Over 10 thought-provoking speakers took center stage at the TEDxShenzhen 2024 annual conference, held on Sunday at Shenzhen International Garden and Flower Expo Park in Futian District. The theme of this year’s event, “Brave New World,” drew speakers from a variety of fields, including technology, arts, and the humanities. Their talks inspired attendees by challenging traditional thinking, sparking candid conversations, and sharing groundbreaking ideas.

Among the standout speakers was Dr. Zhou Yaoqi, a physical biology scientist from Shenzhen Bay Lab, who shared his experiences navigating the challenges of scientific exploration. In his talk, Zhou encouraged the audience to embrace failure as part of the learning process: “Don’t worry about failure. In my journey from high school to my professional life, I faced many setbacks. But with patience and creativity, I overcame those obstacles and achieved my goals,” said Zhou, who specializes in studying the structure-function relationships of proteins and RNA.

Dr. Chen Yiwei, a prominent advocate for genetics and rare disease research, took a different approach by focusing on social responsibility. She discussed her work with Wonder Sir, an educational platform she founded to raise awareness about rare diseases and facilitate better communication between patients, the public, and medical professionals. “We cannot change our genome, but we can decide how to use our talents to create a better life for ourselves and others,” said Chen, who believes that empathy and social action are essential for improving the world.

Maksim Silenko, a senior specialist at Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, found the conference both inspiring and thought-provoking. Having lived in Shenzhen for six years, he noted that the event was not only about innovation — a core characteristic of the city — but also explored themes of friendship, collaboration, and charity. “Shenzhen is about much more than tech. It’s about bringing people together to create positive change,” he said.

TEDxShenzhen is part of the global TEDx initiative, which brings the mission of TED — “ideas worth spreading” — to local communities. These independently organized events provide a platform for speakers to share ideas that span a wide range of topics, from cutting-edge science to social change. Each 18-minute talk is designed to be both impactful and thought-provoking, leaving the audience with ideas they can take forward into their own lives.

This year’s TEDxShenzhen conference, with its diverse speakers and stimulating discussions, continues to foster innovation and inspire creativity in one of China’s most dynamic cities.