,000 yuan, right?
Moreover, it might take others a lifetime to study the Dzhebov conjecture, so how could it be as fast as Chen Zhou?
Moreover, if you want to publish the final research results, you will definitely need to pay a considerable amount of page charges.
Especially top journals like Annals of Mathematics.
But Chen Zhou was lucky, he even saved the publishing fee ...
Dean Sun looked at Chen Zhou and wanted to say something, but couldn't.
He didn't have any good ideas for Chen Zhou now.
It might even do more harm than good and turn a good idea into a bad one.
Considering Chen Zhou's special situation, Dean Sun said after some consideration: "Chen Zhou, I suggest that you write down all the situations in your research in the final project summary report and report them truthfully. Including details such as the exemption of publication fees, write them down clearly."
"Okay, I understand." Chen Zhou nodded, but still asked worriedly: "Then do I need to spend more money? I really can't spend this money..."
Dean Sun looked at Chen Zhou with a helpless look. This was probably the most frugal "project boss".
But when I think about it, Chen Zhou is alone, so he can’t be considered the “boss”, right?
