大科学工程中技术科学家的角色与激励——以大亚湾中微子实验中液体闪烁体技术的开发为例

The Role and Incentive of Technical Scientists in Large-scale Science Projects:Based on the Research Process of Liquid Scintillator in Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment

大科学工程离不开技术科学家的深度参与。本文以大亚湾实验中的关键技术——掺钆液体闪烁体技术研发为例,采用访谈和文献分析方法,考察了技术科学家在大科学工程中扮演的角色和特征。研究表明,技术科学家跨越了技术人员和科学家的传统边界,在技术和科学两个领域都具备贡献性技能;当前我国学术界的科研人才评价存在重科学轻技术倾向,降低了技术科学家参与前沿技术研发的意愿。在这种情况下,大学和科研机构应采取“分类评价,平等对待”的思路,为技术科学家提供平等的职业发展空间;政府也应该采取措施,激励技术科学家积极参与大科学工程建设。

Technical scientists play an increasingly important role in large-scale science projects.Taking the development of gadolinium doped liquid scintillator technology,a key technology in the Daya Bay Reactor Neutrino Experiment,as an example,this paper examines the roles and the characteristics of technical scientists based on the development process of key technologies for large-scale science facilities,using both interview and literature research methods.It is found that technical scientists have both practical and theoretical expertise,crossing the traditional boundary between technicians and scientists,with contributory expertise in both technical and scientific fields.However,the tendency of the current research talent evaluation system in China to emphasize science over technology reduces the willingness of technical scientists to participate in cutting-edge technology R&D.In such situations,the idea of“categorical evaluation and equal treatment”should be adopted at the level of universities and research institutions,which is able to provide technical scientists equal upward mobility.The government should also take measures,in order to encourage willingness of technical scientists to participate in the process of large-scale science facilities construction.