Lu Yongxiang, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), said Friday that the whole society need not overpraise CAS academicians by granting them excessive research funds and personal stipends.

Lu, himself an academician, said CAS academicians should not provide advice in areas beyond their disciplines.

"Even in their own disciplines," Lu said, "their comments need only to be advice rather than authoritative decisions."

Academicians are scientists who have achieved a lot in their research fields and been honored by the scientific community.

"Academicians need to take more academic and social responsibilities," said Lu, who chairs a governing body for CAS academicians.

Lu said the CAS would hardly agree to give academicians excessive funds, whether for research or private use.

The state pays everyone of the 707 CAS academicians 200 yuan (US$25) in extra monthly stipends. Academicians older than 80 years receive 10,000 yuan more every year.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2005)