Past TEDx event

TEDxTsinghua SIGS

The World We See

Took placeDecember 7, 20251:00 PM - 5:00 PM (GMT+8)
LocationShenzhen, Guangdong, China
FormatUniversity
Ten speakers from Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS), hailing from six countries, delivered talks centered on artificial intelligence+ (AI+), sustainable development, and ocean development at the recent TEDxTsinghuaSIGS event held on campus. In the “AI+” session, Professor Ercan Engin Kuruoglu argued that AI must move beyond “averagism”. Associate Professor Lu Shuai presented an AI-driven personalized living system designed to turn homes into responsive, intelligent partners. Master’s student Liu Minjuan shared her experience of transitioning to academia at the age of 36 and focusing on AI-driven design, while PhD candidate Benjamin Honeray Le explored the integration of music and computer science. In the sustainable development session, Professor Li Xiaoyan outlined how converting over one billion tons of annual food waste into high-value products like biodegradable plastics and energy storage materials could advance the circular economy. Associate Professor Matteo Convertino introduced the “EcoWeave” theory, which uses eco-hydrological design to promote coexistence between nature and society. Graduate student Abdul Samad spoke from personal experience about practicing sustainability with gratitude. In the ocean development session, Associate Professor Li Sunwei drew inspiration from maritime history to urge young engineers to engage in marine engineering. Assistant Professor Jean-Baptiste Mawulé Dassekpo addressed marine pollution, sharing innovative methods to tackle the hazards of plastic and glass micro-particles. Master’s student Liu Yihan shared a story reflecting the younger generation’s commitment to ocean conservation. The event participants also engaged with guests in discussions on topics including technological applications, interdisciplinary integration, and the responsibilities of youth.

Speakers

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

  • Abdul Samad

    Master's Student

    I’m Abdul Samad (杜文康) from Pakistan, a researcher in Smart Logistics, exploring how technology, logistics, and human choices shape the planet we share. I wish to connect sustainability with real-world systems across continents. I believe that our true Motherland is not a country, but the Earth itself. My journey has taught me that sustainability is not just science or policy, it is a feeling, a responsibility, and a promise we owe to the planet that raised us.

  • Benjamin Honeray Lee

    PhD Student

    Benjamin Honeray Lee is a musician and computer science PhD student at Tsinghua SIGS. He has previously published research in mathematical music theory and now studies the interdiscipline between these two fields under the mentorship of Prof. Wu Zhiyong.

  • Ercan (尔江) Engin Kuruoglu

    Professor

    Ercan E. Kuruoğlu received his PhD degree in information engineering from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, in 1999. He is currently working as a Full Professor at Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School.

  • Jean-Baptiste Mawulé Dassekpo

    Professor

    Dr. Jean-Baptiste Mawulé Dassekpo, a national of the Republic of Benin, holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology and completed an Outstanding Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS).

  • Matteo Convertino

    Professor

    Matteo Convertino is an ecosystem scientist, engineer, and science communicator at Tsinghua University’s Shenzhen International Graduate School (Institute of Environment and Ecology), where he directs the fuTuRE EcosSstems (TREES) Lab, dedicated to ecosystem intelligence and generative eco-engineering design.

  • Minjuan Liu

    Master's Student

    My name is Liu Minjuan, and I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Architecture at Tsinghua University, where I focus on AI-driven intelligent environments and human-centered design. Before returning to academia, I spent ten years as a professional architect, working in both Shenzhen and Singapore.

  • Shuai Lu

    Professor

    Dr Shuai Lu is an Associate Professor at Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University. His research has long focused on the intersection of architecture and computing (AI4DESIGN).

  • Sunwei Li

    Professor

    Li Sunwei is an Associate Professor at the Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS) Tsinghua University. Funded by the China Scholarship Council, he pursued and completed his doctoral degree Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Western University in Canada.

  • Xiaoyan (李晓岩) Li

    Professor

    Prof. Xiaoyan Li is a distinguished Professor at Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School and a globally renowned researcher in Environmental Science and Engineering. He is a recipient of China's Long-term Innovation Talent Program and is ranked among Stanford University's World's Top 2% Scientists. Prof. Li's impactful research in water pollution control and urban organic waste valorization has resulted in over 300 paper publications in scientific journals, with an H-index of 83, and the prestigious Second-class State Natural Science Award in China. His research work is instrumental in driving sustainable solutions for modern urban environments.

  • Yihan Liu

    Master's Student

    Hey! My name is Liu Yihan, a master student majoring in Resources and Environment from iEE, TsinghuaSIGS. I love public speaking. This is also my first time stepping onto such a prestigious stage to share my ideas with you! I truly hope you will enjoy my speech about the ocean!

Organizing team