Speakers at the TEDxNTU event on campus shared how they are helping to create a world of possibilities by challenging the status quo in their individual fields
by Derek Rodriguez
FUTURISTIC SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES ADVOCATE
“With perovskite, we can have solar cells that are 100 times thinner than human hair. These can be placed everywhere. First, we will put them on top of silicon solar panels to create tandem solar cells which are able to achieve much higher efficiency than each of the two technologies. But later, we can also place them on buildings, on roads and on consumer goods like backpacks and hats!”
DR ANNALISA BRUNO
The expert in photovoltaics and optoelectronics was part of the NTU team that harnessed the potential of “wonder material” perovskite to worldwide acclaim in 2020
PLANT COMMUNICATOR
“With the proper tools to communicate with plants, we hope to master plant language. We are just at the early stage of revealing the intelligence of plants. What magic power do plants possess that we aren’t aware of? How can we learn from plants and utilise their intelligence? We won’t know the answers until we engage in dialogue with plants.”
PROF CHEN XIAODONG
The School of Materials Science & Engineering prof developed a device to communicate with plants using electric signals
SOCIAL MEDIA COMMENTATOR
“A lack of intellectual humility can lead to an assumption of moral superiority, which is dangerous for society. When we enter discussions, we should always believe that we are right, but at the same time be open to the possibility that we are wrong.”
ASST PROF WALID ABDULLAH
The School of Social Sciences prof hosts a podcast called “Teh Tarik with Walid” where he has candid conversations with politicians and political influencers
ED-TECH DISRUPTER
“Why does education feel so linear when life is not? By adding autonomy to your learning, you start adding personal things to your journey. You start adding your learning speed, your learning style, then you start making it your learning DNA.”
DEVI SAHNY
Founder of tutoring startup Ascend Now, which creates personalised curricula based on students’ preferences
EMPIRICALLY CREATIVE HEALER
“Human beings are meaning-seeking creatures and we long for connection. I believe storytelling is the key to making that connection. And while everyone has stories to tell, we can tell these stories with much greater authenticity and insight if they are told through art. We have found through tedious empirical research that art-based storytelling can heal us and unite us in our empathy, kindness and compassion, transcending the shadow of death, the sorrow of grief and the pandemic of loneliness.”
ASSOC PROF ANDY HO
The School of Social Sciences prof pioneered psycho-socio-spiritual interventions for palliative care, including Mindful-Compassion Art Therapy and Family Dignity Intervention
HUMANITARIAN PEACE-BUILDER
“The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed our glaring psychosocial needs. Wherever we are and whatever our daily experiences, we all have feelings and therefore our emotions need our regular care. I encourage all of us to ‘brush’ our emotions every day so that we’ll be healthier to love all of life in the beautiful and fragile world around us.”
DR HAKIM YOUNG
A medical doctor who spent 16 years in Afghanistan helping refugees and gained a new perspective of life in the process
This story was published in the Mar-May 2022 issue of HEY!. To read it and other stories from this issue in print, click here.
