Born: 1923 (Chongqing, Sichuan)
Died: 2014 (China)
Biography:
Xia Peisu or Pei-su Hsia (Chinese: 夏培肃; 28 July 1923 – 27 August 2014) was a Chinese computer scientist and educator known for her pioneering research in computer science and technology. The leading developer of Model 107, the nation’s first domestically designed general-purpose electronic computer, she has been called the Mother of Computer Science in China. She and her husband Yang Liming were both elected academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991. In 2010, she was honored with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the China Computer Federation. In 2015, the China Computer Federation in memory of academician Xia, the predecessor of computer science in China, awards the Xia-Piesu Award annually to female scientists and engineers recognized for their outstanding contributions and achievements in the computer science, engineering, education and industry.
Early life and education
Xia was born on 28 July 1923 in Chongqing, Sichuan, to a literary family. Her grandfather, Xia Fengxun (夏风薰), who had passed the imperial examination for the xiucai degree during the late Qing dynasty, spent forty years as a teacher. Her father, Xia Hongru (夏鸿儒), who had passed the provincial imperial examination for the juren degree, ran a school in Jiangjin County, Chongqing. Her mother, Huang Xiaoyong (黄孝永), was a teacher at the Jiangjin Girls’ Middle School and headmistress of Jiangjin Girls’ Primary School. Under the private tutelage of her family, Xia built a solid foundation in ancient Chinese prose and mathematics at a young age. At fourteen years old, Xia was accepted into Nanyu Secondary School (now Chongqing Nankai Secondary School), where she consistently placed at the top of her class and excelled in mathematics. In 1939, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Xia was forced to transfer to the National No. Nine Middle School in Jiangjin County. She graduated high school in 1940 at the top of her class and began her undergraduate degree in electrical engineering at the National Central University the same year. After attaining her bachelor’s degree, Xia pursued postgraduate studies at the Telecommunications Research Institute of National Chiao Tung University (Chongqing) from 1945 to 1947. In 1947, Xia began a PhD in electrical engineering at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, where she earned her doctorate with a thesis entitled On Parametric Oscillations in Electronic Circuits. (II) A Graphical Analysis for Non-Linear Systems in 1950.
Career
Two years after the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Xia and her husband Yang Liming returned to China in 1951. She took up an appointment as an associate researcher in the Department of Electrical Engineering at Tsinghua University. In the fall of 1952, mathematician Hua Luogeng initiated the development of China’s first electronic computer and recruited Xia and her husband Yang Liming to join the team. In 1956, they successfully developed the Model 107, the nation’s first domestically designed general-purpose electronic computer. Xia’s contributions to the project were immense and she played a leading role in the design and development of the computer. The Model 107 marked a significant milestone in China’s computer technology and laid the foundation for the country’s future achievements in the field.
Throughout her career, Xia made numerous contributions to computer science and technology in China. She was involved in the development of several pioneering computer systems and played a key role in advancing computer education in the country. As an educator, Xia taught at many prestigious institutions including Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She mentored and inspired countless students, many of whom went on to become leaders and innovators in the field of computer science.
Xia’s work and achievements have been widely recognized both in China and internationally. In addition to being elected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, she received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In 2010, she was presented with the inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award from the China Computer Federation in recognition of her significant contributions to the field of computer science in China. Her dedication and commitment to advancing the field of computer science have left a lasting impact on China’s technological development and she is revered as one of the pioneers and visionaries of computer science in the country.
Xia Peisu’s groundbreaking contributions to the field of computer science have cemented her place in history as a trailblazer and innovator. Her work has revolutionized the way we think about and utilize computers in various aspects of society. Today, her legacy lives on through the Xia-Peisu Award, which recognizes and celebrates the achievements of female scientists and engineers in the field of computer science. Xia’s pioneering spirit and dedication to her work have inspired generations of women to pursue careers in STEM fields, leaving an indelible mark on women’s history and the field of computer science alike.
Awards:
– Lifetime Achievement Award from the China Computer Federation (2010)