TEDxBIS Wuxi Youth

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Andrew Mackay

  Head of Arts in Boston International School Wuxi

  Dr. Andrew Mackay is a Doctor of Education, award-winning filmmaker, and best-selling author with over 23 years of teaching experience across three countries. His work centers on why persuasion and presence matter—because mastering the art of influence and being a phenomenally good actor can quite literally save your life. Beyond the titles, he's simply someone who believes in the power of story, connection, and a little bit of daring. Trust him? Maybe you shouldn't. But his work speaks for itself.

• Guan Ting (Grant) Li

  A Grade 7 student

  "We're the first generation growing up with screens in our hands and algorithms in our heads — and the first to realize nobody taught us how to handle it." I'm a Grade 8 IB MYP student born in 2012 — on the edge between Gen Z and Gen Alpha, shaped by algorithms every day. I spent months researching social media bans and AI, not just reading about FOMO and screen time — I lived it, with over 100 browser tabs open because I'm terrified of losing something. Outside of this, I'm just a kid who loves asking "why" — about history, technology, or why my algorithm knows me better than my parents. I write, procrastinate on YouTube (ironically), and I'm still trying to close those tabs — just like my generation.

• Hayun (Grace) Park

  A Grade 9 Student

  I am Grace and I am currently in grade 9. I came from Korea and started studying in China in 5th grade. The funny thing is that I found out I was more confident in Chinese rather than in Korean, so much so that even when talking to my family members, I find myself combining both languages in order to make us laugh.

• Ihaan Yao

  A Grade 7 Student

  According to Robert Cialdini, "people are strongly affected by social pressure and the desire to belong." I agree. I'm Ihaan Yao from Boston International School. I moved from Korea to China and learned that friendships aren't always what they seem. Some friendly people manipulated me, and it hurt deeply. My mom reminded me that friendships have ups and downs—conflict, tears, and happy moments. Researching manipulation, I realized I wasn't the problem. I'm just an ordinary student trying my best to connect, think about others, and daydream about weird ideas. That's all.

• Jiwon (Callie) Chang

  A Grade 8 student

  What if the systems meant to prepare our kids for the future are quietly stealing their ability to imagine it? Without creativity, we lose not just art, but the ability to solve new problems and challenge old rules. I've seen this from both sides. As a student in an achievement-driven system, I've felt the pressure to find the "right answer." At the same time, I've studied research showing U.S. creativity scores have been dropping since the 1990s—long before social media. I'm no expert—just someone living this daily. Outside of research, I'm a student who loves exploring consequences, turning ideas into images, and hearing others' perspectives.

• Jiwoo (Jina) Kim

  A Grade 7 student

  Did anyone ever wonder what their dogs were feeling? What about their thoughts? Grade 7 Lina Park explains the psychology of dogs, from the way dogs feel emotions to the way they communicate through vocalizations and movements. Dogs are wonderful friends and companions to us, and Lina explores how dog psychology can help us strengthen that bond by understanding their inner thoughts.

• Sasana O

  A grade 10 student

  We are all connected with our phones. Our phones have replaced our raw human relationships among people, and have stolen our ability to look at people face to face, and most importantly, have stolen our slow, real journey to excitement. How does our phones steal all these valuable components of our life that makes us a better person everyday? My speech reminds people how we rely on our phones have turned our lives upside down, and how to solve them.

• Seonah (Sunny) Cho

  A Grade 10 student

  A Grade 10 student

• Seungah Wee

  A Grade 10 student

  A Grade 10 student

• Yuewen (Amy) Ji

  A Grade 7 Student

  G7 Amy dives into the cutting-edge science of de-extinction, from ancient DNA labs to CRISPR gene editing. This talk breaks down how close we actually are to bringing species back, why some scientists are racing to make it happen, and why others say it's a dangerous distraction. No, this isn't Jurassic Park. It's more complicated, more fascinating, and way more urgent. Whether you're a tech optimist, a conservationist, or just someone who loves a good 'what if,' this talk will make you rethink the line between past, present, and future. Amy is very passionate about animals, exploring all kinds of things related to animals, and sharing her ideas with other people!

• Yuri Kim

  A Grade 9 student

  I am a Grade 9 student at Boston International School who is passionate about personal achievement, self-management and the psychology behind human behavior. Through my entire life, I experienced a consistent difficulty with procrstination, distraction, and lack of discipline, which I found to be frequently happening to the lifes of others as well. Through studying concepts such as delayed gratification, habit formation, and self-regulation, I gradually rebuilt systems that helped me regain control of my life and attendtion. Hence, I wanted to share some tips with the global communities how to overcome such a dilemma, and share my story as a growing student. I explore how small daily choices can shape long-term outcomes, and I would like to share insights on self-management and the importance of keeping promises to one's future self, encouraging others to build sustainable habits and take consistent actions toward their future goals.