psychochemist

Chapter 356 The Sunk Cost Effect
The true strength of a person does not depend on what he can do, but on what he can bear.

Professor Zuo Zircon slowly explained the origin of his "baby" to Yu Fan and the others.

Yu Fan: "Professor Zuo, what happened to your research and development? Was it terminated by these obstructions?"

Zuo Zircon sneered, and said with some disdain: "Hmph, these bastards, it's not that easy to stop the old man. My R&D team only has me and another assistant. The assistant just helps me with some chores, all the experiments I did it all by myself, and the experimental data is in my hands, so it is not so easy for them to take away my data. My research and development is proceeding cautiously, but I have to walk on thin ice."

Chen Xingyang asked: "Professor Zuo, just now you said that investors, pharmaceutical companies and so on came to you for cooperation. Why don't you cooperate with them? In this way, someone should help you share the difficulties you encounter, right?"

Zuo Zihe sneered again, and said, "Hehe, these people are all capitalists! They are all vampires. They don't care how much value this technology can bring to the Chinese people. They only use this technology to find ways to make money. In their eyes, technology is not important at all, but making money is important. Cooperating with these people is tantamount to handing over the sword to the devil!"

Guo Na: "Aren't you in the research institute? Your project is so promising, should they give you more support?"

Zuo Zircon: "There is support, but not much. Now our scientific research institutes are becoming more and more impetuous. My project requires a lot of long-term investment, and it may not produce results, so the leaders of the institute only They will direct their resources to scientific research projects that have been successful or will be successful. They are paying more and more attention to controlling 'sunk costs'."

Guo Na: "What is a sunk cost?"

Yu Fan: "Sunk costs refer to expenses that have occurred in the past but have nothing to do with the current decision. In psychology, there is also a corresponding effect on sunk costs, that is, sunk cost effects (Sunk Cost Effects), which refer to the costs incurred in order to avoid losses. Indulging in past efforts due to negative emotions from the past, choosing irrational behavior. For example, I invested 1000 million in the research and development of a project, but if the research and development fails in the end, then the 1000 million will become a sunk cost. It doesn’t make sense anymore, so people tend to keep putting more money into it just to prevent failure, and they get deeper and deeper.”

Zuo Zircon continued: "Yes, but our scientific research institutes control sunk costs very well. As long as we don't see benefits in the short term, we will reduce expenses. In so many years of research, I have invested all my income into Research and development. But there is still a big funding gap, so I have to take on some small projects to earn some extra money and subsidize the experimental funds."

Guo Na: "It turns out that you have been using your own money to subsidize the experiment, no wonder the place you live in is so dilapidated."

Zuo Zi smiled and said, "Yes, it seems that you have even found out my home address."

Yu Fan asked again: "Professor Zuo, why would a senior scientific researcher like you choose to take this slow train? It takes time and doesn't save money. Isn't time more valuable for a scientific researcher like you?"

Zuo Zircon smiled and said: "Scientists' time is indeed precious, but the leaders don't necessarily think so. The regulations of our research institute are relatively rigid, and taking the high-speed rail is defined as 'high consumption', which cannot be reimbursed. And I This time I'm not in a hurry, after all, the opponent's person hasn't arrived yet."

Chen Frameyang: "The other person? Who?"

Zuo Zircon: "This time I went to XA City to participate in an internal meeting of China's most authoritative biopharmaceutical expert group to discuss the research and development of targeted therapy drugs and docking data. They are flying back to China from abroad, and only It’s only the day after tomorrow. So it’s useless if I go early.”

Yu Fan: "So your bag contains research materials?"

Zuo Zircon hugged the briefcase tightly again and said: "Yes, for the sake of data confidentiality. All my materials and data are in paper, there is no electronic version, and there is no photocopy. There is only one copy, so I am extra careful. .”

Yu Fan: "So, this... is your most precious thing?"

Zuo Zircon: "That's right! The value of my data is priceless, tens of millions, even hundreds of millions. But...why do you ask?"

Guo Na explained: "The help letter we received said, 'Please save Professor Zuo Zircon, someone is going to kill him, someone is going to rob him of his most precious things!'."

Chen Xingyang: "It seems that it is aimed at your data."

Zuo Zi hugged the briefcase tightly and said, "Who is it? Who wants to steal my data? Who is it? Damn! I will never allow this to happen!" Zuo Zi was very emotional!
Yu Fan asked calmly: "Professor Zuo, don't worry, just calm down and think about it, who would most like to use your data?"

Zuo Zircon thought about it calmly: "Actually, there are quite a few people who are concerned about my data. It should be some pharmaceutical companies and overseas scientific research forces, right?"

Chen Xingyang: "Excuse me, I think your research institute has done a poor job of protecting you. Now some artists have more than a dozen bodyguards following them all day long, and you don't even have anyone to protect you?"

Zuo Zi sighed and said: "Hey, this is the status quo, actors are misleading the country! People keep saying that science and technology will rejuvenate the country, but the reality is that people's pursuit of value is now more about those stars. Only our talents in the scientific research field I know how aggrieved the life of the front-line developers is." After finishing speaking, he stomped his feet heartbrokenly.

Yu Fan actually felt the same way and comforted Zuo Zircon: "Professor Zuo, don't be so depressed. In my opinion, people have gradually realized this problem, and young people will gradually pay attention to the value of scientists. The future of this society belongs to young people." , as long as we work hard to set a good example, there will always be more and more young people who are willing to settle down and do scientific research.”

Zuo Zi also showed a smile, patted Yu Fan on the shoulder, and said: "Young man, you are a very special young man... Uh, I hope you will not forget your ideals in whatever you encounter in the future. Persevere, and you will accomplish a lot in the end." Yu Fan always felt that Zuo Zi was hesitant to say something, but he was still very grateful for his encouragement in his heart.

Chen Xingyang said: "Okay, now that everyone has spoken, this chapter will be over. Then let me summarize, can I understand it this way. Now you have a prize worth several thousand Wan’s briefcase, such a valuable thing is indeed easy to be targeted. In other words, the predator is on this train!”

After hearing this, Zuo Zi was frightened for a while, and hugged the bag tightly again.

Yu Fan silently added: "Not only on this train, maybe in this soft sleeper car!"

　Life lies in practice, and practice lies in comprehension.What you look for deliberately is often not found. Everything in the world has its time and place when it comes and goes. - Cyclophosphamide

　　
　
(End of this chapter)