TEDxJU conference encourages students to discuss ‘ideas worth spreading’

AMMAN — Topics such as education, astronomy, technology, feminism and the cosmos were in the spotlight at the University of Jordan’s (UJ) second TEDxJU earlier this week.

The day-long programme, launched under the theme of “think”, was inspired by conferences held annually by TED, a US-based nonprofit organisation devoted to “ideas worth spreading”.

“TEDx is a nonprofit conference to spread ideas globally and have a global conversation,” said Adam Bataineh, founder and licensee of TEDxJU.

The “x” is added to any independently organised TED event.

“Participants were accepted based on an online application,” Bataineh told The Jordan Times.

The medical student’s participation in TEDxAmman encouraged him to hold a similar conference at his university.

At the event, students debated “life as we know it” and life from a cosmic perspective with Hanna Sabat, former chairman of the Jordanian Astronomical Society.

Speaker Rula Quawas, professor of feminism and American literature, and the founder of UJ’s Centre for Women’s Studies, talked about women in society and “honour” crimes. 

“Honour crimes are humanity crimes; everyone should speak up and break the silence,” she said.

“Build your own power bridge; say no to silence and always speak the truth,” she urged students.

Speaking about education, Anwar Sharif, a teacher at Modern Montessori Schools, shared his vision to combine fun and learning. 

Sharif said he mixes games and teaching methods to “bring on a learning revolution”. 

Hamza Arsbi and Shurouq Zahra of the Scientific Culture Society (SCS) — a volunteer-based nonprofit organisation founded in 2012 by university students — also spoke about making education more interesting.

“SCS has succeeded in helping over 700 children across the Kingdom by providing them with fun and exciting science workshops,” Arsbi said.

Such workshops “encourage young Jordanians to think for themselves”, he said, adding that SCS is looking to encourage students to move beyond written words in textbooks and experiment with what they learn.

“We don’t have many natural resources in Jordan, but we have the most important element: the people. People will help in producing knowledge,” Arsbi added.