My father Jianping Xi is a scientist in solar energy research. He was born in China and graduated from Qinghau University. Immediately after his graduation, the Cultural Revolution started in China (1966-1976).
My mother and father were forced to work at a Zinc mine in an extremely remote area in Northern China for 10 years. Life were difficult in those 10 years, where there was very little food supply in this remote mining town and work condition were terrible inside the mine. My parents told me that many of miners they have worked with have died of lung cancer. For shelter, my parents built a small cottage by themselves and for the food, my mother raised chicken, grow potatos and cabbages. After the Cultural Revolution finally ended, they were able return to Beijing and my father started a Master’s program. After completing his Master’s, he came to the United State to complete a PhD in Physics at the Colorado School of Mines.
For the last 20 years, he has worked in solar energy research. Three years ago he started his own company, based in Suzhou China, that manufactures solar cells using thin-film deposition technology.
My mother is a senior scientist at National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden Colorado where she is working today.
My sister Xi Xi, who studied International Relations at Johns Hopkins, is now working for a private company in New York City that is involved in gold mining.
