每年参加研究生答辩、审阅论文，都会发现英文摘要甚至英文题目有很多问题。最大的问题不是 Chinglish 的问题，而是很明显能看出来很多学生不用心、不下功夫，得过且过，甚至有的学生自己造词。前几年每次答辩时，都要说说这个问题，并针对每个学生的具体问题提出意见。但是，每年如此且每况愈下，这几年也就懒得再说。当影视明星、歌星、体育明星、娱乐明星等星们的语言成为社会效仿的范本，当被明星化或者被权威的专家的语言成为学术标杆的时候，对于学生们的高效率创新性做法，我们也就没有什么可说的了。 说是这么说，但在自己的课堂上，遇到学生不求甚解的地方，还是觉得有必要从学习态度、方法上予以批评，并纠正其具体错误。 农作制度课选用的是英文教材。学生们经常在这些词上犯理解错误： matrix, field ， farm; stakeholder, player, actor; solution, intervention, change, strategy; 等等。 对一个词语的理解，只有在真实的 scenario 下，才能确切领会其真正的含义。差之毫厘，谬之千里。有时只能意会，不可言传。这也是为什么我们强调读原著而不是译作的原因。但是，如果没有正确的态度、方法，读原著也不会收到应有的效果。 一个典型的例子是 field ，多数学生理解为田间、田野，但是，我们把从北京或省城到一个县城、一个乡镇或一个村庄进行调查研究工作，叫做 field work 或 field study ，难道这些地方都是庄稼地或原野？当然不是。问题出在学生们都是学农的，很容易把 field 理解为田间或田野。文科的同学，可能犯这样错误的可能性要小得多。正确的理解是实地、现场。如果是作物生产技术方面的， field survey 甚至可以叫做生产调查。 由此想到前一阵闹得沸沸扬扬的常凯申事件。小心翼翼还会出错，何况不求甚解的想当然的翻译；积一生经验的学识渊博的老先生，讲话做事都要小心谨慎，很难想象我们现在的学术 才俊创新频频，难道真的是无知无畏吗？ 完成高质量的工作，需要规范的程序和体制作保障。定量化的学术，注定是常凯申式的学术。因此不能一厢情愿、居高临下、只看文献，不能只在自己的试验田做完试验就下结论并期望推广给所有的农民。正确地理解农民的真实处境需要体会他们的真实 scenario 。农作制度研发工作，要想做到位，必须到 field 。
Dear Colleagues, Next year, the 9th European IFSA Symposium will address a wide range of issues related to Building sustainable rural futures - The added value of systems approaches in times of change and uncertainty. There are now 28 Workshops to choose from. As you can see from the short description of the workshops (attached), theynot only cover a wide range of topics (e.g., learning processes, food systems, energy production), but also focus on different aspects within these topics(e.g., research results, project design, doctoral education, knowledge transfer) and have different formats (e.g., discussing YouTube films, exchange between practitioners, 'classical' presentations of research results). I am convinced you will find something of interest for you. The deadline to submit an abstract to the convenor(s) ofa workshop is 15 October 2009 . Please visit the Website http://www.ifsa-europe.org for more information on the IFSA 2010 Symposium. We wish you a great Summer and look forward to meeting you in Viennanext year! Ika Darnhofer, Christian Vogl, Michael Hauser and Susanne Kummer (a.k.a. theLocal Organising Committee) P.S.: If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact ika.darnhofer@boku.ac.at
我对农作制度研发方法的认识，是一个由拒绝到接受、由片面到全面、由误解到入门的过程。虽然这一过程经历了十年的时间，但与农业科学家从困惑中逐步总结出这个方法所经历的时间和曲折相比，还算是顺利和短暂的。 1999 年初秋，当时在堪萨斯州立大学做访问学者的一位同事告诉我，该大学一位做农作制度工作的教授即将访问中国，问我是否有兴趣把他邀请到学校，我回信说非常愿意，于是那位同事把 David Norman 教授的 Email 地址和业务简历发给了我。我给 Norman 教授发了一个 Email ，告诉了他我的研究、教学领域和邀请他的愿望，老先生非常热情地回了一个 Email ，但因为时间安排非常紧张，不能来学校，建议设法在北京见面，并周到地进行了一些协调、做好了见面的相应安排。数周后，在北京友谊宾馆，我和教授进行了将近 1 个小时的谈话（原来说给我 30 分钟），知道这次他是来对大陆几个洛克菲勒基金资助的研究项目进行评估的。谈话中老先生提到来年（ 2000 年）将要在智利的圣地亚哥举办第 16 届国际农作制度学术会议，问我是否有兴趣参加，他可以推荐我获得资助，只要我写一篇文章即可。我当然求之不得。 经 Norman 教授推荐，由美国得克萨斯农工大学（ Texas AM University ）国际合作中心全额资助（包括国际机票、当地交通、食宿、购买书籍、注册、参加田间考察等全部费用）， 2000 年 11 月我参加了在智利圣地亚哥举行的第 16 届国际农作制度协会 (IFSA) 学术大会，提交的论文题目是 Toward harder farming systems research and development 。我用这个题目的原因，一是以我的耕作学（国内把耕作制度翻译成 faming systems ）背景理解农作制度 (faming systems) 研究，二是把国内一些属于农作制度描述诊断阶段的工作误解为农作制度研发工作的全部，因此觉得农作制度研究方法太软，需要硬起来，于是写了这样一篇文章。会议的组织者特意安排我做了一个发言，发言后主持人祝贺、听众鼓掌，当时自我感觉很不错，但随着以后自己对农作制度方法了解的逐渐全面和深入，意识到此农作制度非彼农作制度，越来越觉得不好意思。会议期间稀里糊涂地参加了一个座谈会，事后问 Norman 教授才知道那是 ICRA （ International Center for development oriented Research in Agriculture ，国际发展导向农业研究中心） alumni （学友）座谈会。会上还认识了来自法国的 Michel Fok 博士， 2003 起开始了与他多年的合作，此是后话。从会议上带回来的半行李箱的书籍资料中，包括 Norman 教授、 F.D.Worman 、 T.D. Siebert 和 E.Modiakgotla 编著的《 The farming systems approach to development and appropriate technology generation 》等粮农组织农作制度丛书系列以及 M. Collinson 主编的集农作制度方法发展之精要的《 A history of farming systems research 》。以这些资料为基础，翌年为硕士研究生开设了农作制度课程，教学相长，自己对农作制度方法的认识逐渐得到提高。 2002 年 1 月 14 日至 7 月 25 日，再次经 Norman 教授推荐，由德国国际发展合作基金（ DSE ）全额资助，我到国际发展导向农业研究中心（ ICRA ，荷兰瓦赫宁根）进行了为期 6 个半月的学习研究，期间赴埃塞俄比亚进行 3 个月的食物保障 (food security ，亦译粮食安全 ) 问题的调研。在 ICRA 期间，系统地学习了系统分析方法、参与式发展（开发）、团队工作、跨学科方法、问题与机遇分析、研发策略的筛选等，但并没有意识到 ARD 方法与 FSD 方法的关系 / 渊源，只是从 Richard Hawkins 博士那里隐约了解到是几个从事农作制度工作的同行发起创立了 ARD 方法并设计了 ICRA 的学习内容。回国后，以 ICRA 的材料为基础，为研究生（主要针对博士生）开设了农业研发原理与方法课程。 2002 年底，经当时在以色列农业部工作的 Cohen 先生（可能还有耶路撒冷大学教授 Tsur 博士）提名，由以色列外交部国际合作中心（ CINADCO ）全额资助，赴以色列参加了为期一个月的 Agribusiness for rural and peri-urban development 培训班，并对以色列农业的各个产业链环节进行了典型考察，遍访以色列全境。这一学习考察经历，进一步加深了对系统方法、软 - 硬关系的认识，更加深刻地体会到了克服思维定势、保持开放头脑的重要性。 中国耕作制度研究会邀请 David Norman 教授于 2007 年 8 月在呼和浩特举办了为期 4 天的农作制度方法培训和交流活动，我负责主要的联络、翻译工作。这次活动虽然因为时间很短，不可能使大家对农作制度方法有一个全面、系统、深入的了解，但把基本内容介绍给了大家，起到了预期的介绍、推动作用。就我个人而言，除了通过完成具体的工作对这一方法的认识又加深了一层以外，还深切地体会到了我国的农业科技工作者对这一方法的陌生和误解、为什么我们的研究成果与实际应用存在巨大的差距。 以上经历加上自己教学、科研和接触生产实际过程中的思考，对于我逐步加深对农作制度研发方法的理解非常重要，比如，为什么要跨学科，为什么要参与。以后我会逐步介绍农作制度研发方法的具体内容，这里不再赘述，只想说明三点：第一， FSD 方法不仅仅是扶贫的方法，虽然它可以通过研发适用的技术帮助农民战胜饥饿和摆脱贫困或者象有关部门提出政策性的建议。第二， FSD 方法不仅是适用于非洲等特贫地区的方法，世界上很多地方、包括发达国家也在运用这一方法。第三， FSD 方法在绝大部分意义上不是技术推广的方法，虽然它的工作成果要进行推广并且是是为了更好地推广适用技术。当然，这一方法还有进一步发展和改进的余地，特备是在如何根据中国的国情进行必要的方法论和具体方法的调整方面，需要做一些切实的工作。 籍此机会向 Norman 教授 一个不计名利、 为消除人类的饥饿和极端贫困 现象辛劳 了大半生的学者 致以深深的敬意和衷心的 感谢 ，遥祝他健康、幸福！
--- On Wed, 12/3/08, LIANG Weili wrote: Dear David, Long time without writing you. Hope you and Ines are fine with everything. One question to ask you--I understand that farming/cropping systems agronomy is about the rationales and approaches in planning/designing on-farm or regional crop composition distribution, intercropping, crop rotation, sequential cropping, nutrient management, water management, soil management/tillage, residue management and other relevant practices at regional/farm level. Am I right? or what's your understanding to farming/cropping systems agronomy? Thanks. All the best Weili ----------------------------------- Weili, good to have your message. Yes, all is well here in Madrid after a recent hectic time. I have started on a revision of Crop Ecology that will take all next year. I am going to California next week to discuss issues with Bob Loomis. Then on 25/12 Ines and I are going to Australia. I will stay until the end of January but she must return to work on 9/1. I think your idea of farming/cropping systems is ok. They are broad concepts. I think of cropping systems for sequences of crops and farming systems for broader activities involving livestock. I hope that helps and that you enjoy the conference next year. I will not be there. In the meantime, keep smiling best wishes to you and family for navidades David Ines
Dear David, One question to ask you. I understand that farming/cropping systems agronomy is about the rationales and approaches in planning/designing on-farm or regional crop composition distribution, intercropping, crop rotation, sequential cropping, nutrient management, water management, soil management/tillage, residue management and other relevant practices at regional/farm level. Am I right? or what's your understanding to farming/cropping systems agronomy? Thanks. All the best Weili ----- Original Message ----- From: David Norman To: LIANG Weili Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 2:18 AM Subject: RE: ? Dear Weili I do not see any problem with your definition or understanding but I cannot recall seeing a formal definition of cropping systems agronomy. I probably in the spirit of the evolution of the farming systems approach would include an additional statement that suggests participation of farmers to ensure that improvements proposed incorporate their knowledge and are compatible with their resources, skills goals and interests. Also such improvements need to be equitable and sustainable from a societal viewpoint (see the lectures I gave in China). All the best David ------------------------------------------------ Dear David, Thanks for your suggestion. I now realize that there should be two parts in systems agronomy: the 'hard' part consisting of the issues I mentioned last time and the 'soft' part consisting of the rationale and approaches ensuring the relevance of the improved agronomic practices. Wish you and Shirley a pleasant Xmas season! Weili and family
From: Weili Liang Sent: Thu 12/25/2008 8:43 PM To: Prof. David Norman 2; David Norman Subject: ? Dear David, Believe you and Shirley are enjoying the X'mas season. I am writing in case I would forget this issue, so please take it easy to reply me whenever you have time. I am writing a training material on farming systems classification. Could a recommendatin domain, group of farms, be considered as a type of farming system? or better to be considered a sub-type under a specific farming sytem? Is there any difference or similarity between farm typology in your book and farming systems classification used by J. Dixon, A. Gulliver and D. Gibbon in their report Global Farming Sytems Study: Challenges and Priorities to 2030? I intend to understand recommendation dormains as sub-types of farming systems. similarly we can also understande a type of farming system a higher level of recommendatioin domain in a typology. I need your comments. All the best Weili From: David Norman To: Weili Liang Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 7:38 AM Subject: RE: ? Dear Weili I hope everything is going well with you! I am so sorry about the delay in replying to your queries. I always seem to have e-mails I need to reply to. Farming systems are often defined taking into account mainly the bio-physical element with sometimes little consideration of the socio-economic element. A recommendation domain is usually defined as a grouping of farmers who have have similar quantities/qualities of resources, similar problems/challenges and therefore similar solutions/opportunities. They could be analogous to farming systems that are defined in terms of both the bio-physical and socio-economic elements but it is likely most of the time there are likely to be several recommendation domains per farming system especially when they are defined primarily in terms of the bio-phsical element. Unfortunately I do not have John's book at hand at the moment but if I remember correctly the major emphasis was put on the bio-physical element and relatively little on the socio-economic element. In defence of John I think they had no choice since greater consideration of the bio-physical would have greatly increased the number of farming systems that would be defined -- impossible on a global scale. I am so sorry once again for the delay in replying. I do hope it is not too late and my comments are not too confusing! Greetings to your family! Best wishes David From: Weili Liang Sent: Wed 1/21/2009 10:00 PM To: David Norman Subject: Re: ? Dear David, Thanks a lot for your comments which are very helpful. I believe you would not reject me to paste our communication of this one, and the last one on systems agronomy, on my blog propagating FSD approaches. I am writing blog articles introducing rationale and approaches of FSD to Chinese colleagues. It needs time for technical scientists to adopt the approaches. Also, since China is special, so we need to convert the 'African version' of some details into 'Chinese version' --this also takes time. Maybe the symposium on farming systems design to be held in California this coming August an attempt to develop a version of FSD approach adapted to large commercialized systems? I will see while I will be there. My blog is at http://www.sciencenet.cn/blog/FSD.htm . I have dropped 3 articles there. The year of cattle will begin on Feb 26, so wish you and Shirley a healthy and easy year of cattle! Weili From: David Norman To: Weili Liang Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 10:45 PM Subject: RE: ? Dear Weili Thanks for your e-mail. I certainly have no problems of you putting materials on the blog. The blog is a very good idea. I did look it up but as would be expected -- and should be -- most of it was in mandarin. All the best and keep up the good work! David
标签: 农作制度
