Academicians are very fascinated, they represent the ceiling of academics, but for China, there are no academicians of liberal arts. And in China, it is obvious that the liberal arts of Peking University are not a little stronger than the liberal arts of Tsinghua University.
However, as you can imagine, the first person to hold the title of academician of liberal arts was not a professor at Peking University, but a professor at Tsinghua University. More importantly, this honor of Academician of Liberal Arts is not selected in China, but by a European institution.
Wang Mou, a senior professor of liberal arts at Tsinghua University, was elected as a member of the European Academy of Sciences in 2024, which has attracted widespread attention and heated discussions in the academic community. It is true that the honor of being a member of the European Academy of Sciences is indeed considered a recognition of a scientist in some fields. However, this time, Professor Wang's election was questioned by netizens due to his status as a professor of social sciences.
Some netizens raised questions through social media, expressing their skepticism about the gold content of the academician of the European Academy of Sciences. They believe that there may be a phenomenon of fishing in troubled waters, and that some candidates may have obtained the title of academician through irregular means. This kind of questioning is not groundless, and there have been similar reports and discussions before, questioning the gold content of foreign academicians.
On the Internet, doubts about the gold content of the members of the European Academy of Sciences have intensified. Netizens have obtained information through various channels, and some institutions frequently send emails to some scholars, hoping to earn service fees through their operations, because some candidates may pay high service fees to obtain academician qualifications. This act is considered a manifestation of academic misconduct and seriously tarnishes the dignity and value of the title of academician. And some scholars may use this selection as a criterion to expand their influence.
For example, "Professor Deuterium", a doctor from a university, broke the news that he himself received an invitation from the institution, claiming that he only needed to pay a service fee of 40-1 million yuan to have the opportunity to become an academician or fellow of the European Academy of Natural Sciences. Just because Professor Deuterium didn't go to the selection doesn't mean that others didn't do it.
As soon as this remark came out, it immediately aroused doubts from all walks of life about the fairness and transparency of the process of co-opting foreign academicians. Many people are beginning to wonder if there are candidates who use this method to exchange money for academic honors.
For example, "Professor Deuterium" once revealed that Song, the director of the department of the People's Hospital of Wuhan University, was elected as an academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences, and the hospital released a report to celebrate. Some bloggers directly called to inquire whether the relevant expenses were borne by individuals or hospitals, and the hospital quickly removed the celebration news from the shelves. Far from calming public suspicions, this act has sparked more speculation and discussion.
Because of the increase in such things, the voices of skepticism are increasing. Many people have begun to wonder whether there is any unfairness in the election process of foreign academicians, and some have even raised the question of whether there is a case of obtaining academician status by paying high fees. In the past, it would have developed from a foreign water master and water doctor to a water academician.
Under these circumstances, it seems reasonable to question the election of Professor Wang of Tsinghua University. After all, if the title of academician can be bought with money, then where is its value and significance?
Under the current circumstances, we are unable to determine the specific circumstances of Professor Wang's election as a member of the European Academy of Sciences. However, considering the current doubts about the election of the members of the European Academy of Sciences, as well as other similar incidents, we have reason to maintain certain reservations about the receipt of this honor. Compared with the natural sciences, research in the liberal arts is more subjective and difficult to quantify, which raises questions about whether liberal arts professors can objectively earn the title of academician.
Only by establishing a fair, just and transparent selection mechanism can every scholar's hard work be respected and rewarded. In such an environment, the public's doubts and distrust will gradually dissolve, and the true value of scholarship can be reflected and inherited.