Xiaoxing Xi, Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics, is the 2020 Andrei Sakharov Prize recipient. Named for the renowned physicist who promoted human rights, despite persecution, in the Soviet Union, the prize is a distinguished honor within both the human rights advocacy and scientific communities.

The prize, awarded by the American Physical Society (APS), recognizes outstanding leadership of scientists in upholding human rights. Xi was honored "for his articulate and steadfast advocacy in support of the U.S. scientific community and open scientific exchange, and especially his efforts to clarify the nature of international scientific collaboration in cases involving allegations of scientific espionage," says Jim Napolitano, professor and chair of the Department of Physics.

"I am honored to receive the prize in [Sakharov's] name from APS. After I witnessed encroachments on liberty and open fundamental research in academia firsthand, as a Chinese-American physicist, I felt obliged to speak up for my community and raise awareness of the danger," Xi says. "I am humbled to see my name associated with the name of Andrei Sakharov for what little I have done. I will continue to speak up so that more people will join the fight to defend our freedom and safeguard America's research enterprise."

Xiaoxing Xi earned his PhD in physics from Peking University and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Science. He was also named a Fellow of the American Physical Society in 2007.