Speaking at the Third Joint Meeting of the Chinese Physics Societies held in Hong Kong recently, Nobel Laureate Prof Yang Chen-ning talked in particular about how Chinese culture—or Eastern cultures in general — would affect the development of science in the 21st century. To him, the issue will be an extremely complex one. On the one hand, Eastern societies traditionally value education and family ties, attaching great importance to the upbringing of their young. Among scientists and technologists worldwide, said Prof Yang, those of Asian origin would undoubtedly emerge as a vital contingent with their distinctive contributions to the rapid advancements in high technologies. On the other hand, Eastern people differ from Westerners in some cultural traits, Prof Yang pointed out. For example, physicists in the United States are generally bolder in putting forward fresh views and challenging existing authorities. And almost all scientists there are “aggressive”, said the Nobel Laureate. The epithet has no Chinese equivalent, he noted, probably because “aggressive” ways and attitudes are missing in Chinese culture.