Theme: Futures

This year we come together to explore the theme of "Futures." In a world where technology and generative AI are catalyzing unprecedented change, we stand at a crossroads of possibility and responsibility. This event is dedicated to exploring how we, as individuals and as a community, can build better futures—futures that are not only technologically advanced but also deeply human. Through a rich tapestry of exhibitions, workshops, TEDx talks, and performances, we invite you to join us in this journey of discovery and re-discovery.

Our event brings together the dynamic confluence of young minds, families, and community members, all eager to explore the symbiosis between human and artificial intelligence. Imagine stepping into a world where smart farms revolutionize agriculture, deep-sea robotics unlock the mysteries of our oceans, and intelligent medicine redefines healthcare. You and your family can engage in workshops that span the realms of science, art, and sustainable fashion, or gazing at the stars in our astronomy and space research sessions. Whether it's through competition robotics engineering or thought-provoking talks on AI and cultural identities, there is something for everyone to ignite their curiosity and inspire their imagination.

This TEDx event is more than just a series of presentations; it's a collaborative space where innovation meets community spirit. Together, we will explore the frontiers of architectural design, delve into the nuances of our cultural identities in the modern age, and envision sustainable futures. So bring your family, bring your friends, and come ready to be inspired. Join us as we embark on this exciting exploration of what it means to be truly human in an ever-evolving technological landscape. The future awaits, and it starts here.

Shanghai Children's Theatre
800 Miao Jiang Road, Huangpu District
Shanghai, Shanghai, 200011
China

Aiden Lau

Student Researcher

Aiden is a Year 3 student studying in China. He is interested in playing football, drawing, building lego blocks and reading. Reading is one of his favourite hobbies, and he enjoys a variety of books. He finds that reading not only helps him learn interesting things and gain new knowledge but also calms him down and alleviates his anger. Books make him feel happier as he immerses himself in their stories. Besides reading, he is interested in playing football, drawing and building with Lego blocks.

Ain Ryu

Student Researcher

Ain Ryu is a student studying in Beijing, China. She is 11years old and a kid traveler. She has been living and traveling abroad as a child. She has travelled to various countries like India, Thailand, China, America, Arab Emirates, Maldives, Philippines and etc. Ain started going around the world since she was 4 and still in her journey. However, traveling has never been an easy job. There were lots of hard steps to take, but she still overcomes them by uncovering her new self.

Amy Qian

Student Researcher

Amy is a fun-loving and hard-working 14-year-old from China who loves her friends. After a peer-conflict led to cyberbullying, she became committed to addressing issues of language and respect online and offline. Through this, Amy and her peers began exploring how language perpetuates stereotypes that foster disrespect and gender inequality. Now she is raising awareness about gender issues and challenging all of us to do better. Amy is a member of the basketball team and media club at school. In her free time, Amy loves playing tennis and listening to music.

Andy Cui

Student Researcher

Andy is a student in China. He taught himself to play the piano, practicing two hours daily, and he confidently assesses himself to ensure he is performing to high standards. His self-taught approach to playing the piano has turned out to be both effective and productive.

Anirwa Krishna Dadda

Student Researcher

Anirwa is studying Tonxiang, China. He is currently in Grade 2. He was born in Paderborn, Germany. He is mainly focusing on his academics along with enjoying his hobbies such as playing piano and building legos. He enjoys learning Chinese and he is happy that he is able communicate fluently with everyone her in China and abroad. Anirwa loves travelling and his dream is to be a pilot in the future.

Arissa Yin

Student Researcher

Arissa is a nine-year-old student studying in Chongqing, China. She is interested in everything that requires creativity and imagination, art and self representation. She started playing the piano when she was only seven year old and she inspired her sibling Jayden to play the piano when he was only three years old. She also enjoys swimming and drama classes that have helped her to unveil the different sides of her personality, being sensitive yet persistent girl who can inspire you to do great things.

Avneet Kaur Arora

Student Researcher

As a third-culture kid, Avneet, a Year 6 student in China, has experienced the history and culture of different countries as she grew up.

Boxuan Niu

Student Inventor

Boxuan (Miumiu) is a student in China. She is passionate about programming and enjoys translating human language into machine language. She loves showcasing her own programs, including a small game she developed. She started learning programming at the age of 10, and now proficiently uses two different programming languages.

Chaewon Lee

Student Researcher

Chaewon is a student in China. She is passionate about coding and creating games. She enjoys leveraging AI to streamline her coding work. She received a special selection award from the Youth Information Olympiad and the prestigious Science Award. Starting her coding journey at the age of 12, she has spent three years continuously improving and discovering new techniques. Today, she proudly presents the game she created.

Chloe Xiang

Student Researcher

Chloe is a passionate 14-year-old from China who loves art, digital storytelling, and entrepreneurship. She also enjoys playing tennis, watching TV series, and listening to music—especially by amazing girl bands! She dreams of someday becoming the editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine. In the meantime, she is committed to challenging gender stereotypes, promoting respect—especially in the language and images we use—and encouraging us all to build a more equitable society.

Donald Hung

Student Researcher

Donald Hung Hong Ming from Hong Kong, is a dynamic student leader and passionate sports enthusiast. Actively involved in football, table tennis, and swimming, Donald balances his athletic pursuits with a strong commitment to his school community. He has served on the student council, been a dedicated member of the Prefect team, and honed his public speaking skills in the debate club. Despite his numerous responsibilities, Donald finds his greatest joy in spending quality time with friends and exploring new places through travel. His diverse experiences and compassionate outlook make him a compelling advocate for a more holistic approach to education and success.

Ellie Sun

Student Researcher

Ellie Sun is a 16 year-old student studying in China. She is interested in literature and enjoys reading different novels from different literary backgrounds. As Ellie grew up in a diverse culture, her tastes in music and literary works are slightly different from her peers. Due to some high academic achievement and her identity, she has been a victim of cyberbullying. Yet, she always found a way out of it. Now, she's an outgoing individual who seems easy going on the outside, yet firm and tough inside.

Elsa Zhou

Student Researcher

Elsa is a grade 6 student in China. She is currently pursuing her education with a true passion for music, especially singing. She also enjoys listening to music. Additionally, she has a strong aptitude for mathematics, which is her favourite subject at school. Her dream is to study abroad after she graduates.

Emma De iulis

Student Researcher

Emma is currently studying in Tong Xiang, China. She wears glasses and enjoys reading, therefore people often assume her to be quiet, but this is far from reality. She often realizes how much people are stereotyped, and fights to defy the unspoken prejudice in these “social stereotypes”.

Evan Zheng

Student Researcher

Evan is a humorous, inventive, and active 12-year-old student council representative who loves playing football, volleyball, ultimate frisbee and badminton when he’s not rocking out on his guitar. He is also an avid reader—and writer! Evan enjoys being part of the Green Thumb club at school, learning to garden and appreciate nature.

Felix Zhu

Student Researcher

Felix is cheekily curious, creative, and determined. Originally from Hong Kong, but raised in Shanghai, Felix loves music, especially playing the clarinet, and values spending time connecting with nature. Felix enjoys STEAM subjects and science and is passionate about sustainability. He believes that through innovation we can implement more sustainable practices that help our planet and forge a better future for us all.

Gilbert Lin

Student Researcher

Gilbert Lin is a student who love to think, especially about people's lives. He is often immersed in his own world of thought, trying to find hidden patterns from everyday trivialities. He also enjoy observing people's behavior, reflecting on their motivations and choices, trying to understand their way of thinking and how these ways of thinking affect their lives and decisions. The process of thinking is a pleasure for him, as it fills him with curiosity and enthusiasm towards life. He aspires to make this world a better place through his efforts.

Hannah Shen

Student Researcher

Hannah Shen lives in Shanghai, China. She plays the piano and loves to sing since she was little. She also has a passion for snowboarding and art. She won a couple of singing and snowboarding competitions, all while keeping her academic record in order. Hannah enjoys expressing deep thoughts through music and poetry, and she likes to write simple songs herself.

Henry Fan

Student Researcher

Henry is a 7-year-old student from Chongqing, China. He loves reading. Reading is fun and it gives Henry a chance to learn new things such as how food effects people's health. He likes other hobbies that promote good health such as skiing. Skiing makes him feel excited and a little nervous. He also like playing violin which can calm him down.

Ian Liu

Student Researcher

Ian is a student in China who will be turning ten in just a couple of months. His interests include playing the violin and piano, and being a member of the primary string orchestra. Additionally, he excels in both Maths and English, having earned numerous awards in contests related to these subjects. He particularly enjoy showcasing his skills on stage. Two years ago, during my second-grade year, he was a finalist in the English speech competition for the entire Yaohua Group.

Jack Cao

Student Researcher

Jack is a student in Shanghai, China, with a passion for ice hockey. Though he sometimes loses a game, his perseverance never wavers. Instead of giving up, he rises to the challenge, overcoming any setbacks. Throughout his career, he has won numerous gold medals in various championships. Jack began playing ice hockey at the age of five, and after nine years of rigorous training, he has become a highly successful player in Shanghai. Come and join Jack in his spirit of adventure and grit.

James Mahundi

Student Performer

James Mahundi is a student in Shanghai, China, with a deep love for hip-hop and all forms of art, including the works of Shakespeare. He draws inspiration from life, transforming experiences into music and art. James' journey began during the lockdown, a time where many explored new hobbies. For him, it was an opportunity to dive into both music and art. Over the years, he has honed his skills, evolving into an artist capable of translating any musing of his into music, infusing it with his own unique style. Come immerse yourself in Shakespeare set to hard hitting tsp production.

Jessica Hehir

Student Researcher

Jessica Hehir is a student in Shanghai. Having been recently awarded the IGCSE Scholarship for next academic year, she is a well-rounded leader and role model to others. Jessica is very passionate about sports, football in particular. In her journey, she has attended many ACAMIS sports tournaments and other school competitions. It was during these opportunities that Jessica met countless new faces, many being mixed-race like herself. This began her new-found interest in self-discovery and embracing her bi-cultural identity. Through the support of her teachers and parents, she was motivated to express her ‘idea worth spreading’ to a wider community, which has brought her to the TEDx Stage.

Ji in Eom

Student Researcher

Ji in has a deep affection for young children and is dedicated to spreading happiness. Her journey to a children's camp underscored the significance of volunteerism, prompting her to prioritize helping others. Known for her empathetic nature, she listens attentively to others' concerns and collaborates on finding solutions that restore smiles. Her creative spirit thrives as she delights in bringing her ideas to life, particularly when they bring joy to others and herself. Despite facing challenges in the past, she has persevered, pursuing her dreams aligned with her passions and strengths.

Jiaxin Coco Pu

Student Researcher

Jiaxin Pu is a student studying in Beijing,She is interested in science and writing. She likes reading books and trying to create real objects or solutions to solve problems. She enjoys helping others and enjoy self-achievement. She think inspiration comes from everyday observations and personal experiences, so she likes to travel around and gain new knowledge. Her science fair project won two first places, her article about literary understanding won 2 places in the World Scholar Cup national round, and herscientific innovation product won first prize in the Harvard Innovation Competition.

Justin Chu

Student Researcher

Justin Chu, a Year 8 student from Beijing, China, is on a mission to demonstrate that revealing one's vulnerabilities is not a sign of weakness, but a display of strength. Determined and passionate, Justin believes that embracing and sharing our vulnerabilities can foster deeper connections and promote a culture of empathy and support among everyone. His idea challenges the conventional view that vulnerabilities should be hidden, and he is here to prove it wrong.

Katherine Gu

Student Researcher

Katherine is a fun, passionate 10-year-old student Shanghai. She loves English class and is an avid reader and an aspiring writer. Katherine is a dedicated musician and plays piano and cello, and she plays in the school orchestra. She also had a major role in the musical, Neverland. In her free time, Katherine loves to swim and ride horses. Katherine hopes we can all learn more to make better choices that will build a more sustainable future.

Lauren Ho

Student Researcher

Lauren Ho is a clever, hard-working, and very active 10-year-old student athlete in Year 5 in China. She loves spending time singing and playing the ukulele and enjoys a good game of tag with her friends. She thinks all of us should spend more time doing the things we love.

Leah Lim

Student Researcher

Leah is a 15-year-old girl student from Singapore and Australia, raised in Shanghai, who loves learning. She is brave, open-minded, independent, and committed to honing the skills and traits of a lifelong learner and becoming her best self. Leah is compassionate, kind, and believes in the power of caring, which drives her own learning and her passion for helping others learn. In her free time, Leah enjoys reading, writing, and playing the piano.

Leo Lu

Student Researcher

Leo is a student in Shanghai, China, with a passion for finding balance in the digital world. He knows all too well the struggle of being constantly glued to a smartphone. Determined to make a change, Leo is on a mission to encourage his peers to unplug and reconnect with real-life interactions. With his creative posters and thoughtful conversations, Leo is leading the charge towards a healthier relationship with technology. Join him as he navigates the digital wilderness and inspires others to find harmony between screen time and offline fun!

Lisa Zhu

Student Researcher

Lisa is a determined and focused student, a loyal and thoughtful friend, and a self-avowed introvert who is surprised to find herself far outside of her comfort zone, front and center on the big red dot of the TEDx stage. She is inspired by science and its capacity to solve problems and change the world. As a woman in science, Lisa is painfully aware of gender inequality and is committed to raising awareness and improving gender equality in her generation and in her cultural context in China. In her free time, Lisa loves playing golf, badminton, and videogames.

Lison Delmotte

Student Researcher

Lison is a student studying in Shanghai, China. She is interested in art, science and reading. She decided to choose boiler farms as her topic because she is a pet owner.

Luciana Dianga Amondi

Student Researcher

Elsa is a grade 6 student in China. She is currently pursuing her education with a true passion for music, especially singing. She also enjoys listening to music. Additionally, she has a strong aptitude for mathematics, which is her favourite subject at school. Her dream is to study abroad after she graduates.

Nadya Yan

Student Researcher

Nadya is a witty, active, and determined 11-year-old student who wants to be a scientist someday. She loves reading, drawing, playing basketball and riding her bike in her free time. Nadya’s recent interest in gardening has given her a newfound respect for critters like insects and earthworms. She hopes more people will slow down enough to notice the details in nature because this makes us happy.

Nicole Wang

Student Researcher

Nicole is a creative and talkative 11-year-old, Year 7 student. She loves drawing and storytelling and hopes to become an author. Nicole also enjoys singing in the choir and playing violin. She hopes all of us will spend more time in nature because it is good for the soul.

Norah Fernandez

Student Researcher

Norah is studying in Year 2 in Shanghai. Born in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Norah also has ties to America, Canada, Korea, and of course-China! She is seven years old and has a little sister, Raphaela. She enjoys art and music because they’re creative and never have to end. She loves animals, especially cats. Other hobbies include swimming, biking, dancing and singing. At school, she really enjoys getting to know new friends. Norah wants to be a famous performer when she grows up and thinks TEDx is a good opportunity to know what it feels like to be onstage.

Olivia Borengasser

Student Researcher

Olivia lives in Chongqing, China. She enjoys listening to music, dancing, drama and reading.

Olivia Hong

Student Researcher

Growing up in an Asian culture, Olivia struggled with self-love due to intense academic pressures, familial expectations, and societal norms that valued self-sacrifice over self-acceptance. In this inspiring talk, she shares her transformative journey of rediscovering self-love through nurturing her body, practicing self-acceptance, and challenging limiting beliefs. Olivia offers three simple yet powerful steps to help the audience reclaim the innate self-love they once had as children, inviting them to embrace their worth beyond external validation and societal expectations.

Phoebe Fan

Student Researcher

Phoebe is a student studying in Shanghai, China. At first glance, she seems like a simple and happy thirteen-year-old girl. But there’s much more to her. Being born into an Asian household, she was regularly body shamed by her family members, leading to experiences and lessons she hopes to share with the wider community.

Rene Wang

Student Researcher

Rene is a student studying in Chongqing, China. She loves reading and writing and wishes to write her own chapter book this year. Most importantly, she always loves to challenge herself. She developed a passion for music and started learning the piano at five and the cello at eight. By dedicating herself to these musical instruments, she develops many original ideas. Right now, she has achieved remarkable results in music, winning numerous awards both at home and abroad.

Riley Ip

Student Researcher

Riley is a 15-year-old creative powerhouse with a passion for writing, singing, painting, acting, building, designing, and fashion. An avid reader, she devours books to fuel her inner muses. At her international school in Shanghai, Riley is the jazz singer for Stage & Show Band and enjoys making music with her rock band. With a talent for both dramatic and musical performance, Riley brings her unique style on stage as well, as to everything she does. She's inspired by world-building, horror movies, and conspiracy theories. Riley encourages everyone to uncover their own masterpiece—or just be their own masterpiece.

Riley Wei

Student Researcher

Riley is a student studying in Shanghai, China. She enjoys feeding and taking care of animals.

Robert Sou

Student Researcher

Robert is a Shanghai student that immerses himself in diverse cultures; he dives into classical and 21st century experimental music as an enthusiast, enjoys reading novels and plays, while dedicating his efforts to create what he admires the most. Robert also has a wide range of hobbies such as playing golf.

Roselaine Lim

Student Researcher

Roselaine Lim is a 15-year-old student from Malaysia studying in Shanghai, China. She is curious about the dynamics of human behavior and enjoys creating deep connections with her peers. She is fond of learning humanities subjects like Geography and History since they correlate the past and the present of this place we call home, Earth. Roselaine is outgoing in nature, which allows her to interact with individuals from all walks of life.

Sarah Higgins

Student Performer

Sarah is a consummate code-switcher—moving seamlessly between native speaker English and Chinese—just as comfortable in the North of England talking British rock as she is in the North of China running around with her cousins playing in the snow and eating DongBei food in her mother’s village close to Harbin. She is a Year 7 student Shanghai, who is a deep thinker beyond her years and an athlete who loves to play Ultimate Frisbee and Badminton. She also loves all things music, especially playing her guzheng!

Sophie Yang

Student Researcher

Sophie is an 8-year-old studying in Chongqing China. She is interested in the environment and learning about how different animals and insects play a role in our ecosystem. She wants to find ways to protect our environment. In addition, she really likes painting and is hoping to be a fashion designer one day. She hopes to use her love of painting to help teach people about the environment and make the world a better place to live.

Vivian Liu

Student Researcher

Vivian is a creative, intellectually curious, and hard-working Year 8 student whose love of learning and joie de vivre inspires her peers and teachers alike. Vivian loves music and jazz, especially playing her saxophone and learning other percussive instruments. She also enjoys sports and plays basketball and ultimate frisbee. Vivian loves art, tinkering, and is an incredible designer—with a great eye for both the aesthetic and the practical. She hopes her designs can make the world a better and more beautiful place someday.

Whistle Jin

Student Researcher

Whistle is a Year 6 student from China. He has a quiet nature, but is curious about many things and often ponders over them.

William Zhang

Student Reseacher

William is a leader amongst his peers in Year 5 Shanghai. He is an avid reader, a gifted pianist, an accomplished musician, and a determined mathematician. He also plays squash and badminton. William believes in the power of education to change the world by helping us tackle complex global problems on a local level, and make more informed, data-driven choices that are consistent with our values.

Xielyn Xie

Student Researcher

Xielyn enjoys reading romance novels and listening to music, particularly in tranquil settings. Although she dislikes performing in front of audiences and struggles to initiate conversations with new people at her new school, she is actively working to step out of her comfort zone.

Yinuo Cao

Student Researcher

Yinuo's educational journey began at an international school, followed by a transfer to another international school in a different country. Upon returning, he enrolled in a local public school before transitioning to a bilingual school. He demonstrates exceptional self-discipline and autonomy in his studies, with a keen interest in programming. He has developed a website and actively engages in public speaking and scientific competitions. His outstanding academic achievements have earned him the prestigious First Prize Scholarship at school.

Yudam Kim

Student Researcher

Yudam is a student in China. He fell in love with the concept of AI at the age of 10, awakening a deep passion for the field. Now 12, his enthusiasm for AI continues to grow. He enjoys researching the latest advancements in AI technology and is learning the Python coding language. He dreams of becoming an AI developer to help people utilize AI safely. He believes AI will revolutionize the way we think, teach, and learn.

Yvonne Zhu

Student Researcher

Yvonne is a fun, creative, and smart 10-year-old student in China. She loves being a Girl Scout and spending time in nature. She also plays the ukulele and drums. Yvonne loves sports like running and playing basketball. But most of all, she likes spending time with her friends, especially during recess!

Zoe Chen

Student Researcher

Zoe is a thoughtful and friendly student from China, who is passionate about equity and fairness, which is why she is compelled to address the pervasive issues of gender inequality she sees playing out in her world. Zoe is involved in YCIS Media and enjoys photography and drawing. She is also active in a service project running a coffee shop with the deaf community and using sign language. In her free time, Zoe loves playing badminton and gaming.

Zoe Wiedmann

Student Researcher

Zoe is a creative, diligent, and enthusiastic Year 8 student in China from Germany. She loves art, writing, playing with her rock band, singing, and performing in drama productions. She also does taekwondo and plays soccer. Zoe is passionate about sustainability and hopes to become an author and environmentalist someday. She believes we can each make a difference and have a positive impact on our planet if we educate ourselves and others to make better, more responsible, and sustainable, choices.