Xia Peisu facts for kids
- This is a Chinese name; the family name is Xia (Hsia).
Quick facts for kids
Xia Peisu
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| 夏培肃 | |
Xia Peisu at National Chiao Tung University Chongqing campus, 1946
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| Born | 28 July 1923 Chongqing, China
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| Died | 27 August 2014 (aged 91) Beijing, China
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| Other names | Pei-su Hsia |
| Alma mater | National Central University University of Edinburgh |
| Occupation | Computer scientist and educator |
Xia Peisu was a famous Chinese computer scientist and Teacher. She is known for her important work in computers and technology. Many people call her the "Mother of Computer Science in China". Xia led the team that built the Model 107. This was the first computer designed and made in China. In 1991, she and her husband, Yang Liming, became members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. In 2010, she received a special Lifetime Achievement Award from the China Computer Federation.
Growing Up and School
Xia Peisu was born on July 28, 1923, in Chongqing, China. Her family was very involved in education. Her grandfather, Xia Fengxun, was a teacher for 40 years. Her father, Xia Hongru, ran a school. Her mother, Huang Xiaoyong, was a teacher and a headmistress.
Xia learned old Chinese writing and mathematics when she was young. At 14, she got into Nanyu Secondary School. She was a top student there. In 1939, she moved to another school and graduated in 1940. After high school, she studied electrical engineering at the National Central University.
She earned her first degree and then continued her studies. From 1945 to 1947, she did advanced work at the Telecommunications Research Institute. In 1947, she went to the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. She earned her doctorate degree there in 1950.
Her Work in Computer Science
Xia and her husband, Yang Liming, came back to China in 1951. She started working as a researcher at Tsinghua University.
In 1952, a famous mathematician named Hua Luogeng began working on China's first electronic computer. He asked Xia and two other scientists to lead the project. The other two scientists later left, so Xia became the only leader. Under her guidance, the team created the Model 107 in 1958. This was China's first computer designed by Chinese people.
Xia's work led to many other important discoveries and improvements in computers.
In March 1956, Xia taught China's first class about computer theory. She also wrote a book called Principles of the Electronic Computer. This was the first computer science textbook in China. When the University of Science and Technology of China started in 1958, Xia created its computer science department. She taught more than 700 students between 1956 and 1962.
She also helped start two important magazines: the Chinese Journal of Computers in 1978 and the Journal of Computer Science and Technology in 1986.
Xia guided more than 60 graduate students. Two of her students won top national awards for their research papers.
She taught important people like Li Guojie, who helped develop the Sugon supercomputers. She also taught Hu Weiwu, who designed the Loongson CPU.
In 2002, China made its first locally designed CPU. It was named Xia-50 to honor her.
In 1991, Xia and her husband were chosen to be members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She also received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the China Computer Federation.
Personal Life
Xia Peisu met Yang Liming in 1945. They got married in 1950 while they were both studying at the University of Edinburgh. Yang later became a theoretical physicist. They had two sons, Yang Yuenian and Yang Yuemin.
Xia Peisu passed away on August 27, 2014. She was 91 years old.
Images for kids
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Xia Peisu at National Chiao Tung University Chongqing campus, 1946
