Li Yiyun

Li Yiyun, born 1972 in Beijing. Li graduated from Beijing University with a B.S. in Biology in 1996, then went to University of Iowa where she received a Master degree in Immunity in 2000, and an MFA in Literature.

Li was few Chinese writers to publish many works on New Yorker and The Paris Review. In 2007, she was named 21 best writers under 35 by Granta. In 2010, she was named 20 best authors under age 40 by New Yorker. She is also a recipient of the MacArthur 2010 Fellows. Li teaches at UC Davis.

Qian Xu

Qian Xu (Shu Chien), born 1931 in Beijing, is one of the two living figures holding titles of academician of all four American academies: National Academy of Science (NAS), National Academy of Engineering (NAE), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AAAS). In addition, Qian is academician of the Academia Sinica of Taiwan and the Chinese Academy of Sciences of the mainland China.

Qian studied in Beijing University before obtaining a M.D. from Taiwan University and a Ph.D. from Columbia University. At the age of 79, Qian is still active in research. He is the president of the Whitaker Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).