Xiangli Yao

My name is Xiangli Yao. I’m a Principal Investigator at the Huaxu Academy’s Jinzhou Campus, specializing in Automata Mechanics. I grew up surrounded by research. My father pursued theoretical science, my mother focused on practical applications, and their work shaped the person I became. My memories of them are indistinct; their papers often tell me more about them than my own recollections do. Still, I’ve never wanted to become a replica of either of them. Science is a path I chose for myself. I’ve always been fascinated by mechanisms, puzzles, and the satisfaction of making something work. A well-designed device can be as expressive as a conversation, and I enjoy seeing how a simple idea becomes something useful. As a student, I built little robots and gadgets for my friends. Beep-Boop was one of my earliest creations, and I still have a soft spot for that clumsy little machine. These days, I spend most of my time at the Academy, researching, helping colleagues, and listening to people who come by with problems worth discussing. I also enjoy breakfast and early mornings, while quiet stretches of time let scattered ideas finally arrange themselves. I’m less fond of sour soy milk.