Best Path to Malaysia’s Sustainable Future? Pay For Journalism | Law Yao Hua | TEDxUKM
Yao Hua, with the fire and fierce clarity of a seasoned science communicator. He took the stage with a grounded, urgent message: that the future of journalism, especially environmental journalism, hangs in the balance. He challenged us to consider what it takes to sustain truth-telling in a time of noise and distraction. Journalism, he reminded us, doesn’t just exist; it survives because people believe in it enough to support it. His call was clear: if we want a future where power is held accountable and nature has a voice, we have to invest in the storytellers who make that future possible. Law Yao Hua is an environment and science journalist based in Kuala Lumpur and co-founder of Macaranga, an independent newsroom covering the Malaysian environment. Trained as an insect ecologist with a Ph.D. in Entomology, he was formerly a senior lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia before transitioning into journalism in 2014. His work has appeared in Science, Nature, The Atlantic, Science News, and BFM89.9.Yao Hua has earned multiple accolades, including the Sigma Award (2023), MPI Environmental Reporting Award (2022), Said Zahari Award (2022), and One World Media Award (2020). As a fellow with the Pulitzer Center’s Rainforest Investigations Network, he exposed systemic flaws and fraud behind forest loss in Peninsular Malaysia, helping halt illegal projects and empower Indigenous legal action.At TEDxUKM, Yao Hua shares an idea to safeguard Malaysia’s environmental future—for a more just and sustainable society. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 15:205 steps to start being kinder to yourself | Melissa Robinson-Winemiller | TEDxUTulsaAfter losing her career as a professor, musician, and leader, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller reinvented herself as an expert in empathy and emotional intelligence, and she has taken the opportunity to share how empathy should not just be extended towards others, but also towards yourself.Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller is an expert in empathy and emotional intelligence. With advanced degrees in leadership, business, and statistics, and 20+ years of experience, she is passionate about sharing her knowledge. She has spoken at Oxford and Cambridge, appeared on nearly 50 podcasts and livestreams, and authored two articles for Authority magazine. Her first book, The Empathic Leader, releases this spring, continuing her mission to redefine leadership with empathy and emotional intelligence.This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 12:51Making science simpler | Lim Seng Joe | TEDxUKMDr. Lim shared a talk about bridging the gap between science and society. With clarity and humour, he showed us that science isn’t some distant, cold discipline, it’s alive, dynamic, and relevant to our everyday lives. He took concepts that might seem intimidating and made them more understandable. Through tangible examples and everyday science, he translated complex nutritional concepts into digestible ideas, literally and figuratively. By showing how healthy food can be practical, affordable, and science-driven, he brought science back into our hands. Dr. Lim Seng Joe is an Associate Professor and Director of the Innovation Centre for Confectionery Technology (MANIS). A Registered Food Analyst and Professional Technologist, his groundbreaking research explores functional foods, edible bird’s nest glycoproteins, and fucoidan-rich ingredients from Malaysian brown seaweed. With accolades including the Erasmus Mundus ALFABET Award, ASEA-UNINET Scholarships, National Young Scientist Award 2024, and the Crown Prince CIPTA Award, he has also served as a visiting professor in Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia. Dr. Lim has published 78 journal articles, two research books, and eight book chapters, and is currently an editor for Sains Malaysiana. At TEDxUKM 2025, he will share “Making Science Simpler” — a talk aimed at breaking down complex scientific ideas to connect and inspire people from all walks of life. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 13:09Why great leaders trust their gut (and how you can too) | Rachel Smith | TEDxColumbianaIn this inspiring talk, Rachel introduces the VIEW Method—a powerful approach to leadership that starts from within. She shares how gaining inner clarity and perspective can help us break through mental clutter, uncover hidden insight, and lead with authentic confidence in a noisy, fast-moving world. Rachel is an intuitive leadership coach with over 20 years of experience leading global teams in fast-paced, high-impact environments. She is the creator of the VIEW Method—a transformative approach that helps leaders shift perspective, access inner clarity, and lead with confidence. By integrating intuitive awareness with practical leadership strategy, Rachel empowers professionals to navigate complexity with calm and authenticity. Her work helps uncover the insights hidden beneath the noise, enabling individuals to move forward with purpose and conviction. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 16:48질문 하나가 바꾼 세상: 디지털 시대, 함께 배우는 힘 l 이채린 클라썸 대표 | Chaerin Lee | TEDxSeoul이채린 연사는 AI와 디지털 기술을 효율적·빠른 도구가 아니라, 사람들과 함께 배우고 따뜻하게 서로 도울 수 있는 마법 같은 매개체로 바라보는 이야기를 들려줍니다. 그녀는 친구와 함께 공부하며 성적을 올렸던 중학교 시절의 경험부터, KAIST에서 과목별 오픈채팅방과 익명·실명 선택 기능을 갖춘 학습 플랫폼을 만들어 학생들이 마음껏 질문하고 서로 답하며 성장할 수 있도록 돕는 과정을 공유합니다. 이채린 연사는 AI가 사람의 본심을 끌어내는 ‘진솔한 대화의 시작’이 될 수 있다고 강조하며, 디지털 기술을 통해 여러분이 어떤 변화를 만들고 싶은지 묻습니다. 이채린 대표는 2021년 포브스 아시아 '30세 이하 리더 30인' 선정되었습니다. 그녀가 경영하는 클라썸은 AI 기반 교육 및 지식 공유 플랫폼으로 교육부터 지식과 노하우 공유까지 모두 가능합니다. 구성원 간 소통 활성화를 유도하고, 이를 기반으로 축적된 데이터를 AI로 즉각 활용 가능한 환경을 조성합니다. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 15:23The Whisper Within: Using Intuition as Your Life's Compass | 陆 希安 | TEDxHTNIA YouthHave you ever felt a calling from within—a quiet whisper guiding you toward a different direction? Most people ignore it due to fear, practicality, or comfort, only to look back years later with regret. In this talk, the speaker shares his life journey from South Africa to the United States, and eventually to a one-way ticket to Bali. Through his story, he demonstrates that trusting your inner intuition is not recklessness but a necessity for truly living. Intuition acts like a compass—it doesn’t reveal the entire path, but if you have the courage to act, it will always point you to the next step. Let’s learn how to stop burying that inner voice and instead embrace it as the most reliable guide through the noise of the world. 陆希安，小红书博主“陆希安Lucian George”是一名美国人。他一年多前从加州搬到深圳居住，2024年注册了小红书账号，经常在上面分享他在中国的居住见闻。他曾在社交媒体视频中分享自己在中国的就医体验，对比了与美国的不同之处，惊讶于中国医院预约医生的高效以及数字化方式的便捷，还对中国的医疗成本之低表示惊叹。此外，他也会分享在中国的生活体验，如去海底捞就餐时被服务震惊，想给小费却遭拒等经历。他还曾到武汉、光明等地旅行，沉浸式体验当地的吃喝玩乐，并在抖音上发布相关视频。根据他在视频中的介绍，他的专业是生物医学工程。 This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 20:01가난한 아이들은 어떻게 어른이 되는가 ㅣ 강지나 고등학교 영어 교사, 작가 | Ji-Na Kang | TEDxSeoul빈곤 가정에서 자란 아이들은 우리 사회 주요 담론에서 생각보다 더 자주 소외되고는 합니다. 강지나 작가가 제안하는 우리 사회를, 그리고 타인을 더 주의 깊게 바라볼 수 있는 방법은 무엇일까요? 강지나 작가는 고등학교에서 영어를 가르치며 청소년 정책을 연구합니다. 교사 생활 중 가난한 집에서 자라는 아이들이 눈에 밟혀 가톨릭대학교에서 사회복지학 박사 학위를 취득했습니다. 빈곤 가정에서 자란 여덟 명의 아이들과 10여 년간 만남을 지속하며 묻고 바라본 이야기를 책에 담아냈습니다. 강지나 선생님은 빈곤과 청소년 복지 분야에 깊은 관심을 가지고 연구를 계속하며, 청소년들이 더 나은 미래를 꿈꿀 수 있도록 돕고 있습니다. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
