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Technology, community development, diesel, economic growth, fuel, petroleum, poverty, rural community development, rural villages, troubleshooting the transition from carbon-abundance to carbon-scarcity, war

2010, 2009

United States

Mission: More oxen for America! Why? Ox tech is almost extinct in the USA and our economy will really want it as an option when the price of diesel fuel gets too high. Ideologically we all trust that some unknown battery/energy tech will show up to save us... but what if we are wrong? No need to speculate. North Korea and Cuba showed us that when diesel supplies crash the choice is between oxen and hand labor. Hand labor = grinding poverty... for almost everyone... forever. So someone had better get serious about making sure oxen and ox tech are thriving and available for the transition. That someone is me. No one else seems to want the job. // Alex Petroff is a dedicated advocate for the preservation and advancement of oxen and ox technology in the United States. Recognizing the potential challenges posed by a future increase in diesel fuel prices, Petroff emphasizes the importance of maintaining oxen as a viable alternative for economic sustainability. Drawing on examples from countries like North Korea and Cuba, Petroff highlights the critical role oxen can play in mitigating the impact of fuel shortages on labor and poverty levels. With a unique focus on the practical implications of transitioning to oxen-based technology, Petroff stands out as a leading voice in ensuring the availability and viability of oxen as a sustainable option for the future. // Rural development economist // Founder, Working Villages International // Petroff was born in the state of Maine, and graduated from Hampshire College in Amherst Massachusetts, where he did his graduation theses on rural economic development in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2005 Petroff founded Working Villages International, an organization aimed at building model villages for a post petroleum world, using the principles of village self-reliance, and concentrated, comprehensive development. In 2006 Petroff started Working Villages first model village in war torn Eastern Congo. Focused intensely on increasing the quality of life, and the happiness of people everywhere, Petroff’s model for development combines sound economic theory with many of the social values of philosophers like Gandhi and Schumacher, to create a sustainable model of rural development for the 21st century. // Alex Petroff is a dedicated advocate for the preservation and advancement of oxen and ox technology in the United States. Recognizing the potential challenges posed by a future increase in diesel fuel prices, Petroff emphasizes the importance of maintaining oxen as a viable alternative for economic sustainability. Drawing on examples from countries like North Korea and Cuba, Petroff highlights the critical role oxen can play in mitigating the impact of fuel shortages on labor and poverty levels. With a unique focus on the practical implications of transitioning to oxen-based technology, Petroff stands out as a leading voice in ensuring the availability and viability of oxen as a sustainable option for the future. // Rural development economist // technology, rural, economic growth, rural villages, troubleshooting the transition from carbon-abundance to carbon-scarcity, poverty, diesel, community development, fuel, petroleum, diesel fuel, rural community development, war // Topsham|USA|Bowdoinham|Maine|United States

Topsham|USA|Bowdoinham|Maine|United States

agri-business, commercial real estate, education, ethics, finance, fintech, global health, healthcare financing & infrastructure development, immigrant support, immigration, infrastructure projects, lending, rural areas, supply chain

2007

United States

LinkedIn takes your privacy seriously.

LaGray Finance specializes in providing innovative financing solutions for businesses in the healthcare, biotechnology, and life sciences industries. They offer a diverse array of financing options to support businesses at every stage, including business acquisition, commercial real estate, equipment lease/purchase, supply chain optimization, and working capital. LaGray Finance works with clients to understand their unique challenges and opportunities, providing flexible financing solutions tailored to their needs. They offer financing for various purposes such as equipment purchase, real estate acquisition, debt consolidation, and more. Additionally, they provide solutions like asset-based lending, bridge loans, SBA loan programs, supply chain financing, and USDA Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Program for businesses in rural areas. LaGray Finance is committed to supporting businesses in these sectors by offering financing packages ranging from $100,000 to $250,000,000. // Africa EcoGrowth Investment and Services (AEGIS) is a firm dedicated to supporting institutions, private companies, and multinational corporations in their African expansion success. They create sustainable vehicles for driving capital to the continent and offer services such as business development, talent management, financial advisory, and strategy consulting. AEGIS helps clients identify investment opportunities, conduct due diligence, manage fundraising, and establish companies and special purpose vehicles. The organization operates in sectors like Trade, Health, Education, Agri-business, Energy, Real Estate, and Fintech. AEGIS emphasizes ethical conduct, acting in the best interests of investors and customers, and ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability in their operations. // LinkedIn takes your privacy seriously. // Alexandra Graham is a seasoned professional with expertise in providing innovative financing solutions for businesses in various industries. She has a strong background in business acquisition, commercial real estate, equipment lease/purchase, supply chain optimization, and working capital financing. Alexandra's work focuses on tailoring flexible financing options to meet the unique needs of clients, ranging from equipment purchase to debt consolidation. With a commitment to supporting businesses, Alexandra collaborates closely with clients to understand their challenges and opportunities, offering financing packages that range from $100,000 to $250,000,000. Her dedication to providing tailored financial solutions has made her a trusted partner for businesses seeking strategic financing support. // Nurse // co-founder of LaGray, a Chicago based, Africa-focused pharmaceutical company with investments in Ghana and Nigeria; President of St. Karol School of Nursing in Ghana; President of PhytoSearch, focused on the development of efficacious, affordable, safe and high-quality medicines from indigenous African medicinal plants // Alexandra Graham is a seasoned professional with expertise in providing innovative financing solutions for businesses in various industries. She has a strong background in business acquisition, commercial real estate, equipment lease/purchase, supply chain optimization, and working capital financing. Alexandra's work focuses on tailoring flexible financing options to meet the unique needs of clients, ranging from equipment purchase to debt consolidation. With a commitment to supporting businesses, Alexandra collaborates closely with clients to understand their challenges and opportunities, offering financing packages that range from $100,000 to $250,000,000. Her dedication to providing tailored financial solutions has made her a trusted partner for businesses seeking strategic financing support. // Nurse // infrastructure, agri-business, education, immigration, fintech, commercial real estate, finance, supply chain, infrastructure projects, lending, affordable, biotech, vehicles, plants, transparency, global health, rural, ethics, rural areas, indigenous, accountability, immigrant support, real estate, healthcare financing & infrastructure development // USA|Nigeria|Chicago|United States|Nsawam|Ghana|Illinois

USA|Nigeria|Chicago|United States|Nsawam|Ghana|Illinois

2019

Filmmaker + biologist // Filmmaker and biologist creating films that merge scientific data with narrative in an effort to make stories of science more human and accessible. // Alexis Gambis is a filmmaker and a biologist whose interdisciplinary work aims at transforming the way science is communicated to the public through film and visual arts. He received his PhD in Molecular Biology at The Rockefeller University and a Masters in Fine Arts from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. His first feature film The Fly Room about the birthplace of genetics in New York has toured festivals and academic institutions worldwide ending with a theatrical release in New York, Paris, and Berlin in the fall of 2017. He has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Nature, Cell, TED, and WNYC. At NYU, he teaches in both the Biology and Film departments. His courses combine scientific research and storytelling often featuring animals as actors and blurring the lines between fact and fiction. He is also the founder and executive director of the Imagine Science Films, an annual science film festival now celebrating its 10th anniversary. He also recently launched LABOCINE, a science film platform, research video database and magazine coined by reviewers as the "science new wave." He is currently working on his second feature Son of Monarchs about a boy who wants to turn into a monarch butterfly - it brings together in a narrative drama the themes of evolutionary biology, migration and (im)migration // Alexis Gambis is a filmmaker and a biologist whose interdisciplinary work aims at transforming the way science is communicated to the public through film and visual arts. He received his PhD in Molecular Biology at The Rockefeller University and a Masters in Fine Arts from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. His first feature film The Fly Room about the birthplace of genetics in New York has toured festivals and academic institutions worldwide ending with a theatrical release in New York, Paris, and Berlin in the fall of 2017. He has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Nature, Cell, TED, and WNYC. At NYU, he teaches in both the Biology and Film departments. His courses combine scientific research and storytelling often featuring animals as actors and blurring the lines between fact and fiction. He is also the founder and executive director of the Imagine Science Films, an annual science film festival now celebrating its 10th anniversary. He also recently launched LABOCINE, a science film platform, research video database and magazine coined by reviewers as the "science new wave." He is currently working on his second feature Son of Monarchs about a boy who wants to turn into a monarch butterfly - it brings together in a narrative drama the themes of evolutionary biology, migration and (im)migration // Filmmaker + biologist // research, nature, monarch butterfly, science, data, migration

2019

Sweden

Investigative journalist // Journalist reporting on the front lines of the Syrian conflict and creating films about the daily struggles of Syrians. // Ali Al Ibrahim is an investigative journalist, researcher, and the founder of (SIRAJ). With over a decade of experience in the field, he has played a significant role in promoting accountability journalism through his impactful investigations, which have shed light on stories of abuse of power, violations, corruption, and money tracking. Al Ibrahim has collaborated and published with BBC, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project-OCCRP, VICE, Lighthouse Reports, MEE, The Guardian and others. Al Ibrahim was awarded Best Young Journalist Award from BBC 2018. The following year, he received the esteemed Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press , and best investigative journalists according to the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) 2019. He awarded also in Outstanding Investigative Reporting from FJA in 2022 and the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism in the United States in 2023. He is a fellow at TED International from 2019 and a consultant at the International Journalists' Network (IJNet) since 2017. // Ali Al Ibrahim is an investigative journalist, researcher, and the founder of (SIRAJ). With over a decade of experience in the field, he has played a significant role in promoting accountability journalism through his impactful investigations, which have shed light on stories of abuse of power, violations, corruption, and money tracking. Al Ibrahim has collaborated and published with BBC, Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project-OCCRP, VICE, Lighthouse Reports, MEE, The Guardian and others. Al Ibrahim was awarded Best Young Journalist Award from BBC 2018. The following year, he received the esteemed Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press , and best investigative journalists according to the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) 2019. He awarded also in Outstanding Investigative Reporting from FJA in 2022 and the AACR June L. Biedler Prize for Cancer Journalism in the United States in 2023. He is a fellow at TED International from 2019 and a consultant at the International Journalists' Network (IJNet) since 2017. // Investigative journalist // investigative journalism, accountability // Sweden|Jonkoping County|Jönköping

Sweden|Jonkoping County|Jönköping

AI, Digital Biomarkers, Digital Health, Engineering, FemTech, Medical devices

2021

United States

Health care technology entrepreneur // Alicia Chong Rodriguez Health care technology entrepreneur | Costa Rica + Peru Engineer and founder of Bloomer Tech, a company transforming everyday bras into smart medical devices that gather often overlooked data on heart disease in women, a frequently misdiagnosed and under-researched killer. Alicia is the CEO at Bloomer Tech, a company ushering in a new age of personalized healthcare. She graduated from the MIT Electrical Engineering & Computer Science program and MIT IDM, where her research focused on sex-specific, computationally-generated, cardiac biomarkers at the MIT Computational Cardiovascular Research Group. She received the MIT Legatum Fellowship and the MIT Graduate Women of Excellence Award. She has also been recognized as a 2021 TED Fellow, 2018 Medtech Boston 40 under 40 Healthcare Innovator, and in the top 100 Female Founders across the U.S. by Inc Magazine. Prior to MIT she worked in the semiconductor industry at companies such as HP and Teradyne and co-founded MenTe en Acción (Mujeres en Tecnología) where she currently serves on the board as a technical advisor // Could an everyday clothing item help protect your health? In this quick talk, TED Fellow Alicia Chong Rodriguez introduces us to a smart bra designed to gather real-time data on biomarkers like heartbeat, breath and temperature. Learn how this life-saving gadget could help close the gender gap in cardiovascular research -- and, finally, usher women's health care into the 21st century. // Alicia Chong Rodriguez Health care technology entrepreneur | Costa Rica + Peru Engineer and founder of Bloomer Tech, a company transforming everyday bras into smart medical devices that gather often overlooked data on heart disease in women, a frequently misdiagnosed and under-researched killer. Alicia is the CEO at Bloomer Tech, a company ushering in a new age of personalized healthcare. She graduated from the MIT Electrical Engineering & Computer Science program and MIT IDM, where her research focused on sex-specific, computationally-generated, cardiac biomarkers at the MIT Computational Cardiovascular Research Group. She received the MIT Legatum Fellowship and the MIT Graduate Women of Excellence Award. She has also been recognized as a 2021 TED Fellow, 2018 Medtech Boston 40 under 40 Healthcare Innovator, and in the top 100 Female Founders across the U.S. by Inc Magazine. Prior to MIT she worked in the semiconductor industry at companies such as HP and Teradyne and co-founded MenTe en Acción (Mujeres en Tecnología) where she currently serves on the board as a technical advisor // Health care technology entrepreneur // technology, femtech, electrical engineering, medical devices, data, research, semiconductor industry, engineering, digital health, women, gender, women's health, disease, ai, science, artificial intelligence, digital biomarkers, semiconductor // Boston|Massachusetts|United States|USA

Boston|Massachusetts|United States|USA

Art and Design

2013

United States

Interdisciplinary artist // Alicia Eggert is an interdisciplinary artist whose work primarily takes the form of kinetic, electronic and interactive sculpture. She received a bachelor's degree in Interior Design from Drexel University in Philadelphia, and then practiced at an architectural firm in New York for several years before earning an MFA in Sculpture from Alfred University in New York. Her artwork, which remains strongly rooted in design, focuses on the relationship between language, image and time. Alicia's work has been exhibited at institutions nationally and internationally, including the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing; the Triennale Design Museum in Milan; ISEA2012 at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History in New Mexico; Cyberfest 2012 in St. Petersburg, Russia; Sculpture By the Sea in Sydney, Australia; and throughout the US, UK, Europe and Canada. Her work has been featured in publications such as Typoholic: Material Types in Design, The Foundations of Digital Art and Design, and ASPECT V.21: A Good Place To Stop. Alicia has been awarded a TED2013 Fellowship, the 2014 Individual Artist Fellowship from the Maine Arts Commission, and the Grand Prize in the Dave Bown Projects 6th Semiannual Competition. She currently lives in Portland, Maine, and is an Assistant Professor of Art at Bowdoin College. // Alicia Eggert is an American interdisciplinary artist whose work gives material form to language and time, the powerful but invisible forces that shape our realities. She derives her inspiration from physics and philosophy, and her sculptures often co-opt the form and structure of commercial signage to communicate messages that inspire reflection and wonder. Alicia creates flashing neon signs that illuminate the way light travels across space and time, or reveal the relationship between reality and possibility. They have been installed on building rooftops in Philadelphia, on bridges in Amsterdam, and on uninhabited islands in Maine, beckoning us to ponder our place in the world and the role we play in it. Like a navigational sign, Alicia’s artwork asks us to recognize where we are now as individuals and as a society, to identify where we want to be in the future, and to imagine the routes we can take to get there. Alicia's work has been exhibited at notable institutions nationally and internationally, including the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing, the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, the Amsterdam Light Festival, the International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA2012) at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, Sculpture By the Sea in Sydney, Australia, and many more. Recent solo exhibitions have been held at Galeria Fernando Santos (Porto, Portugal), The MAC (Dallas, TX), T+H Gallery (Boston, MA), Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA), and Artisphere (Arlington, VA). Alicia’s work is represented by Galeria Fernando Santos in Porto, and Liliana Bloch Gallery in Dallas. She is currently a Presidential Early Career Professor of Studio Art and the Sculpture Program Coordinator in the College of Visual Arts & Design at the University of North Texas. She lives with her son, Zephyr, in Denton, TX. // TED Fellow Alicia Eggert takes us on a visual tour of her work -- from a giant sculpture on an uninhabited island in Maine to an installation that inflates only when people hold hands to complete an electric current. Her work explores the power of art to inspire wonder and foster hope in dark times. As she puts it: "A brighter, more sustainable, more equitable future depends first on our ability to imagine it." // Alicia Eggert is an American interdisciplinary artist whose work gives material form to language and time, the powerful but invisible forces that shape our realities. She derives her inspiration from physics and philosophy, and her sculptures often co-opt the form and structure of commercial signage to communicate messages that inspire reflection and wonder. Alicia creates flashing neon signs that illuminate the way light travels across space and time, or reveal the relationship between reality and possibility. They have been installed on building rooftops in Philadelphia, on bridges in Amsterdam, and on uninhabited islands in Maine, beckoning us to ponder our place in the world and the role we play in it. Like a navigational sign, Alicia’s artwork asks us to recognize where we are now as individuals and as a society, to identify where we want to be in the future, and to imagine the routes we can take to get there. Alicia's work has been exhibited at notable institutions nationally and internationally, including the CAFA Art Museum in Beijing, the Triennale Design Museum in Milan, the Corning Museum of Glass in New York, the Amsterdam Light Festival, the International Symposium on Electronic Art (ISEA2012) at the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, Sculpture By the Sea in Sydney, Australia, and many more. Recent solo exhibitions have been held at Galeria Fernando Santos (Porto, Portugal), The MAC (Dallas, TX), T+H Gallery (Boston, MA), Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA), and Artisphere (Arlington, VA). Alicia’s work is represented by Galeria Fernando Santos in Porto, and Liliana Bloch Gallery in Dallas. She is currently a Presidential Early Career Professor of Studio Art and the Sculpture Program Coordinator in the College of Visual Arts & Design at the University of North Texas. She lives with her son, Zephyr, in Denton, TX. // Interdisciplinary artist // glass, electric, design, island, equity, art and design // Denton|Texas|United States|USA

Denton|Texas|United States|USA

Architecture, Buildings, Data, Digital Media, Geospatial analysis, Infrastructure, Investigative journalism, OSINT, Remote-sensing, Satellites, Urban Design and Planning, Visual investigations

2014, 2020

United Kingdom

Killing Architects; Financial Times

I am a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist and licensed architect. I use open source techniques, geospatial analysis and 3d modelling to investigate and tell stories, then share these techniques with others through talks and workshops. In Migration Trail, this meant telling stories of migrants travelling to Europe in real time, using maps, data and social media; or finding playful, light ways to open up discussion about death and architecture with the Death in Venice exhibition. My current projects include current projects an investigation of the network of detention camps in Xinjiang, China, together with BuzzFeed News, which won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting; and a real world game about surveillance in public space, with game designers Free Ice Cream. Creative production: as well as setting out the creative vision, I do most of the strategic production for my projects - designing the project itself through a process of design thinking, recruiting creative teams, bringing together partners, fund raising and grant writing. I also consult for other creative teams, helping them design their projects to ensure they meet their goals. Workshops: I give workshops to share tools and approaches related to my work. Subjects include: personal data privacy and geolocation; social media and surveillance in cities; finding data and making maps with simple online tools; satellite image analysis. // A Pulitzer Prize winning project to locate and analyse a secret network of internment camps in Xinjiang, China. Together with BuzzFeed News // Killing Architects; Financial Times // Alison Killing is a versatile professional with a background in investigative journalism and architecture. She leverages open-source techniques, geospatial analysis, and 3D modeling to uncover and narrate compelling stories. Alison is known for her innovative approach to storytelling, as seen in projects like Migration Trail and Death in Venice exhibition. Her recent work includes a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into the network of detention camps in Xinjiang, China, in collaboration with BuzzFeed News. Alison is also actively involved in creative production, strategic project design, team recruitment, partnership building, and fundraising. Additionally, she conducts workshops on topics such as personal data privacy, social media surveillance, data mapping, and satellite image analysis to empower others in the field. // Alison Killing is a multidisciplinary professional blending investigative journalism and architecture to craft compelling narratives. With expertise in open-source techniques, geospatial analysis, and 3D modeling, she uncovers intricate stories with innovation. Noteworthy projects like Migration Trail and the Death in Venice exhibition showcase her unique storytelling approach. Alison's impactful work includes a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation on detention camps in Xinjiang, China, conducted in partnership with BuzzFeed News. Beyond her investigative prowess, she excels in creative production, strategic project design, and team building. Alison also shares her knowledge through workshops on data privacy, social media surveillance, and satellite image analysis, empowering others in the field. // Architect // An architect and urban designer, Killing uses journalism, filmmaking and exhibitions to help people better understand the built environment. She explores the relationship between death and modern architecture, looking at how cities are rebuilt after disaster. // Alison is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and licensed architect. She works with maps and data on investigations and storytelling projects. Her most recent work is an investigation that used satellite imagery and architectural expertise, as well as interviews with two dozen former prisoners, to identify a vast new infrastructure built by the Chinese government for the mass detention of Muslims, together with Megha Rajagopalan and Christo Buschek. This project won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. Previously she created and produced online documentary Migration Trail, a mapped data visualisation that tells the stories of two migrants travelling to Europe in real time, over ten days. She is now working on a series of projects with investigative journalism teams on satellite imagery, surveillance in cities and migration and to develop new reporting tools for investigations. I'm currently setting up a non-profit investigations team. You can find out more here: https://www.killingarchitects.com/support-our-new-investigations-org // Data-driven journalism can help pinpoint truths and expose corruption -- even without physical access to where it's happening. Sharing the remarkable discovery of massive alleged detention camps in Xinjiang, China, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and TED Fellow Alison Killing calls for more reliable open-source data, like satellite and social media imagery, to shine a light on the world's darkest places. // "If you want to go out and start your own cemetery" in the UK, says Alison Killing, "you kind of can." She thinks a lot about where we die and are buried -- and in this talk, the architect and TED Fellow offers an eye-opening economic and social perspective on an overlooked feature of our towns and cities: the cemetery. Speaking specifically to UK laws, she unpacks the fascinating, sometimes funny, often contradictory laws about where you can be buried. // In this short, provocative talk, architect Alison Killing looks at buildings where death and dying happen -- cemeteries, hospitals, homes. The way we die is changing, and the way we build for dying ... well, maybe that should too. It's a surprisingly fascinating look at a hidden aspect of our cities, and our lives. // Alison Killing is a multidisciplinary professional blending investigative journalism and architecture to craft compelling narratives. With expertise in open-source techniques, geospatial analysis, and 3D modeling, she uncovers intricate stories with innovation. Noteworthy projects like Migration Trail and the Death in Venice exhibition showcase her unique storytelling approach. Alison's impactful work includes a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation on detention camps in Xinjiang, China, conducted in partnership with BuzzFeed News. Beyond her investigative prowess, she excels in creative production, strategic project design, and team building. Alison also shares her knowledge through workshops on data privacy, social media surveillance, and satellite image analysis, empowering others in the field. // Architect // infrastructure, architecture, buildings, cities, data, urban, geospatial analysis, design, visual investigations, satellite, migration, open source, urban design, built environment, urban design and planning, digital media, data-driven, journalism, documentary, osint, remote-sensing, expose, government, investigative journalism // Netherlands|United Kingdom|London|England|Rotterdam|UK

Netherlands|United Kingdom|London|England|Rotterdam|UK

2020

Visual journalist // Almudena Toral is a 2020 TED fellow and the Executive Producer at ProPublica, the investigative news organization, where she heads the documentary film and video department. She previously headed the enterprise video team at Univision News Digital – the team covered the U.S. and Latin America through documentaries, photo essays, visuals for interactives and special projects, illustration and animation. Prior to joining Univision, she taught video storytelling at Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, pursued her own projects worldwide as a freelance journalist and worked at The New York Times and TIME. Her work has also been published by The Guardian, AlJazeera, VICE, The Intercept, Canal+, NPR, PBS and other outlets. A short documentary Toral produced on children PTSD after the 'zero tolerance' policy was named 2019 World Press Photo Online Video of the Year. Toral's work has also been recognized by four News & Documentary Emmys, four Edward R. Murrow awards, Pictures of the Year International, RFK Human Rights Journalism awards, the Hillman Prize, PDN Photo Annual, the National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism, the Webbys, an Ortega & Gasset award, a Gabo Prize, Rey de España awards, regional Emmys, National Headliner, Deadline Press Club, New York Press Club awards and others. She's a 2020 TED fellow, a 2019 Ochberg fellow at the Dart Center at Columbia University and a 2019-2020 Carter Center fellow. Almudena has also been a grantee of The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, the International Women's Media Foundation and The International Reporting Project. // Through documentary films following survivors of trauma, TED Fellow Almudena Toral makes invisible psychological scars seen. She shares the heartbreaking story of Adayanci Pérez, a six-year-old girl from Guatemala suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to her encounter with US immigration enforcement. A powerful call to give voice to those who are silenced -- and pressure governments to change their course of action. // Almudena Toral is a 2020 TED fellow and the Executive Producer at ProPublica, the investigative news organization, where she heads the documentary film and video department. She previously headed the enterprise video team at Univision News Digital – the team covered the U.S. and Latin America through documentaries, photo essays, visuals for interactives and special projects, illustration and animation. Prior to joining Univision, she taught video storytelling at Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, pursued her own projects worldwide as a freelance journalist and worked at The New York Times and TIME. Her work has also been published by The Guardian, AlJazeera, VICE, The Intercept, Canal+, NPR, PBS and other outlets. A short documentary Toral produced on children PTSD after the 'zero tolerance' policy was named 2019 World Press Photo Online Video of the Year. Toral's work has also been recognized by four News & Documentary Emmys, four Edward R. Murrow awards, Pictures of the Year International, RFK Human Rights Journalism awards, the Hillman Prize, PDN Photo Annual, the National Press Photographers Association Best of Photojournalism, the Webbys, an Ortega & Gasset award, a Gabo Prize, Rey de España awards, regional Emmys, National Headliner, Deadline Press Club, New York Press Club awards and others. She's a 2020 TED fellow, a 2019 Ochberg fellow at the Dart Center at Columbia University and a 2019-2020 Carter Center fellow. Almudena has also been a grantee of The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, the International Women's Media Foundation and The International Reporting Project. // Visual journalist // children, human rights, rights, immigration, policy, documentary, women

Activism, Civil Rights, Exoplanets, Social Movement, Space, Women's Rights

2016

United States

Policymaker // Founder and CEO, Rise. Nominated for 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. Written 19 laws. Authored Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights, which passed US Congress unanimously in 7 months. Spread to 48 other US States, Canada, and Japan. Forbes 30 under 30, Marie Claire 2016 Young Woman of the Year, Foreign Policy Top 100 Global Thinker, Temptest #1 Woman of Color 2016. // Founder and CEO, Rise. Nominated for 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. Written 19 laws. Authored Sexual Assault Survivors' Bill of Rights, which passed US Congress unanimously in 7 months. Spread to 48 other US States, Canada, and Japan. Forbes 30 under 30, Marie Claire 2016 Young Woman of the Year, Foreign Policy Top 100 Global Thinker, Temptest #1 Woman of Color 2016. // Policymaker // social movement, activism, exoplanets, rights, women's rights, policy, civil rights, women, space // Washington|United States|District of Columbia|USA

Washington|United States|District of Columbia|USA

2012

Afghanistan

Artist // Artist // Kabul|Afghanistan

Kabul|Afghanistan

Blogging, Writing

2009

India

Author // Author of the bestselling novel My Friend Sancho and the popular blog India Uncut // Amit Varma is a novelist and blogger based in Mumbai. He has worked in journalism, television and advertising, and has written for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and Wisden, as well as many Indian publications. He won the Bastiat Prize for Journalism in 2007. He writes the popular blog, India Uncut. His first novel, My Friend Sancho, was published in India in May 2009, and quickly became the biggest selling Indian novel released that summer. He aims to bridge to gap between literary and popular fiction with his novels, and is currently at work on his second book. In April 2009, Business Week named him as one of India’s 50 Most Powerful People. // Amit Varma is a novelist and blogger based in Mumbai. He has worked in journalism, television and advertising, and has written for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and Wisden, as well as many Indian publications. He won the Bastiat Prize for Journalism in 2007. He writes the popular blog, India Uncut. His first novel, My Friend Sancho, was published in India in May 2009, and quickly became the biggest selling Indian novel released that summer. He aims to bridge to gap between literary and popular fiction with his novels, and is currently at work on his second book. In April 2009, Business Week named him as one of India’s 50 Most Powerful People. // Author // writing, blogging // Maharashtra|Mumbai|India

Maharashtra|Mumbai|India

Archival storytelling, Civil rights, Creative historian, Entertainment, Musical theatre, Performing History, Research, Scholartistry, U.S. History - Late 19th/Early 20th Century

2019

United States

Dr. Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin is a multidisciplinary scholartist, writer, performer, and producer known for transforming historical material about black identity into performances for the stage and screen. She has worked in academia and arts/entertainment, including as Vice President of Creative Affairs at JusticeRx. Dr. Amma is recognized for her work on projects like AT BUFFALO: A NEW MUSICAL, which explores themes of America, race, and the 1901 Buffalo, NY Worlds Fair. Her collaborative research projects have received numerous awards and fellowships, and she holds degrees from Harvard University and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. // AT BUFFALO is an immersive and evocative musical journey through conflicting performances of race in post-Civil War America, tracking historical figures through the tumult of the fair. The organization uses collections from over 30 archives to perform stories virtually verbatim from the fragmented archive of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. The musical aims to reconstruct the American character in the wake of national crisis by bringing to life historical names like W.E.B. Du Bois, Leon Czolgosz, and William McKinley, as well as lesser-known figures. Through a rich soundscape and innovative storytelling, AT BUFFALO aims to engage audiences with the complex narratives of race and identity during a critical moment in American history. // History helps us understand the roots of the problems we face, if we’d only face it. I transform verbatim archival material – the stuff of history – into works for theatre, television, and other story-driven formats. My work disrupts Hollywood and Broadway's convention of taking creative license with history. I ask: How can we use the best of mass entertainment to help audiences know and confront the truth of the past? My process of “performing the archive” helps us to literally face the past so that we can create new realities for our future. // Dr. Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin is a multidisciplinary scholartist, writer, performer, and producer who specializes in transforming historical material about black identity into compelling performances for the stage and screen. With a background in academia and arts/entertainment, she has notably served as the Vice President of Creative Affairs at JusticeRx. Dr. Amma is best known for her work on projects like AT BUFFALO: A NEW MUSICAL, which delves into themes of America, race, and the 1901 Buffalo, NY Worlds Fair. Her innovative approach involves using verbatim archival material to challenge traditional narratives and engage audiences in critical reflections on history, race, and identity. Through her unique process of "performing the archive," Dr. Amma aims to prompt audiences to confront the truth of the past and envision new possibilities for the future. // Scholar + artist // Scholar and artist working across academia and the entertainment industry to transform archival material about black identity into theatrical performances. http://www.atbuffalomusical.com // JOY All: I am the third daughter of Ghanaian immigrants who came to North America during the height of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement. Born in Tuskegee, Alabama and raised in Manhattan “The Little Apple,” Kansas, I grew up on university campuses as my childhood playground. I am Dr. Amma — a scholartist* and TED Fellow who transforms history + archival material into entertaining works for theatre, television, and film. A Harvard and NYU-Tisch alum, I “perform the archive” through music, dance, emerging technologies, and more so that nations can come together around difficult histories and face the triumphs and tragedies of our collective past. I have worked across academia and the entertainment industry, including previous stints as a professor and VP / head of Creative Affairs for JusticeRx, a production company that had a two-year overall deal with Warner Bros. TV. I am the founder of the national creative team behind AT BUFFALO, a new musical in development about blackness, American identity, and a presidential assassination at the 1901 Buffalo, NY world’s fair. Have a look at my TED talk on AT BUFFALO: https://www.ted.com/speakers/amma_ghartey_tagoe_kootin When I’m not in a writers room, archive, or rehearsal studio, I am resting. Or, working on creative justice initiatives to make Hollywood a more just space for all. Or, napping. Or, baking gluten-free, vegan desserts. Or, dancing full out to a Afrobeats song. Or, creatively dreaming. I am deeply loved by a fun, multi-generational household filled with my husband, parents, and millennial niece who comes to visit from time to time. Tacos and kelewele are my favorite food. I am exci-TED to meet you (and impressed if you’ve read this far.) Feel free to reach out to me on TEDConnect anytime or find me at a snack station. (*Scholartist coined by Joseph Shahadi and Mila Aponte-Gonzalez.) // In this lively talk and performance, artist and TED Fellow Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin offers a sneak peek of her forthcoming musical "At Buffalo." Drawing on archival material from the 1901 Pan-American Exhibition, a world's fair held in Buffalo, New York, the show examines conflicting representations of Black identity exhibited at the fair -- highlighting unsettlingly familiar parallels between American society at the turn of the century and today, and asking: Are we all still part of the show? // Dr. Amma Y. Ghartey-Tagoe Kootin is a multidisciplinary scholartist, writer, performer, and producer who specializes in transforming historical material about black identity into compelling performances for the stage and screen. With a background in academia and arts/entertainment, she has notably served as the Vice President of Creative Affairs at JusticeRx. Dr. Amma is best known for her work on projects like AT BUFFALO: A NEW MUSICAL, which delves into themes of America, race, and the 1901 Buffalo, NY Worlds Fair. Her innovative approach involves using verbatim archival material to challenge traditional narratives and engage audiences in critical reflections on history, race, and identity. Through her unique process of "performing the archive," Dr. Amma aims to prompt audiences to confront the truth of the past and envision new possibilities for the future. // Scholar + artist // technology, musical theatre, entertainment, immigration, research, film, tv, rights, u.s. history - late 19th/early 20th century, executive producer, war, plant-based, scholartist, scholartistry, plants, civil rights, plant-based diet, children, writer, food, creative historian, archival storyteller, justice, performing history // USA|New York|United States|Georgia|Buffalo

USA|New York|United States|Georgia|Buffalo

Illustration (Multi Medium), Mythological Studies, Painting / Mixed Media, Writing - Fiction and Non Fiction

2009

France

Writer + artist // Amruta Patil is a writer/painter. She is the author of graphic novels 'Kari' (HarperCollins '08) and 'Adi Parva' (HarperCollins 2012), which is part of a mytho-historical trilogy based on the Mahabharat and the Puranas. Amruta was the founder/editor of Mindfields - a quarterly journal on alternative educatios. She has taught at Ecole européenne supérieure de l’image (EESI), Angouleme, France; and her short works of graphic fiction have appeared internationally in magazines such as Art Review, TimeOut, Internazionale and Tehelka. You can follow Amruta's writing and artwork here: http://amrutapatil.blogspot.com // Amruta Patil (born April 19, 1979) is a writer and painter. She is the author of Kari (HarperCollins,’08) and Adi Parva (HarperCollins,’12); and her graphic short stories have appeared in anthologies and magazines around the world. Kari is a contemporary story about friendship, love and death; with a queer protagonist navigating a magic-realism version of Mumbai. Adi Parva is based on the Mahabharat, the Vishnu Puraan and the tradition of oral storytellers. It was selected as one of 2012′s best graphic novels by comic book historian, Paul Gravett. Amruta is currently working on Adi Parva‘s sequel, Sauptik. | Style and Influences | Amruta, who identifies primarily as a writer, has a freewheeling visual style that spans watercolour, charcoal, acrylic painting and collage. Recurring themes in her work include memento mori, sexuality, myth, sustainable living, and the unbroken thread of stories passed down from storyteller to storyteller through the ages. To follow her writing and artwork: http://amrutapatil.blogspot.com // Amruta Patil (born April 19, 1979) is a writer and painter. She is the author of Kari (HarperCollins,’08) and Adi Parva (HarperCollins,’12); and her graphic short stories have appeared in anthologies and magazines around the world. Kari is a contemporary story about friendship, love and death; with a queer protagonist navigating a magic-realism version of Mumbai. Adi Parva is based on the Mahabharat, the Vishnu Puraan and the tradition of oral storytellers. It was selected as one of 2012′s best graphic novels by comic book historian, Paul Gravett. Amruta is currently working on Adi Parva‘s sequel, Sauptik. | Style and Influences | Amruta, who identifies primarily as a writer, has a freewheeling visual style that spans watercolour, charcoal, acrylic painting and collage. Recurring themes in her work include memento mori, sexuality, myth, sustainable living, and the unbroken thread of stories passed down from storyteller to storyteller through the ages. To follow her writing and artwork: http://amrutapatil.blogspot.com // Writer + artist // writing - fiction and non fiction, painting / mixed media, mythological studies, illustration (multi medium) // Nouvelle-Aquitaine|Angouleme|Angoulême|France

Nouvelle-Aquitaine|Angouleme|Angoulême|France

Birds, Consulting, Keeping Busy People on Task, Organization, Research, STEM, Species

2009

Chile

I am actively finding ways to support women and minorities so they can not only survive but thrive in academia. Keeping as many diverse voices from being pushed out from academia. I also support men who are trying to do the same. // Strategist for Scientists and Science Teams // A childhood trip to the Galápagos Islands sparked Ana Gabela's interest in ornithology. After completing her studies at Davidson College, she returned to the island in 2004 with a team of researchers to study the beak morphology of Darwin's finches. she stayed for two years conducting a study of the human impact on the birds of the Galápagos Islands.<br /><br />Gabela lives and works in Hawaii, where she is the state Avian Disease and Surveillance Coordinator. She surveys avian influenza and west Nile virus, both of which pose a threat to the few species of native birds on the island. She hopes to returns to the Galápagos Islands to work as part of the conservation effort. Gabela was born in Quito, Ecuador to Chilean parents. // After many years as a scientist and teaching biology, I am now focused on supporting women in STEM on a professional and personal basis. For the past two years, I have been working with amazing women in STEM who are often overwhelmed with academic and scientific pressures and demands. Together, we explore how to deal with these pressures and manage their time and schedules efficiently, so they can stay focused on their overarching goal – to continue to design, create and deliver on their scientific initiatives. // After many years as a scientist and teaching biology, I am now focused on supporting women in STEM on a professional and personal basis. For the past two years, I have been working with amazing women in STEM who are often overwhelmed with academic and scientific pressures and demands. Together, we explore how to deal with these pressures and manage their time and schedules efficiently, so they can stay focused on their overarching goal – to continue to design, create and deliver on their scientific initiatives. // Strategist for Scientists and Science Teams // children, minorities, research, birds, steam. edi, design, science, keeping busy people on task, species, island, consulting, women, organization, disease, stem // Santiago|Santiago Metropolitan Region|Chile

Santiago|Santiago Metropolitan Region|Chile

Design Innovation & Strategy, Emerging Technologies, Thought Leadership, future visioning and purposing, interaction design

2009

United Kingdom

Multicultural designer // Designer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, inventor, futurescaper: Anab wears many hats, and brings them all together at her multidisciplinary future-facing design studio Superflux. Based in east London, UK and also has a small studio in Ahmedabad, India, Superflux works both a consultancy and a lab, operating in the realm of emerging technologies and experiences, for business, cultural and social purposes. Clients include Nokia, Microsoft, Mattel, NESTA amongst others. Projects include the design of neural prosthetics and augmented vision for the blind, internet-of-things products for the home, alternate autonomous weather systems, ecological robots, RFID-enabled electronic jewellery, prototypes for visualising quantum computing and community-enabling services for urban worlds. Anab regularly speaks on design futurescaping, elastic cities, new technologies and innovation at conferences such as LIFT, World Congress for Information Technology, PICNIC and SIGGRAPH. Honours include the Award of Excellence ICSID, UNESCO Digital Arts Award, and Grand Prix Geneva Human Rights Festival. She has exhibited at MoMA, NY, Apple Computers Inc, Mattel HQ, London Design Festival and British Council. Her work has been profiled in WIRED, Guardian, Popular Science, Marie Claire and Blueprint. Educated in India, Vienna and London, Anab has an MA with distinction in Interaction Design from the Royal College of Art, London. // Anab is Director and Co-founder of critically acclaimed design firm Superflux. The firm works with governments, organisations and communities to translate future uncertainties into present day choices. Superflux’s clients and partners include Govt. of UAE, UNDP, Suncorp, Cabinet Office, Govt. of UK, Microsoft Research, and the V&A Museum. Anab has received awards from ICSID, UNESCO, Geneva Human Rights Festival, Apple Inc., and the UK Government’s Innovation Department. Her work has been shown at MoMA New York, V&A London, Vitra Design Museum and the National Museum of China amongst others. Anab is also Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, where she is currently curating a project ‘How Will We Work’ investigating how AI, automation, alternative economies and invisible market forces are transforming the nature of work. Anab sits on the Boards of the Humanitarian Innovation Fund, Media & Journalism at London School of Economics and Participatory City. // Anab Jain brings the future to life, creating experiences where people can touch, see and feel the potential of the world we're creating. Do we want a world where intelligent machines patrol our streets, for instance, or where our genetic heritage determines our health care? Jain's projects show why it's important to fight for the world we want. Catch a glimpse of possible futures in this eye-opening talk. // Anab is Director and Co-founder of critically acclaimed design firm Superflux. The firm works with governments, organisations and communities to translate future uncertainties into present day choices. Superflux’s clients and partners include Govt. of UAE, UNDP, Suncorp, Cabinet Office, Govt. of UK, Microsoft Research, and the V&A Museum. Anab has received awards from ICSID, UNESCO, Geneva Human Rights Festival, Apple Inc., and the UK Government’s Innovation Department. Her work has been shown at MoMA New York, V&A London, Vitra Design Museum and the National Museum of China amongst others. Anab is also Professor of Industrial Design at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, where she is currently curating a project ‘How Will We Work’ investigating how AI, automation, alternative economies and invisible market forces are transforming the nature of work. Anab sits on the Boards of the Humanitarian Innovation Fund, Media & Journalism at London School of Economics and Participatory City. // Multicultural designer // technology, automation, cities, urban, research, participatory, design, human rights, rights, weather, humanitarian, interaction design, thought leadership, robotics, future visioning and purposing, industrial design, nature, emerging technologies, science, design innovation & strategy, industrial, artificial intelligence, ecology // United Kingdom|England|London

United Kingdom|England|London