Theme: Substance of Survivability

Every stage of a person’s progress is shaped by traits unique to the individual. Yet, identifying a common substance that unites disparate individuals is a profound challenge. In this series of TEDx talks, BNBU brings together individuals with a shared purpose: to explore, investigate, and reveal that very substance—especially in light of the imminent and far-reaching influence of AI on all aspects of our society. Can this substance distinguish us from the intelligent machines that society once aspired to create and now increasingly perceives as a threat?

Without a doubt, we are standing at the most pivotal crossroad since the last technological revolution. Crossroads are moments of difficulty, uncertainty, and decision. They emerge at critical stages of both individual lives and societal development. The choices made at such junctures profoundly shape the direction of our collective path. Today, humanity faces such a turning point, as Artificial Intelligence becomes increasingly pervasive and powerful. Decisions about whether to grant machines control over the material world at a societal level will inevitably ripple down and impact each individual.

TEDxUIC 2025 brings together 12 inspiring speakers from a rich array of backgrounds, including Olympics-level sports, the visual experience of design, the glamours of antique collection, and the challenges of teaching secondary school children, as well as academia—where they represent fields as diverse as language, cultural heritage, performing arts, artificial intelligence, architectural conservation, business, and the social sciences. Together, their perspectives span industry, education, and student-driven innovation, reflecting the diversity and intellectual vitality of the community that are gathered in BNBU.

While technological advancement—particularly in artificial intelligence—is an important conversation in contemporary times, the event engages topics that are far beyond that. At its core, it is a reflection on human resilience, identity, irrational intelligence, and the deeper values that guide us through times of uncertainty—reminding us that our understanding of what it means to be human has been profoundly shaped by both humanistic inquiry and technological progress. Through their stories, the speakers will reveal the many facets of the “substance of survivability,” offering personal insights into how we struggle, endure, adapt, and evolve, as a totality of the human experience in a technological era.

TEDxUIC
University Performance Centre
2000 Jintong Road, Tangjiawan
Zhuhai, Guangdong, 519087
China

Baoying Zhong

Young Antique Collector / Cultural Blogger

Zhong Baoying is a BNBU alumna and emerging antique collector who carries forward her father’s legacy in preserving cultural artifacts. With a background in foreign affairs and cultural outreach, she is passionate about the role of traditional Chinese culture in global communication. Through her work and personal journey, Baoying explores how Chinese antiques—rooted in centuries of history—can foster international understanding, promote cultural diplomacy, and connect people across borders.

Bill Aitchison

Associate Professor, School of Culture and Creativity, BNBU / Performance Artist

Dr. Bill Aitchison is an actor, theatre director, and interdisciplinary artist whose work has been presented in galleries, museums, theatres, and festivals across Europe, Asia, America, Australia, and the Middle East. He has worked in diverse contexts including British Live Art, New York downtown theatre, postdramatic theatre, conceptual dance, and Chinese performance art, to name but a few.

Gai Jorayev

Assistant Professor in Culture and Heritage Management, Macao University of Tourism (UTM) President, ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Aerospace Heritage

Gai Jorayev is an academic with interests in heritage management, cultural tourism, and digital humanities. He works at the intersection of heritage—in its various forms—and digital tools and technologies. In addition to working with archaeological sites, industrial heritage, and rural and cultural landscapes, Gai’s research also explores the history and heritage of space exploration and Earth observation. He is actively involved in heritage-based development initiatives and contributes to capacity-building efforts around the world.

Jason Jeffries

Biology Teacher / University Adviser, Ningbo British International School

Jason Jeffries is from the UK and has been teaching since 2012. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology with Industrial Experience and a PGDE in Secondary Education from the University of Edinburgh. Since 2015, he has been teaching biology in Ningbo, China, and has also served as a university adviser for several years alongside his main teaching role. His hobbies include reading (both fiction and non-fiction), gardening, scuba diving, and travelling.

John Corbett

Professor of English, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, BNBU

John Corbett was appointed Professor of English at Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) in September 2020. He served as Programme Director of English Language and Literature Studies (ELLS) from May 2021 until June 2022, when he became Associate Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS). He has many years of experience of university teaching, research and administration in Scotland, Macau and Brazil, having formerly been a Professor at the Universities of Glasgow and Macau, and Visiting Professor at the University of Sao Paulo. He has wide teaching and research interests, with numerous publications in the areas of applied linguistics, translation studies, Scottish literature and the Scots language.

Kang Zhang

Head and Professor of Computational Media and Arts, Information Hub, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou)

Zhang Kang is Head and Professor of Computational Media and Arts at the Information Hub, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou); Professor in the Division of Emerging Interdisciplinary Areas at HKUST; Professor Emeritus of Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas; and Guest Professor at the China Academy of Arts. He was a Fulbright Distinguished Chair and is listed among Stanford’s World’s Top 2% Scientists (Lifetime Impact). Zhang has held academic positions in China, the UK, Australia, and the USA. His current research interests include computational aesthetics, visual languages, and generative art and design. He has published eight books and over 140 journal papers in these areas, and has delivered keynotes at conferences and forums across art and design, computer science, and management fields.

Qilemuge Qilemuge

BNBU Undergraduate in Accounting / Mongolian Ethnic Student Representative

Qilemuge is an undergraduate student majoring in Accounting at BNBU.

Wei Yang

Olympic Champion / Former National Gymnast

Yang Wei is one of China’s most celebrated gymnasts and a three-time Olympic gold medalist. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he won gold in both the individual all-around and the team final, solidifying his place as a national icon. Yang began his Olympic journey in 2000, winning team gold and all-around silver, and competed again in 2004. Over his career, he amassed numerous international titles and embodied the spirit of Chinese gymnastics.

Wei Zhang

Independent Fashion Designer / Founder of CINDY WEI ZHANG

Cindy Wei Zhang is a Zhuhai-based independent designer and founder of CINDY WEI ZHANG STUDIO. A graduate of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, she blends Western design concepts with Chinese cultural heritage. Her work is renowned for drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese elements, which she brings to life through intricate prints and embroidery.

Wentao Fan

Associate Head, Department of Computer Science, BNBU

Dr. Fan Wentao currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Science and Technology, BNU-HKBU United International College in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. His research focuses on machine learning, deep generative models, computer vision, and pattern recognition, addressing a variety of real-life challenges across multiple domains. He has authored or co-authored over 140 publications in esteemed journals and conferences.

Yang'anni Lu

BNBU Undergraduate in Public Relations and Advertising

Lu Yanganni is an undergraduate student majoring in Public Relations and Advertising at BNBU.