It's close to the deadline of NSFC project application for another year. I feel that every time I prepare the NSFC application, it's a process of melting and refining my knowledge. It's also a kind of closed door practice to improve my "scientific research skills". Although I don't know whether the NSFC application prepared this year will be approved by the experts and eventually funded by the NSFC, if we don't judge heroes by the results of funding, I think the process of writing the NSFC has been fruitful.

It is a good process to prepare the application materials of natural fund. In order to write a good application for NSFC, I downloaded about 80 academic papers related to NSFC projects, read them, sorted out some of them and wrote them into the "analysis of research status and development trends at home and abroad" of NSFC application. Although I always insist on reading literature, the reading process is not very systematic, a little bit is to read which paper is interesting. At this time, the reading of these documents is related to the content of the topic. By reading and sorting these documents, I have the opportunity to analyze the latest international trends in this field in depth and systematically. As a university teacher, the first duty of his normal work is to teach and educate people. Therefore, during normal working hours, on the one hand, we should give lectures to undergraduates and postgraduates, on the other hand, we should arrange the study and scientific research situation of Postgraduates in the research group, and at the same time, there are many miscellaneous things to deal with, such as reimbursement, business trip and so on. Winter vacation is the most concentrated and free time of the year, and it is also the most suitable "charging" time for everyone. At this time, it is a good thing to have the best of both worlds to prepare the application for NSFC and organically combine "recharging" with the writing of the application for NSFC.

The writing process of NSFC is also a good process to think about the research projects of the graduate students in the next year. When writing the "research content" of NSFC, we need to think about what others have not done and what are innovative in this field. We should think about what kind of high-tech means to solve what important unknown scientific problems. At the same time, we also need to consider whether these research contents can be successfully completed. In order to solve these problems, we need to think about some "unique skills" and let others know their profound skills when the masters duel. In a word, we should consider not only the matter of "top heaven", but also the matter of "site". Through such a "closed door thinking", when I finished writing the application for the natural fund, I felt that the research fields of graduate students had settled down. A few days ago, the academic results of graduate students have just been announced, and they will be interviewed in a few days. If graduate students are recruited, they must be assigned research directions. A natural fund application needs to prepare a number of relatively substantial research contents, which can be completed by the graduate students who have enrolled in the previous academic year or the next year. Why not solve this major problem when preparing the application for the nature fund? Of course, some people will say that if NSFC writes, it will not necessarily get funding. If it can't get funding, it can't arrange graduate students to do it. Personally, I think this idea is superfluous. As long as I have a good idea of the scientific problems, even if I can't get funding this year, I must stick to it. By further strengthening the research foundation, I will get funding sooner or later.

The process of writing NSFC is also a good opportunity to deeply study and understand the latest development trend of national science and technology policy. I think every time I write about NSFC, I can let people know clearly the trend of the national evaluation of academic researchers in the future. In 2018, the individual achievement column of the application form of NSFC changed from listing all papers in the past five years to listing only 10 representative papers. By 2019, it will be simplified again and only five representative works will be listed. This makes it clear to all that the domestic academic circles have shifted their emphasis from "the number of papers" to "the academic quality". At the same time, this year's application for NSFC is required to explain in accordance with the four scientific issues attributes of "encouraging exploration, highlighting originality", "focusing on the frontier, creating a new way", "demand traction, breaking through the bottleneck" and "common orientation, cross financing". In addition, the last page of the NSFC application lists some matters needing attention when applying for the NSFC, such as the handling of academic misconduct, and reminds us that we must abide by academic norms, academic fairness, and uphold justice. It seems that there are many projects at the national level, but that is to say, the projects of NSFC are really for all scientific and technological workers. I always think that the NSFC has done the best in "maintaining fairness". Now I see these terms in the application form of NSFC, and I believe this more. If you don't prepare the application for NSFC seriously, you should not think about these details.

Since 2006, I began to learn to write fund applications, and basically prepare one application every year. From personal experience, the success rate is far lower than the failure rate. Therefore, another advantage of writing about natural fund is to exercise one's mentality, make one's mentality more mature, and be able to accept failure more calmly. Of course, also let oneself more eager to succeed, more know how to cherish every opportunity. Knowing that the National Natural Science Foundation of China is a relatively fair competition venue, success in this competition venue can indirectly show that the previous research results have been affirmed by others, and also make people more confident to carry out future scientific research. Finally, I hope the new year has just begun. I hope everything goes well and I can have a good harvest in autumn.