Academician faces probe for plagiarism

In February 2012, Wang Zhengmin, a 78-year-old academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was accused of plagiarism by a former student.

In the accusations, the student said Wang not only plagiarized numerous academic papers, he also plagiarized, in 1989, a book from eminent Zurich ear expert Ugo Fisch.

Wang, an expert at Fudan University's Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital, denied the accusations and said his student made the claims out of hate for not receiving any benefits.

The student also reported that Wang purchased an Australian-made artificial cochlea - a spiral tube in the inner ear that is essential to hearing - and copied the technology for a product produced in China in 2003.

Four of the six academicians who recommended Wang as a candidate for academician status in 2005 wrote a letter in October, suggesting that he be disqualified.

Wang has retained his academician title while the Academic Committee of Fudan University conducts an investigation of his papers and the artificial cochlea products.

Wang Qian