IRG 2 research collaborator Cong Cao of the University of Nottingham, UK is cited several times in the December 9, 2011 issue of Science, the journal of the AAAS. The article, "Focus on China: BIG Science in a BIG Country,"  in the Science Careers section, quotes Cao and other scholars discussing China's efforts to recruit and retain  foreign-educated Chinese scientists who in the past might have chosen to pursue career opportunities abroad.

In discussing China's ambitious science and technology development program, including plans to invest 2 percent of gross domestic product in research by 2010 and 2.5 percent by 2020, Cao estimates that China was slightly behind on its 2010 benchmark, but on track to meet the 2020 goal. He also notes that the push by China's higher education institutions to turn out more Ph.D.s may be affecting the quality of degree holders, who have not always receive optimal amounts of mentoring and advanced training.

In the piece, Cao also states that overseas postdoctoral training is the best way for Chinese scientists to be competitive in their homeland. He also discusses how the emphasis on publication numbers in Chinese research incentive systems has resulted in additional scrutiny from publishers concerned about the validity of research findings submitted by Chinese scholars. It's a big problem," says Cao. "Because of a few cases, people wonder what kind of science is happening in China."

Cao is an Associate Professor in the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham. He is a researcher with IRG 2's project "China's Developmental State: Becoming a 21st Century Nanotech Leader."   He also discusses Chinese science policy and the need for reforms as a blogger for Sciencenet.cn.