Kish Island, April 18, IRNA � Participants at the TEDxKish opened first day of discussions on the themes Entrepreneurship-Universities and Environment in separate business-like roundtables on Friday.




The TEDx program is designed to help communities, organizations and individuals to initiate conversation and connection through local TED Talk experiences � technology, education and design � aimed at connecting, innovating and inspiring people through sharing experience, knowledge and ideas.

The TEDxKish convening on the Persian Gulf island of Kish on April 17-18 has among its objectives changing the distorted perception of Iran outside the country to make it close to the real one, Mojdeh Eskandari founder of the event told IRNA.

This is following President Hassan Rouhani's recent statements in the wake of nuclear negotiations in which he said Iran intends to upgrade its relations with the international community.

Nevertheless, the major part of the first day program was in afternoon sessions during which speakers narrated the tipping points in their lives, some with moving stories.

Young Iranian researcher, Barmak Heshmat, was the first speaker who delivered his talks in a video message. Saying 'no one is owner of ideas', the futurist MIT graduate urged participants to be humble in sharing their experiences.

Next, the 'soul cycler' Mohammad Tajeran and photographer-adventurer Rick Gunn took the floor to recount their story 'Wheels of Peace' which they made together.

Tajeran who is a nomadic traveler has developed the project 'We Need Trees' to raise awareness about the importance of trees in the life of human beings. Gunn's combination of stories and photos has been both entertaining and inspirational.

Samantha Weinberg's narration � also a writer and traveler � centered on the theme people nowadays are more holidaying than travelling. The speaker told how she has opted for the latter.

Later, it was Musical explorer, Simon Broughton, who believed that musicians are powerful ambassadors out of the conviction that world music is a lot more connected to real life.

And Nadereh Chamlou' talk on West Asia's economic resurgence and her idea on launching a Silk Road trade bloc brought the first afternoon session to its end.

With all energetic and exemplary narration, nonetheless, it was the second session's speakers whose feats invited participants in the TEDxKish to stand up several times and put their hands together for their lived lives.

When Katayoun Khosrowyar told about her journey from the United States to Iran which turned the chemical engineer to a member of Iran's national football team player, she received the standing ovation for defying the challenges and for lifting the FIFA ban on playing while observing the Islamic dress code � hijab.

She was followed by Chinese TV anchor, Gloria Ai, and her trilogy on the life of three people who had decided to change their lives strengthened the session's message � Think Again.

After Khosrowyar's speech which had a deep resonance in the audience, it was the clinical psychologist Ali Sahebi's to resound the session. The scholar's narration on how he was introduced to William Glasser's Choice Theory which ultimately helped the doctor himself out of a severe orthopedic illness vibrated the audience.

Then TED fellow Bassam Tariq told his experience of filming the life of ordinary people in the hustle-bustle city of Karachi. The filmmaker-journalist believed editing a documentary or any 'cut' will do serious harm to its story.

However, the climax of the session � as well as the day � emerged when avalanche survivor Sam Kavanagh narrated his story and the emotional self-discovery which taught him to continue the world. He sent waves of shock in the conference hall demonstrating his amputated leg with the message that life has to be experienced, tasted, touched and lived despite of all its woes.

After loud and prolonged acclaims for Kavanagh's non-conformist spirit, it was outdoor wood sculpture Jamshid Moradian to tell his experience and how he has brought about a change in the district he lives by his art works.

The twin marathon sessions in the afternoon saw musical performances which played the last tunes to the event's opening day.

Unlike TEDx tradition of holding one-day local events, the talks in Kish will continue on Saturday under the themes Future Canvas and Incubators of Change.

For attendants, more surprise could be waiting in the Kish Island's breath-taking sunrise horizon of the Persian Gulf.


By IRNA