Forum focuses on media age

Jiang Yuhui, a professor at the philosophy department of East China Normal University, learned something valuable from his daughter one day that launched a new body of research. He easily recalls the moment he picked up his daughter from school several years ago. She then asked him to play the songs of virtual idol Luo Tianyi on the car radio. Feeling both confused and curious as to why his daughter liked the songs, which he readily admits were "not his type", he was told by his daughter that she believed Luo sang well, and hoped to sing like her.

"It impressed me," he says. "We all know virtual idols are not real, without an actual body or emotions like human beings, but why do some young people believe they are real, and regard them as idols who can inspire them?"

The experience was the start of his research into virtual idols. He told the story during the 9th Oxford China Forum, an annual meeting initiated and organized by Oxford students, which was held, online, over March 18-21. The forum contained six sub-forums and two seminars, discussing topics like interdisciplinary studies, the aging society, virtual idols and art in the new media age.

As a student-run annual conference established in 2013, the OCF brings together scholars and professionals from different fields to share and discuss ideas.

"We hope to offer new perspectives and thoughts to academic research through the unique observation of society by young people," says Cai Zixi, president of this year's conference, who is also a student at the University of Oxford.

The theme for the conference this year is Transcending Boundaries. "In our lives, boundaries are omnipresent," according to the forum's organizing committee. "While boundaries are useful tools that help us better define and understand the world, at times, they divide different fields, industries, countries, and human relations in such a way that not only limits people's ability to understand and empathize with each other, but also impedes our imagination of the future."

Cai expands: "There was no boundary at the very beginning of this world. We don't want to be defined by boundaries. Let us cross them with our ideas and bravery, and create endless possibilities with an attitude of transcending boundaries."

Speaking about boundaries between subjects, Qiu Zhijie, a professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, highlights the combination of art and technology in the seminar discussing art in the new media age.

"In the past, we tended to separate education of science and technology from liberal arts," Qiu says. "By pushing the combination of art and technology, we hope to spread scientific knowledge so that art students can give up unrealistic ideas, and really innovate. On the other hand, art can cultivate imagination and a taste for science majors, which also helps them to innovate."

He also mentions that a technology and art major for undergraduates, applied for by CAFA, was approved by the Ministry of Education in February.

"It's a delightful piece of news. It means our technology and art education will become a complete system by cultivating undergraduates and postgraduates," says Qiu.

In the aging society forum, Li Ling, a professor at the National School of Development of Peking University, advises rethinking elderly care. For example, a virtual nursing home has been established in Lanzhou city, Gansu province, which helps the elderly through an online system.

Different from traditional nursing homes, where old people are taken care of in a specialist facility, the system enables them to stay at home while receiving the necessary care, like getting help with chores and health updates, through a simple mobile phone app that summons professionals to help.

"In China, the best way of caring for the elderly is to help them remain in a familiar environment. When people are old, they often have various needs that cannot be satisfied by themselves, but the internet can help.

"Aging is a big challenge, but with our advantage on policymaking and the culture of caring for the old, we may explore a new way to deal with it," says Li.