Ember Seminars

Igniting Ideas Through Critical Dialogue

The name "Ember" carries personal significance for the series founder, Zhijun, who translated the ending theme "Ember" from the anime Vinland Saga under the Netease Music username Lanx Australis. The song's central metaphor—"The flame within will burn forever"—captures the essence of what these seminars aim to achieve.

Like an ember that holds the potential to ignite larger fires, meaningful dialogue often begins with small sparks of insight that, when carefully tended, can illuminate complex problems and inspire lasting change. The seminars embrace this patient, persistent approach to intellectual engagement—recognizing that transformative ideas rarely emerge from single conversations but rather from sustained, thoughtful exchange over time.

Ember Seminars is an intimate discussion series that brings together emerging scholars, practitioners, and thought leaders to examine pressing questions at the intersection of development, policy, and social change. Each seminar features 3-5 participants engaged in structured dialogue around carefully selected readings, case studies, or contemporary challenges. Rather than traditional presentations, Ember Seminars emphasize collaborative inquiry—participants come prepared to question assumptions, explore contradictions, and build understanding through rigorous exchange.