The Chinese physics prodigy, Duan Xi, has achieved remarkable accomplishments that prompted Harvard University to break a 300-year tradition to retain him.
Duan Xi was born in 1983 into an educated family in Beijing, China. From a young age, Duan Xi exhibited extraordinary academic talent, memorizing 300 Tang Dynasty poems by the age of five. Recognizing their son’s exceptional abilities, his parents devoted time to tutor him before he entered the first grade.
Duan Xi amazed many with his superior capacity to absorb new knowledge and his flexible application of skills. In elementary school, he was advanced to the third grade. Furthermore, he completed the entire elementary curriculum in just a few days.
Duan Xi frequently skipped grades during his schooling. (Photo: Baidu).
Duan Xi never took notes in class. When asked by his teacher why, he candidly replied, “I have memorized all the knowledge in my head.”
Initially, the teacher did not believe that a student could memorize an entire lecture, so he requested Duan Xi to write it down, and Duan Xi quickly convinced him otherwise.
Though aware of their son’s talent, his parents were still astonished by Duan Xi’s abilities. They took him to test his IQ, which resulted in an astonishing score of 200, placing him in the category of individuals with extremely high intelligence.
At the age of nine, while his peers were still struggling with fourth-grade math, Duan Xi passed the entrance exam for Beijing’s No. 8 Middle School, known for training elite students, becoming the youngest student in the school’s history.
All students in the experimental class had high IQs, yet Duan Xi stood out and self-studied the entire junior high curriculum in a short time.
In 1996, at the age of 12, Duan Xi boldly decided to take the Gaokao – the college entrance examination in China known for being the most rigorous in the world. While some admired him, others criticized him for being arrogant, but his parents continued to believe in his capabilities.
Meeting his family’s expectations, Duan Xi scored 572 out of 700 on the Gaokao and was admitted to the University of Science and Technology of China, becoming the youngest student at the university.
Duan Xi was always the first to leave the dormitory and the last to return. When not in class, he often spent time in the library, reading books to expand his knowledge and explore the vast world. He received multiple scholarships at school, earning the admiration of his peers.
In addition to his studies, Duan Xi diligently practiced sports. Living and studying among older peers, he was sociable, actively participating in group activities, and adept at managing relationships. As a result, he was well-liked by both teachers and classmates.
Harvard Breaks Tradition
Five years passed swiftly, and Duan Xi graduated from the University of Science and Technology of China. In the same year, he was awarded a full scholarship to pursue a PhD at the prestigious Harvard University in the United States.
Harvard University breaks a 300-year tradition to retain Duan Xi. (Photo: Baidu).
Harvard is a hub for exceptional talents from around the globe. Upon his arrival, Duan Xi was still the youngest student in the entire university, leading to some faculty and classmates to underestimate him. However, he did not lose heart.
In his first examination, Duan Xi only received an average score, a situation he had never experienced before. He realized the gap between himself and others, and a sense of failure surged within him.
The saying “failure is the mother of success” motivated Duan Xi to strive harder. After a period of effort, the Chinese genius regained his position at the top of his class. However, he did not become arrogant; rather, he remained cautious and worked even harder.
Just six years later, Duan Xi successfully obtained his PhD in physics from Harvard. According to the university’s tradition of over 300 years, PhD graduates are not allowed to remain for postdoctoral studies. However, due to Duan Xi’s exceptional talent, the prestigious institution decided to break the norm to retain this genius.
In 2008, at just 24 years old, Duan Xi was invited to serve as an assistant professor in the Department of Physics at Harvard. Seven years later, he was promoted to a full professor, becoming the youngest Chinese professor in the history of the university.
During his time at Harvard, Duan Xi was exposed to leading physics experts, which inspired new research ideas. Over time, his reputation within the American physics community grew significantly. At that time, he was regarded as one of the most promising young physicists.
In contrast to his success in the U.S., public opinion in China was less favorable towards Duan Xi, often viewing him as a subject of gossip and criticism. This scrutiny stemmed from his previous statements that he would return home after completing his studies to contribute, yet he chose to settle in the U.S. and build a happy family.
In an interview with The Paper, when asked why he did not return to his homeland to develop his career, Duan Xi expressed that the research environment in the U.S. was more suitable for his orientation and development.
