Unnawut Leepaisalsuwanna, left, and Piriya Kulganchanacheewin.

TEDxBangkok, an independently organised, non-profit event in connection with Ted Talk is taking place on Saturday at Aksra Theatre King Power.

The programme features a platform of ideas delivered through short, powerful talks covering all topics, from science to lifestyle and politics to morality.

Eighteen Thai speakers from various fields will be given 18 minutes to deliver their ideas. The line-up includes artist Pichet Klunchun, wildlife specialist Pataraporn Maneeorn, head of Google Thailand Ariya Banomyong, urban design expert Dr Niramol Kulsrisombat, fragrance designer Chalida Kunalai and many more.

In preparation for the event, Life sits down with two organisers from TEDxBangkok: Unnawut Leepaisalsuwanna, licence holder of the event, and Piriya Kulganchanacheewin, who organised TEDxChiangmai last year.

What made you decide to hold such an event?

Unnawut: I was flooded with requests from Thai teens and teachers to translate particular TED talks. I realised that there was a real enthusiasm and potential to hold the event in Bangkok.

Piriya: I went to TEDxKL and was impressed that all the staff and organisers were all young and aiming to do something creative. So I came to think that Bangkok is such a big city and our country is full of talented speakers, so why not have our TEDx here?

TED allows only 18 minute or less for each speaker, is that enough?

Unnawut: It's a good way to expand one's interest in unfamiliar fields. For example if you're in business, it's almost impossible for you to attend a one-hour forum on science. TED is a talk open for people from all fields of expertise to share their knowledge. Then it's up to the listeners whether they want to dig deeper on any issues.

How did you come up with the theme 'Catching the ripples'?

Unnawut: I had a chance to join TED Global in 2013. There, I was touched by a particular sentence: 'In order to see where the wave is coming from, you have to look at the ripple.' When you're looking at a trend, you can no longer look at only a few leaders, or conclusions from a few analysts, because everyone now has the power of media in their hands. Therefore, I believe that anyone can cause a ripple in society.

What was the criteria used in selecting the speakers?

Piriya: We listed candidates from different fields, did research on their backgrounds and had a chat with them. The speakers we picked are the ones who're passionate about something they do. They also have to be down-to-earth and open-minded. We seek speakers that the attendees can identify with — meaning that if they try hard enough, they can become successful like them. Another thing we have found in common in our speakers is that they wanted to discuss the obstacles in our society. If we don't solve these problems, then we have to live with this blockade and cannot move on.

When you started selling tickets, why did you choose not to reveal the speakers' names?

Piriya: We prefer open-minded people who are willing to receive fresh and new ideas rather than fans of some particular speakers. With only 550 limited seats, we decided to ask the attendees to fill in application forms that reflect their characters and interests before selecting them and we think we've made the right decision.

What are attendees likely to gain from joining the event?

Piriya: It's not a talk where attendees come only as listeners. Because of the variety of the content, we expect the attendees to discuss the messages and lessons they've learned from each speaker. This is to raise awareness that everyone has their own reasons to like or dislike something and if people can understand others' points of view, it can help improve our society.

Are you afraid that attendees might be disappointed by the speakers you've picked?

Unnawut: I can see that coming. But it is impossible for everyone to agree on the same idea. While you might not like the topic or the person talking, you might appreciate the talk and try to understand the reason why they chose to speak on such issues, I think that is the speciality of the event.

Piriya: We're not looking for the best ideas. We're looking for different ideas that will create better understanding among people.