Islamabad: Allama Iqbal Open University organised the first TEDxAIOU event here at the University’s main campus, says a press release.
TEDxAIOU provided a platform to the speakers of various fields to share their “ideas worth spreading” in the short talks of fifteen minutes each speaker shared his or her unique idea. The event, organized by the University’s Faculty, Institute of Educational Technology and Directorate of ICT, was presided over by the vice chancellor Prof. Dr. Shahid Siddiqui.
The umbrella theme of the talks was ‘A Peaceful Tomorrow’. In his welcoming remarks, Dr Shahid Saddique focused on the importance of TEDx events which provide a local platform for sharing ideas.
The half-day event comprised seven live talks and three TED videos. The seven eminent speakers from different walks of life talked about the contribution of multiple disciplines in realizing the notion of peace.
Dr Hassan Abbas spoke about engineering & environment, Dr. Vaqar Ahmad talked about the topic in context of economics, business & commerce point of view. Ms Farzana Yaqoob advocated gender parity, Mr Peter Jacob highlighted the role of social justice in peaceful societies.
Eminent columnist Javed Chaudry enlightened the audience about the role of conventional and social media in building narratives all over the world. Dr Tausif Akhter Janjua spoke about health and nutrition and the final talk was delivered by Mr Taimur Rehman who spoke about art n culture, tolerance & patience which leads to peace.
The closing remarks were given by Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood, Dean Faculty of Education who appreciated the speakers for sharing the ‘ideas worth spreading’; and the TEDxAIOU team leaders including Dr. Afshan Huma, Dr Sidra Rizwan, Mr Ejaz Ahmad and Mr Muhammad Ajmal Farooq for coordinating and organizing a successful TEDxAIOU event.
The speakers were of the view that a ‘Peaceful Tomorrow” is a dream of every child and adult. They asserted that exploring the venues and ways of peaceful tomorrow is a need of the day for a sustainable future.When we envision the future it is not possible to look at it without deconstructing the phenomenon, they added.