TEDx and UJ - Reimagining the future “THE CONVERGENCE OF HUMANS AND MACHINES IS IMPORTANT. SO, LET US NOT BE AFRAID OF TECHNOLOGY, WE NEED TO EMBRACE IT,” SAID PROF MARWALA, ADDING THAT PEOPLE NEEDED TO STUDY SUBJECTS THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
Going into the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) should not be a scary concept. Instead, the convergence of humans and machines is important and should be embraced. So said Prof Tshilidzi Marwala, UJ’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal. He was speaking at the inaugural TEDx Talk in August 2019, at the Auckland Park Kingsway Campus Library and Information Centre, at which experts across different disciplines shared insights on opportunities and challenges for this and future generations. The aim was to stimulate thinking on entrepreneurship, enrolling in multidisciplinary courses and
inspiring new ideas on innovation in the 4IR era. TEDx is an offshoot of the hugely popular Technology, Entertainment
all disciplines. The first UJ TEDx Talk was themed “Reimagining our present and redefining the future”. Other speakers included Prof Maria Frahm-Arp (Executive Director: UJ Library), Dr Demilade Fayemiwo (engineer and water conservation consultant), Boniswa Madikizela (chartered accountant and senior lecturer, Department of Accountancy, UJ), Ebenhaezer Dibakwane (two-time Savannah Comic’s Choice Award-winning comedian and a South African Film and Television Awards-nominated writer), and Thabo Molefe – popularly known as Tbo Touch (radio host and entrepreneur). Speaking on the benefits of 4IR, Marwala said that rational decision
and Design (TED) Talks, an international movement to
engender a deeper understanding of our world. It’s about sparking conversations that change attitudes, lives, and our world. UJ’s library partnered with TEDx to organise high-octane, community- driven TED Talks to showcase the most fascinating thinkers and leaders. Going forward, this platform will bring together experts from various sectors for an exciting day of presentations and discussions that will inspire new ideas and opportunities across
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