A TEDx conference themed on “blooming” was held at Harbin No 3 High School on Aug 21, with advanced knowledge and ideas on self-regulation, decision-making and the future life of human beings being presented to a global audience through a live video stream.

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED covers almost all topics — from science and business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.

Harbin No 3 High School is the only school in Northeast China qualified to host TEDx conferences. Events of this nature have been previously held on two occasions.

This year’s TEDx event at Harbin No 3 High School invited Professor Wang Yinhai from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of the University of Washington (Seattle); Yi Shen, an Australian positive psychology expert; as well as Chen Jianying, a famous American director and screenwriter to Harbin to share ideas centered around the theme of “blooming”.

The event was aimed at promoting new ideas, with the aim of benefiting people who might have limited access to academic information, said Jiang Zhuowen, a license holder for hosting TEDx conferences.

Jiang Zhuowen is a student in Grade 12 at Harbin No 3 High School and become a TEDx license holder this March.

"I was deeply shocked when he told me that study is useless,” said Jiang, referring to a talk between him and a barber who dropped out of school and started work at age 15.

Jiang feels that less-educated people like the barber should have the opportunity to be inspired by new ideas and further education.

With inspiration from the experience, Jiang set up the Student Teaching Union in his school to help students with study problems, which has already benefited 200 students.

To help more people access new ideas and knowledge, Jiang decided to apply for a license to host TEDx talks and was officially approved by the organization in March.

"I want to be a communicator of culture through teaching children and organizing TEDx events, so that more young people can learn new ideas, new knowledge, and new information in the future. I will continue this work throughout my life," said Jiang Zhouwen.

Teachers and students pose for a group photo at the TEDx conference held at Harbin No 3 High School on Aug 21. [Photo/Provided to China Daily]

Jiang Zhuowen, a TEDx license holder at Harbin No 3 High School, delivers a speech at the TEDx conference held at Harbin No 3 High School on Aug 21. [Photo/Provided to China Daily]

Wang Yinhai, a professor from the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of the University of Washington (Seattle), delivers a speech during the TEDx conference held at Harbin No 3 High School on Aug 21. [Photo/Provided to China Daily]