TEDxShenzhen

Speakers

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

• AFINGER

  AFinger is a pioneering Southern Chinese hip-hop collective originating from the Chaoshan region. Founded in 2007, the group first gained recognition for their raw, energetic rap performed in the local Teochew dialect. Known for their eclectic and boundary-pushing style, they have released dozens of albums and hundreds of singles over the past decade, alongside countless live performances across China and internationally. Their cultural footprint extends to film, with appearances in movies such as Twins, The Thorn, and Lao Ye Bao Hao. Recently, AFinger has been recognized as key cultural ambassadors for the Greater Bay Area, actively participating in regional arts exchange initiatives. Their representative works include anthems like Teochew People in Guangzhou, Greater China, and New Guangzhou Residents, as well as nostalgic classics such as Overseas Chinese and Children by the Sea, which resonate deeply with the Chaoshan diaspora worldwide.

• Boyang Liu

  Liu Boyang is a Chinese astrophysicist, science communicator, and astrophotographer. He earned his bachelor’s degree in astronomy from Peking University and a PhD in astrophysics from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) at the University of Western Australia. He is known for his pioneering projects and extensive public outreach. He is best known for his photographic series documenting the construction of the Chinese Space Station (CSS), captured using his self-developed optical tracking software. He also leads a team that established China’s first civilian observation network for artificial satellites and human-made space objects. He actively promotes astronomy education and provides expert insights into major scientific projects, such as the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST). His work combines advanced research, technological innovation, and public engagement.

• Hao Wang

  Dr. Wang Hao is a leading expert in embodied AI and computational physics. As the former Algorithm Lead at the IDEA Research Institute, he spearheaded the creation of China’s most influential open-source large language models. Driven to bridge the gap between digital brains and physical actions, he co-founded AutoBot Robotics. Today, his team is at the forefront of developing end-to-end Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models, dedicated to building general-purpose robots capable of assisting in the unpredictable, everyday environments of the human world.

• Jaffa Lam

  Jaffa Lam is a renowned Hong Kong-based artist specializing in large-scale, site-specific installations. For nearly three decades, her community-based practice has breathed new life into recycled materials—from old furniture to abandoned umbrella fabric. By highlighting disappearing craftsmanship and fostering collaborative engagement, her works create vital social dialogues within urban environments. Her pioneering, socially engaged initiatives have earned her global recognition and numerous international residencies. Today, her monumental works are held in the permanent collections of some of the world's most prestigious institutions, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the M+ Museum in Hong Kong.

• Jingkun Xu

  Xu Jingkun is a world-renowned skipper and an extraordinary endurance athlete. After losing his left hand at age twelve, he defied the limitations imposed by others to become one of the most resilient sailors of his generation. He has achieved what few humans ever will: he is the first Chinese skipper in history—and only the 100th person ever—to complete the Vendée Globe, the grueling, solo, nonstop race around the world often described as the "Everest of the Seas." Beyond his athletic achievements, Xu is a symbol of human willpower, proving to the world that "We can't change the wind, but we can always adjust our sails."

• Junbo Zhao

  Zhao Junbo is a leading AI researcher specializing in large language models, world models, and synthetic data. He serves as a Researcher at Zhejiang University and a Senior Tech Expert at Ant Group. Mentored by Turing Award laureate and Meta Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun, Dr. Zhao has been at the forefront of AI innovation for years. He previously worked at Meta AI (FAIR) and NVIDIA, contributing to the early development of PyTorch and FAISS. Today, he spearheads the development of LLaDA, a pioneering diffusion language model, and TableGPT. With over 60 published papers, 25,000+ Google Scholar citations, and recognitions including the MIT Technology Review China "Innovator in Intelligent Computing" and Forbes China 30 Under 30, Dr. Zhao is dedicated to exploring non-consensus architectures to unlock the next generation of Artificial Intelligence.

• Min Song

  Min Song, obtained a Master’s degree from the School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University. Her academic pursuits primarily encompass the fields of medical anthropology and medical sociology. In recent years, her scholarly focus has gravitated towards themes surrounding reverse care, hospice care, and body donation. Prior to her academic work, she accumulated practical experience through three years as a funeral planner, followed by an additional three years working in a hospice ward. “The greatest gift death brings to people is to make them think seriously about how to live.”

• Shuaizhong Wang

  Wang Shuaizhong is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at CUHK and Head of the [S]Equilibrium Lab, as well as a passionate advocate for sustainable construction. He holds a PhD from ETH Zurich and works at the intersection of architecture and structural engineering. His award-winning research focuses on giving discarded materials a second life, earning international recognition, including the Concrete Spolia exhibition at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. He believes that architecture is not an endpoint, but part of a cycle—where every piece of discarded concrete holds the potential for the city’s future.

• Shuangzhong Wang

  Wang Shuaizhong is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at CUHK, Head of the Structural Balance Laboratory, and a passionate advocate for sustainable construction. Holding a PhD from ETH Zurich, he works at the intersection of architecture and structural engineering. His award-winning research focuses on giving discarded materials a second life, earning international recognition—including the Concrete Spolia exhibition at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale. He fundamentally believes: “Architecture is not an endpoint, but part of a cycle. Every piece of discarded concrete holds the potential for the city’s future.”

• Xiao'er Gan

  Gan Xiao'er is a filmmaker and scholar who treats cinema as a way of exploring the inner life. He directs the Film Creation Research Center at South China Normal University and serves as Vice President of the Guangdong Film Association. His features have drawn recognition from leading international platforms for art cinema, including the Jury Prize at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Busan's Asian Cinema Fund, and Rotterdam's Hubert Bals Fund.

• Yan Li

  Li Yan is an advocate for sustainable eating, winner of China's 2020 National Good Food Designer competition, and co-founder of Xiao Lou Restaurant. Over 20 years in the kitchen, he has grown from a conventional chef into one of China's leading voices for sustainable cooking. Xiao Lou is one of the country's first plant-forward restaurants—meat-free on Mondays, with 85% of dishes plant-based. He firmly believes that everyone can contribute to the future of the planet, and that what we eat is one of the quietest but most powerful ways to begin.

• Yanmei Zhu

  Zhu Yanmei is a leading expert in organizational management and human resources, uniquely bridging academic rigor with cutting-edge industry practice. She currently serves as the Executive Deputy Dean of the School of Public Policy at CUHK-Shenzhen. Previously, she was the Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHO) at BGI Group, a global leader in genomics. An award-winning leader recognized as the “Outstanding Manager of the Year” by Harvard Business Review and a recipient of the Athena Award for Global Women’s Leadership, Professor Zhu is also a sought-after mentor at prestigious institutions, including Tsinghua and Peking University. Drawing from her deep experience in both life sciences and elite business schools, she is dedicated to decoding the true essence of human potential and leadership.

• Yanmin Zhou

  Zhou Yanmin is a National First-Class Registered Architect and a Professor at Tsinghua University. As a leading pioneer in age-friendly and inclusive design, she has dedicated her career to transforming how we build homes for older adults. She has played a pivotal role in shaping China’s national standards for senior living, advised on over 100 residential and eldercare developments, and authored more than 20 books on the subject. Bridging architectural rigor with deep human empathy, Professor Zhou’s work focuses on creating living spaces that protect the safety, independence, and dignity of our aging population.

• Yi Sui

  Sui Yi is a pioneering serial entrepreneur, the co-founder of DrunkNJump (Tiaohai), and the head of the DrunkNJump Community Research Institute. Deeply rooted in youth culture, he previously founded the cultural platform Someet, accumulating profound insights into media and community dynamics. Driven by robust community-centric strategies, he successfully scaled DrunkNJump from a single location to over 30 outposts across 12 cities. By delivering user experiences that disrupt traditional dining and retail norms, he led the brand to achieve remarkable counter-trend growth during challenging economic times. He firmly believes that the logic of community is the ultimate catalyst for genuine business innovation.

• Yu Xue

  Xue Yu is a prominent scholar of East-West comparative philosophy and the Director of the Meditation Research Center at CUHK (Shenzhen). With a global academic footprint spanning the Harvard-Yenching Institute, the University of Chicago, and the Goethe-Institut, he has dedicated decades to the study and practice of Eastern philosophy and Chan (Zen) Buddhism. A leading voice in Eastern cognitive science, Professor Xue Yu has published over 120 scholarly articles and five monographs globally. He fundamentally believes: “Cognition is the world itself; to change one’s cognition is to change one’s world and destiny.”

• Yuting Zeng

  Zeng Yuting is a leading neuroscientist at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT) and a recipient of the National Science Fund for Excellent Young Scholars. Armed with a Ph.D. from Humboldt University, her groundbreaking research maps the unseen battleground of fear, stress, and the human brain. Extensively published in top-tier journals like Nature Reviews Neuroscience and Neuron, Dr. Zeng focuses on decoding the physiological domino effects of sleep disorders, pioneering new clinical pathways to safeguard our mental, immune, and cardiovascular health.