to burton@cns.msu.edu

Professor Burton

I'm very surprised to see that you, as a former graduate school mentor in MSU, support your former PhD student Dr. Fang Shi-min who is accused of plagiarizing other people's work to earn money in the name of popularization of science. I was also astonished to see that your former student Dr. Fang said publically in his blog that his mentor Professor Burton is supportinig him!

I received school education from 7 years old to 22 years old in P.R. China and also had my near 10 years' PhD education and postdoc training in the United States of American.

I was always told by my teachers and mentors from China and USA that I should be an honest person and CAN NOT cheat other people's work even I got the highest score in my examination or I obtained good achievements in my scientific research.

I believe that China and USA has the same scientific moral although different languages are spoken. That moral is No ONE is allowed to plagiarize other people's work for whatever name or reason.

Dr. Burton, it seems your former student, Dr. Fang Shi-min whom you are very proud of, does not agree with it. He says publically that he is exempted from such accusation of plagiarism since he has a prominent position in Chinese society by popularizing science to those poor ignorant Chinese people.

Professor Burton, did you ever teach Dr. Fang such opinion and concept about plagiarism?

Your former PhD student, Dr. Fang, once published a book titled 'Fang Zhouzi Leads You Into Science' in 2007. In this book, Your student Fang Shi-min illegally plagiarize other people's near 380 figures and photos which were not authorized by their owners. He also translated part of other people's English articles or papers into Chinese under his name for publication.

He did not and does not admit his above behariors are wrong.

What kind of a student you once mentored, professor Burton?

You re-iterate your supporting for Dr. Fang in your last email. You call it "a reasonable and measured way".

Would you please tell us what you support for our Chinese people?

You call those who accuse your former student of plagiarism as 'Dr. Fang's political opponents'.

Professor Burton, would you please tell me on what kind of basis you conclude such a statement?

If I am not wrong, we are discussing about academic ethics, not political attitudes.

Sure, I respect you as a professor.
All what I write are for plagiarism this action not for any personal thing.

Yours sincerely