Step inside the TED Fellows community

2015

New media artist // Artist who uses a wide range of media and sculpture to explore the effects of global corporations, military-industrial complexes, and the line between human and artificial life. // Matt Kenyon is a new media artist and designer. Kenyon’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in such venues as the Museum of Modern Art, New York, MOCAD Detroit, Science Gallery Dublin, Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, and the International Print Center. He is a TED Fellow, a MacDowell Fellow, and his work has been awarded the FILE Prix Lux. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Wired, and Gizmodo, and has also appeared in edited volumes such as A Touch of Code (Gestalten Press) and Adversarial Design (MIT Press). He lives and works in Buffalo, New York, where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art at the University at Buffalo, and part of PLATFORM, UB's socially engaged design studio. Visit www.swamp.nu for more about Matt Kenyon and his work. // In the fog of war, civilian casualties often go uncounted. Artist Matt Kenyon, whose recent work memorialized the names and stories of US soldiers killed in the Iraq war, decided he should create a companion monument, to the Iraqi civilians caught in the war's crossfire. Learn how he built a secret monument to place these names in the official record. // Matt Kenyon is a new media artist and designer. Kenyon’s work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in such venues as the Museum of Modern Art, New York, MOCAD Detroit, Science Gallery Dublin, Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona, and the International Print Center. He is a TED Fellow, a MacDowell Fellow, and his work has been awarded the FILE Prix Lux. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Wired, and Gizmodo, and has also appeared in edited volumes such as A Touch of Code (Gestalten Press) and Adversarial Design (MIT Press). He lives and works in Buffalo, New York, where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art at the University at Buffalo, and part of PLATFORM, UB's socially engaged design studio. Visit www.swamp.nu for more about Matt Kenyon and his work. // New media artist // design, science, war

Art, activism, architecture

2020

United States

Artist + activist // Using clouds, giant flamingos, houses and dog waste to design unique public spaces with communities to solve unaddressed issues. Matthew Mazzotta works at the intersection of art, activism, and urbanism, focusing on the power of the built environment to shape our relationships and experiences. His community-specific public projects integrate new forms of civic participation and social engagement into the built environment and reveal how the spaces we travel through and spend our time living within have the potential to become distinct sites for intimate, radical, and meaningful exchanges. Through his process, each project starts by creating temporary public spaces for listening – ‘Outdoor Living Room’ - as a way to capture voices from local people that might not attend more formal meetings. Stemming from this approach are experiences that involve people from a range of backgrounds working together to create new models of living that contribute to local culture beyond the economic realm. Mazzotta received a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a Masters of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Program in Art, Culture and Technology, a Loeb Fellowship from Harvard University, and is a Guggenheim Fellow. // Introducing a new type of public space, custom-fit for communities in need of a shot of hope and wonder. Artist and TED Fellow Matthew Mazzotta takes us across the US, sharing delightful projects that refresh space and place, spark collective conversation and reignite a sense of possibility and purpose in their surroundings. // Using clouds, giant flamingos, houses and dog waste to design unique public spaces with communities to solve unaddressed issues. Matthew Mazzotta works at the intersection of art, activism, and urbanism, focusing on the power of the built environment to shape our relationships and experiences. His community-specific public projects integrate new forms of civic participation and social engagement into the built environment and reveal how the spaces we travel through and spend our time living within have the potential to become distinct sites for intimate, radical, and meaningful exchanges. Through his process, each project starts by creating temporary public spaces for listening – ‘Outdoor Living Room’ - as a way to capture voices from local people that might not attend more formal meetings. Stemming from this approach are experiences that involve people from a range of backgrounds working together to create new models of living that contribute to local culture beyond the economic realm. Mazzotta received a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a Masters of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Program in Art, Culture and Technology, a Loeb Fellowship from Harvard University, and is a Guggenheim Fellow. // Artist + activist // technology, urbanism, activism, built environment, design, citizen engagement, science, architecture, buildings, art, public spaces // New York|Canton|United States|USA

New York|Canton|United States|USA

2009

India

Youth sport educator // Youth sport educator // Maharashtra|Mumbai|India

Maharashtra|Mumbai|India

2021

Brazil

Applied Mathematics, Programming, Signal Processing, Statistics

2012

Applied mathematician // Mathematician whose research includes a breakthrough technique to monitor – and potentially screen for – Parkinson's disease through voice recordings alone // A data scientist with a background in math and stats, Max helps accelerate the search for cures for diseases such as Parkinson's by inventing radically simple, non-invasive technologies to measure symptoms outside the clinic. He developed algorithms that quantify Parkinson's symptoms using 30-second voice recordings, displacing expensive in-clinic physical exams. These algorithms detect Parkinson's signs in newly diagnosed patients to 98% accuracy, and work over the mobile phone network. Max is working to apply these algorithms to the environmental causes of disease: genetics is making extraordinary progress, but explains only a small part of the medical picture. By making these algorithms accessible to the global population where mobile phones currently have 75% reach, they could help fill in the massive hole in medical understanding about why one person gets ill but others do not. // Parkinson's disease affects 6.3 million people worldwide, causing weakness and tremors, but there's no objective way to detect it early on. Yet. Applied mathematician and TED Fellow Max Little is testing a simple, cheap tool that in trials is able to detect Parkinson's with 99 percent accuracy -- in a 30-second phone call. // A data scientist with a background in math and stats, Max helps accelerate the search for cures for diseases such as Parkinson's by inventing radically simple, non-invasive technologies to measure symptoms outside the clinic. He developed algorithms that quantify Parkinson's symptoms using 30-second voice recordings, displacing expensive in-clinic physical exams. These algorithms detect Parkinson's signs in newly diagnosed patients to 98% accuracy, and work over the mobile phone network. Max is working to apply these algorithms to the environmental causes of disease: genetics is making extraordinary progress, but explains only a small part of the medical picture. By making these algorithms accessible to the global population where mobile phones currently have 75% reach, they could help fill in the massive hole in medical understanding about why one person gets ill but others do not. // Applied mathematician // research, technology, mobile phones, statistics, signal processing, monitoring, data, programming, disease, applied mathematics

Aquatic ecosystems, Coral reefs, Geospatial analysis, Giant clams, Marine conservation, Marine plastic pollution, Oceanography, Resource conservation, Science communication

2017

Taiwan

Mothers in Science; DHI; Large Marine Vertebrates (LAMAVE) Philippines, PHYSALUS; National University of Singapore

Mei Lin Neo is a Marine Ecologist, Science Communicator, TED Fellow, WEF Young Scientist, and advocate for Mothers in Science. She is known as the "Giant Clam Girl" due to her research on giant clams, which are the world's largest living marine bivalves. Mei Lin's work involves advancing mariculture for tropical marine organisms, including sea snails. Her research team has achieved significant milestones in the reproduction and husbandry of cowries, a type of sea snail. Mei Lin is actively involved in various conferences, symposiums, and workshops related to marine conservation, science communication, and sustainability. She has also been featured in media outlets for her work, such as documentaries, publications, and public speaking engagements. Additionally, Mei Lin is engaged in educational outreach, sharing her passion for marine conservation and the natural world with a global audience. // Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore• Responsible for the development and management of numerous research projects focusing on the conservation research of the giant clams, invertebrate larval reproduction and ecology (i.e. giant clams, sea urchins), science communication and citizen science, marine plastic pollution, etc.• Oversees the science communication efforts at the institute, through developing outreach and education programmes, co-organising school camps, giving public talks, etc. // Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore• Responsible for the project “Giant clam (family Tridacnidae) conservation in Singapore: Re-introducing Tridacna gigas, the world’s largest living bivalve mollusc”.• Carried out research resulting in the transplantation of cultured giant clams onto Singapore’s reefs for restocking purposes.• Developed outreach materials to share about the giant clam species and its natural history in Singapore.• Participated in outreach talks to promote awareness of giant clam conservation research in Singapore. // Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of SingaporeBased at the St John's Island National Marine Laboratory (sjinml.nus.edu.sg) // • Climate Change Project.• To conduct comprehensive search for journal and grey publications, and summarise key information gleaned from publication search.• To support the technical team.• To assist in creating a climate change database. // • Whale shark project – conducted field research to examine the effects of provisioning on whale shark behaviour in Oslob, Cebu, Philippines.• Education campaigns for local elementary schools.• Community mural painting. // • Tutored undergraduate modules in Biodiversity (LSM1103), Animal Behaviour (LSM1301), Ecology and Environment (LSM2251), Ecology of Aquatic Environments (LSM3254), Life Form and Function (LSM3261), Marine Biology (LSM4261), Field Studies in Biodiversity (LSM4263), and Topics in Aquatic Biodiversity (LSM4266).• Mentored and supervised students in the Experimental Marine Ecology Laboratory for Honours and UROPS research projects. // • Restocking of giant clams in Singapore // Mothers in Science; DHI; Large Marine Vertebrates (LAMAVE) Philippines, PHYSALUS; National University of Singapore // Mei Lin Neo is a dedicated marine scientist with a focus on conservation research, particularly in the areas of giant clam species, invertebrate larval reproduction, and marine plastic pollution. With a background in leading research projects at the Tropical Marine Science Institute at the National University of Singapore, Mei Lin has been instrumental in initiatives such as the reintroduction of Tridacna gigas, the world's largest bivalve mollusc, to Singaporean reefs. Mei Lin's expertise also extends to science communication and citizen science, where she has developed outreach programs and educational materials to raise awareness about marine conservation. With a strong commitment to academia, Mei Lin has also contributed to teaching and mentoring undergraduate students in various biology and ecology modules. // Right now, I’m using various science communication tools to engage with local communities on marine conservation. My work still heavily revolves around the conservation of giant clams, and using them as a model to drive meaningful conservation impacts. // Mei Lin Neo is a Marine Ecologist and Science Communicator known for her research on giant clams and other tropical marine organisms. Her work focuses on advancing mariculture techniques and conservation efforts for these species, including sea snails. Mei Lin has made significant contributions to the reproduction and husbandry of cowries, a type of sea snail, and has been actively involved in marine conservation initiatives. She is dedicated to science communication and educational outreach, using various platforms to engage with global audiences on marine conservation issues. Mei Lin's expertise also extends to citizen science and mentoring undergraduate students in biology and ecology. // Marine biologist // Affectionately called the 'giant clam girl', Mei Lin is studying the endangered giant clams of the Indo-Pacific oceans, and promoting ways to protect these rare marine species from going extinct. Beginning her work ten years ago in Singapore, she spearheaded the Singapore's giant clam breeding and restocking program in 2011 during her Ph.D. Mei Lin now oversees the transplantation of baby clams in Singapore's reefs, and monitors their growth and survivorship. She hopes to use science communication to inspire others to join her in protecting the oceans. Mei Lin has received several honors and awards for her research efforts such as the World Future Foundation PhD Prize in Environment and Sustainability (2014), the L'Oréal for Women in Science National Fellowship (2015), The Singapore's Women Weekly Great Women of our Time honoree (2015), Forbes Asia 30 Under 30 (2016), a Young Scientist at the World Economic Forum (2016, 2017), AsianScientist 100 (2017). Mei Lin is recently named a TED Fellow (2017)! // When you think about the deep blue sea, you might instantly think of whales or coral reefs. But spare a thought for giant clams, the world's largest living shellfish. These incredible creatures can live to 100, grow up to four and a half feet long and weigh as much as three baby elephants. In this charming talk, marine biologist Mei Lin Neo shares why she's obsessively trying to turn these legendary sea creatures into heroes of the oceans. // Mei Lin Neo is a Marine Ecologist and Science Communicator known for her research on giant clams and other tropical marine organisms. Her work focuses on advancing mariculture techniques and conservation efforts for these species, including sea snails. Mei Lin has made significant contributions to the reproduction and husbandry of cowries, a type of sea snail, and has been actively involved in marine conservation initiatives. She is dedicated to science communication and educational outreach, using various platforms to engage with global audiences on marine conservation issues. Mei Lin's expertise also extends to citizen science and mentoring undergraduate students in biology and ecology. // Marine biologist // water, education, biodiversity, water quality, mariculture, coastal, data, geospatial analysis, research, climate, design, citizen scientist, marine biology, resource conservation, coral reefs, species, coral, aquatic, women, oceans, pollution, marine plastic pollution, giant clams, education and outreach, marine research, marine conservation, advocacy, environmental impact, island, campaigns, conservation, plastic, plastic pollution, science communication, whale shark, science, oceanography, local communities, communication, aquatic ecosystems, ecology, marine ecology, marine laboratory // Singapore

Singapore

Music as a sphere of influence, the arts

2009, 2012

United Kingdom

Singer + songwriter // Meklit Hadero’s music is imbued with poetry and multiplicity, from hybridized sounds of Tizita (haunting and nostalgic music) drawing from her Ethiopian heritage, to the annals of jazz, folk songs, hip-hop and art rock. She aptly describes her music as emanating from “in-between-spaces.” Listening to Meklit Hadero transports us to the post-national space of Africa and America, inspiring us to bridge the frontiers between language, tribes and disciplines. Her songs celebrate the newness of life and the hyphens that bring us together. Meklit has released four studio albums and is currently signed to Six Degrees Records. She is the initiator of Home [Away From] Home along with Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, a large scale installation bringing together Ethiopian and Eritrean Artists in the Bay Area. Meklit is a TED Senior Fellow, and has served as an artist-in-residence at NYU, curated a performance series at the Lincoln Center Atrium, co-designed and implemented an artist fellowship program for the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, and completed musical commissions for the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Fund for Artists, the Brava Theater, and the De Young Museum. In 2011, Meklit co-founded the Nile Project with Egyptian Ethnomusicologist Mina Girgis. She is the founder of the Arba Minch Collective, former Co-Director of the Red Poppy Art House, and has received performance grants from the Zellerbach Family Foundation and the Belle Foundation for Cultural Development.   Meklit has been featured at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Stern Grove Festival, Women of the World Festival, San Francisco Jazz Festival, Bumbershoot Music Festival, and SxSW (Austin). She has performed at venues such as the Independent (SF), Le Poisson Rouge (NYC), Mayne Stage (Chicago), the Triple Door (Seattle), the Kennedy Center (DC), the Mint (LA), Cabaret Du Mile End (Montreal), and the Southbank Centre (London). She has toured extensively in the US, UK, Ethiopia and Kenya. “Meklit is an artistic giant in the early stages. She sings of fragility, hope and self-empowerment, and exudes all three. What’s irresistible, above all, is her cradling, sensuous, gentle sound. She is stunning.” - San Francisco Chronicle   “Meklit Hadero is one of those rare artists with the power to bridge genres, geography and generations.” -Google Music “You may not have heard Meklit Hadero’s music before, but once you do, it’ll be tough to forget. Hadero’s sound is a unique blend of jazz, Ethiopia, the San Francisco art scene and visceral poetry; it paints pictures in your head as you listen.” - NPR // Meklit is an Ethio-American vocalist, singer-songwriter and composer, making music that sways between cultures and continents. Known for her electric stage presence, innovative take on Ethio-Jazz, and her femotive live shows, Meklit has rocked stages from Addis Ababa (where she is a household name) to San Francisco (her beloved home-base), to New York, London, DC, Montreal, Nairobi, Chicago, LA, Arusha, Rome, Zurich, Rio Di Janeiro, Seattle, Cairo, and more. Meklit is a TED Senior Fellow and her TED Talk, The Unexpected Beauty of Everyday Sounds, has been watched by more than 1.2 million people. She is a National Geographic Explorer and has been an Artist-in-Residence at Harvard, NYU, Purdue and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Meklit has received musical commissions from Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the MAP Fund and has toured extensively across the US, UK, and East Africa. She has collaborated with Kronos Quartet, NASA Kepler Co-Investigator Dr. Jon Jenkins (and his star sounds), musical legend Pee Wee Ellis and members of the BBC Philharmonic. She is a Co-Founder of the Nile Project, served as musical director for the beloved Bay Area powerhouse UnderCover Presents, and sang alongside Angelique Kidjo and Anoushka Shankar as a featured singer in the UN Women Theme Song. Her fame in Ethiopia skyrocketed in 2015 when her TED talk went viral in the country and her music videos began playing daily on multiple Ethiopian television stations. She goes back to Addis Ababa regularly to perform. Meklit's album - When the People Move, the Music Moves Too - was released June 23rd on Six Degrees Records, receiving rave reviews and quickly reaching #4 on the iTunes World Music Charts, #1 on the NACC World Charts and #12 on the World Charts in Europe. It was also named one of the 100 Best Albums of 2017 by the Sunday Times UK, one of the Best Soul Albums of 2017 by Bandcamp and amongst the 10 Best Bay Area albums of 2017 by KQED. These 11 songs were deeply inspired by Mulatu Astatke (the Godfather of Ethio-Jazz). Back in 2011, he told Meklit, "find your contribution to Ethio-Jazz and keep on innovating!" Produced by multi-GRAMMY winning artist/songwriter Dan Wilson (Adele, John Legend, Dixie Chicks), the album also features world renowned musicians Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the violinist/whistler Andrew Bird. Meklit has been featured in NPR, Vibe Magazine, CNN International, USA Today, Wall St. Journal, New York Magazine, MTV Iggy, Gizmodo, PBS, PRI’s The World, BBC Africa, BBC World Service, BBC Women’s Hour, BBC Front Row, BBC Loose Ends, The New Yorker, Brain Pickings, Wired UK, OkayAfrica, AfroPop, Google Music, Relix Magazine, Pidgeons + Planes, KEXP, WBEZ, WNYC, KQED, KBLX, Live Wire Radio, CBS Bay Area, CBS San Diego, Chicago Sun Times, Seattle Times, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, La Presse (Montreal), The Village Voice, Dig Boston, Seattle Weekly, San Francisco Magazine, SF Bay Guardian and many more. She has played at festivals and venues in the US, the UK and East Africa, including: Monterey Jazz Festival, SFJAZZ Center, Bumbershoot, SXSW, Southbank Centre, Hollywood Bowl, TED Conferences (Rio Di Janeiro, Edinburgh, Oxford, Long Beach, Arusha), Lincoln Center, Grand Performances, The Schomburg, the Apollo, YBCA, Davies Symphony Hall, Skirball Center (NYC + LA), Winter Jazz Fest, Smithsonian Folklife Fest, Kennedy Center, Stern Grove, World Cafe Live, Nuits D’Afrique (Montreal), Moods (Zurich), The Monk (Rome), Chicago World Music Festival, Gondar Castles (World Heritage Site - Ethiopia), Mulatu Astatke's Africa Jazz Village (Addis Ababa), Aswan Cultural Palace (Egypt), Blankets +Wine (Nairobi), National Theater (Uganda). Meklit’s work has been supported by grants from National Geographic, California Humanities, the MAP Fund, the Center for Cultural Innovation, Panta Rhea Foundation, The Christensen Fund, San Francisco Arts Commission, Zellerbach Family Foundation, Intersection for the Arts, Grants for the Arts, the San Francisco Foundation, Oakland Cultural Funding Project, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, The Belle Foundation for Cultural Development and more. Meklit holds a BA from Yale University. // Using examples from birdsong, the natural lilt of emphatic language and even a cooking pan lid, singer-songwriter and TED Fellow Meklit Hadero shows how the everyday soundscape, even silence, makes music. "The world is alive with musical expression," she says. "We are already immersed." // Meklit is an Ethio-American vocalist, singer-songwriter and composer, making music that sways between cultures and continents. Known for her electric stage presence, innovative take on Ethio-Jazz, and her femotive live shows, Meklit has rocked stages from Addis Ababa (where she is a household name) to San Francisco (her beloved home-base), to New York, London, DC, Montreal, Nairobi, Chicago, LA, Arusha, Rome, Zurich, Rio Di Janeiro, Seattle, Cairo, and more. Meklit is a TED Senior Fellow and her TED Talk, The Unexpected Beauty of Everyday Sounds, has been watched by more than 1.2 million people. She is a National Geographic Explorer and has been an Artist-in-Residence at Harvard, NYU, Purdue and Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Meklit has received musical commissions from Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and the MAP Fund and has toured extensively across the US, UK, and East Africa. She has collaborated with Kronos Quartet, NASA Kepler Co-Investigator Dr. Jon Jenkins (and his star sounds), musical legend Pee Wee Ellis and members of the BBC Philharmonic. She is a Co-Founder of the Nile Project, served as musical director for the beloved Bay Area powerhouse UnderCover Presents, and sang alongside Angelique Kidjo and Anoushka Shankar as a featured singer in the UN Women Theme Song. Her fame in Ethiopia skyrocketed in 2015 when her TED talk went viral in the country and her music videos began playing daily on multiple Ethiopian television stations. She goes back to Addis Ababa regularly to perform. Meklit's album - When the People Move, the Music Moves Too - was released June 23rd on Six Degrees Records, receiving rave reviews and quickly reaching #4 on the iTunes World Music Charts, #1 on the NACC World Charts and #12 on the World Charts in Europe. It was also named one of the 100 Best Albums of 2017 by the Sunday Times UK, one of the Best Soul Albums of 2017 by Bandcamp and amongst the 10 Best Bay Area albums of 2017 by KQED. These 11 songs were deeply inspired by Mulatu Astatke (the Godfather of Ethio-Jazz). Back in 2011, he told Meklit, "find your contribution to Ethio-Jazz and keep on innovating!" Produced by multi-GRAMMY winning artist/songwriter Dan Wilson (Adele, John Legend, Dixie Chicks), the album also features world renowned musicians Preservation Hall Jazz Band and the violinist/whistler Andrew Bird. Meklit has been featured in NPR, Vibe Magazine, CNN International, USA Today, Wall St. Journal, New York Magazine, MTV Iggy, Gizmodo, PBS, PRI’s The World, BBC Africa, BBC World Service, BBC Women’s Hour, BBC Front Row, BBC Loose Ends, The New Yorker, Brain Pickings, Wired UK, OkayAfrica, AfroPop, Google Music, Relix Magazine, Pidgeons + Planes, KEXP, WBEZ, WNYC, KQED, KBLX, Live Wire Radio, CBS Bay Area, CBS San Diego, Chicago Sun Times, Seattle Times, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, La Presse (Montreal), The Village Voice, Dig Boston, Seattle Weekly, San Francisco Magazine, SF Bay Guardian and many more. She has played at festivals and venues in the US, the UK and East Africa, including: Monterey Jazz Festival, SFJAZZ Center, Bumbershoot, SXSW, Southbank Centre, Hollywood Bowl, TED Conferences (Rio Di Janeiro, Edinburgh, Oxford, Long Beach, Arusha), Lincoln Center, Grand Performances, The Schomburg, the Apollo, YBCA, Davies Symphony Hall, Skirball Center (NYC + LA), Winter Jazz Fest, Smithsonian Folklife Fest, Kennedy Center, Stern Grove, World Cafe Live, Nuits D’Afrique (Montreal), Moods (Zurich), The Monk (Rome), Chicago World Music Festival, Gondar Castles (World Heritage Site - Ethiopia), Mulatu Astatke's Africa Jazz Village (Addis Ababa), Aswan Cultural Palace (Egypt), Blankets +Wine (Nairobi), National Theater (Uganda). Meklit’s work has been supported by grants from National Geographic, California Humanities, the MAP Fund, the Center for Cultural Innovation, Panta Rhea Foundation, The Christensen Fund, San Francisco Arts Commission, Zellerbach Family Foundation, Intersection for the Arts, Grants for the Arts, the San Francisco Foundation, Oakland Cultural Funding Project, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, The Belle Foundation for Cultural Development and more. Meklit holds a BA from Yale University. // Singer + songwriter // electric, cooking, mobility, planes, the arts, air travel, women, music as a sphere of influence // California|United States|San Francisco

California|United States|San Francisco

Art, Cultural production, Dance, Indigenous arts and cultures, Social enterprise

2022

Ethiopia

Fendika Cultural Center, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is a vibrant hub that promotes Ethiopian culture globally. Led by Melaku Belay, the center supports artists, showcases traditional and contemporary cultural expressions, and fosters people-to-people exchange through arts and culture. Fendika hosts various performances, including Azmari Nights, jazz bands, and traditional Ethiopian music. The center also features an art gallery, offering exhibition space for local artists. Despite facing challenges such as potential demolition, Fendika remains dedicated to preserving Ethiopian arts and providing a platform for artistic expression and cultural exchange. // I want to change Ethiopian society’s perception about dance; I am working with colleagues in Addis Ababa University to try to establish a Dance Studies program. I also want the government to not demolish Fendija Cultural Center and other heritage places in the city. What is the true value of the arts in contemporary societies? // Melaku Belay is a cultural advocate and the driving force behind the Fendika Cultural Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Through his leadership, the center has become a vital platform for promoting Ethiopian culture globally, supporting local artists, and facilitating cultural exchange. Melaku's efforts extend beyond showcasing traditional and contemporary cultural expressions to advocating for the preservation of heritage sites like Fendika against potential demolition. He is also actively involved in initiatives to change societal perceptions about dance and is working towards establishing a Dance Studies program in collaboration with Addis Ababa University. Melaku Belay's work underscores the significant role of arts and culture in contemporary societies and the importance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations. // Choreographer and dancer // When we support indigenous arts and cultures, we contribute to societal wellbeing, peace, and the sustainability of our shared humanity. Who Am I? An Ethiopian dancer/choreographer, founding director of Fendika Cultural Center, working to bring global attention to indigenous arts and cultures of Ethiopia. What Keeps Me Up at Night? Some of the Ethiopian indigenous art forms will disappear eventually due to lack of support. Fendika, the most prominent cultural center in Ethiopia that supports indigenous arts and cultures, faces the threat of being forced out by the government’s urban “development” agenda. What Am I Doing to Solve the Problem? I promote Azmari music, a 2000-year-old indigenous Ethiopian music form, by paying Azmari musicians regular salaries and programming Azmari performances all year round. Fendika is the only remaining Azmari venue in the Kazanchis neighborhood, which boasted 17 venues in the 1990s. But Fendika is not safe, as the government threatens to take over the land unless a 12-story building is constructed on it. What Difference Does My Work Make? About 18,000 local and global visitors experience Azmari music at Fendika each year. Our work has brought some global attention to indigenous arts of Ethiopia, through a 2017 UNESCO grant for a national Azmari festival, 2020 Prince Claus Award, and a 2015 French Medal for Arts and Letters. Why Do Indigenous Arts Matter? Ethiopia’s peace and stability are fragile, especially now. Arts promote peace and healing by bringing people together across differences. The loss of indigenous art forms will result in the weakening of our social fabric. Given the government’s mandate, no one knows what will happen to Fendika tomorrow. What’s under threat is not only a building, but also memories and hopes for indigenous arts of Ethiopia. How Can You Help? You have the power to help us, by telling our story, and/or by helping us reach out to potential supporters and investors. I hope you buy a plane ticket to visit us in Ethiopia so that you can experience the joy of Azmari music and the magic of Fendika. Then you will understand why our supporters tell us “Fendika is our Noah’s Ark.” What Makes Me Unique As a Social Entrepreneur? Contrary to the myth that I am wealthy from owning Fendika, I struggle to pay rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Addis Ababa, where I live with my family of five; I give everything I have and work 20-hour days to keep Fendika’s programs going. I feel rich in my heart: through working with the arts, I share the joy and pain of all humanity. I am passionate about mentoring young artists. Some of our best dancers and musicians started working at Fendika as waiting staff and cashiers. Now they are touring the world with my band also named Fendika. Fendika survived COVID-19 by streaming 18 concerts; we were among the first organizations to stream concerts from the African continent. Now Fendika is livestreaming 2-3 concerts a week. // By mastering the Eskista, an ancient Ethiopian dance, TED Fellow Melaku Belay survived a childhood on the streets and became a voice for his country. He shares how traditional dances can connect the wisdom of the past to the energy of the future -- and, after the talk, delivers a thrilling performance of Eskista accompanied by a free-jazz ensemble. (In Amharic with consecutive English translation by filmmaker Mehret Mandefro) // Melaku Belay is a cultural advocate and the driving force behind the Fendika Cultural Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Through his leadership, the center has become a vital platform for promoting Ethiopian culture globally, supporting local artists, and facilitating cultural exchange. Melaku's efforts extend beyond showcasing traditional and contemporary cultural expressions to advocating for the preservation of heritage sites like Fendika against potential demolition. He is also actively involved in initiatives to change societal perceptions about dance and is working towards establishing a Dance Studies program in collaboration with Addis Ababa University. Melaku Belay's work underscores the significant role of arts and culture in contemporary societies and the importance of preserving cultural heritage for future generations. // Choreographer and dancer // children, social enterprise , arts, indigenous, led, land, government, cultural production, covid, urban, dance // Addis Ababa|Ethiopia

Addis Ababa|Ethiopia

2017

United States

Mycologist // She is an Egyptian research mycologist. Her work focuses on the identification of biological mechanisms involved in fungal pathogenecity - in an effort to develop more efficient strategies to combat fungal infections. She is currently working in the Biology and Pathogenicity Unit at Institut Pasteur (France) to study Candida albicans, an opportunistic pathogenic fungus and the main cause of fungal infections in immunocompromised humans. She received an Initial Training Networks (ITN) - Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship to pursue her PhD project in the Molecular Genetics of Fungal Pathogenicity Unit and the International Campus of Excellence in Agrifood CeiA3 at the Universidad de Cordoba (Spain). During her PhD, her former team (Pr. Antonio Di Pietro and Dr. David Turra, PhD director and co-director respectively) and herself identified the compounds secreted from the plant roots attracting Fusarium oxysporum, a soilborne plant pathogenic fungus and characterized the underlying mechanisms of attraction. Such compounds were tracked since the 19th century. The discovery was published in the Nature Journal. She co-founded ConScience (means WithKnowledge in latin), a non-profit organisation which purpose is promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM education in Egypt through innovative, effective, exciting and transparent learning promoting curiosity and critical thinking. // Each year, the world loses enough food to feed half a billion people to fungi, the most destructive pathogens of plants. Mycologist and TED Fellow Mennat El Ghalid explains how a breakthrough in our understanding of the molecular signals fungi use to attack plants could disrupt this interaction -- and save our crops. // She is an Egyptian research mycologist. Her work focuses on the identification of biological mechanisms involved in fungal pathogenecity - in an effort to develop more efficient strategies to combat fungal infections. She is currently working in the Biology and Pathogenicity Unit at Institut Pasteur (France) to study Candida albicans, an opportunistic pathogenic fungus and the main cause of fungal infections in immunocompromised humans. She received an Initial Training Networks (ITN) - Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship to pursue her PhD project in the Molecular Genetics of Fungal Pathogenicity Unit and the International Campus of Excellence in Agrifood CeiA3 at the Universidad de Cordoba (Spain). During her PhD, her former team (Pr. Antonio Di Pietro and Dr. David Turra, PhD director and co-director respectively) and herself identified the compounds secreted from the plant roots attracting Fusarium oxysporum, a soilborne plant pathogenic fungus and characterized the underlying mechanisms of attraction. Such compounds were tracked since the 19th century. The discovery was published in the Nature Journal. She co-founded ConScience (means WithKnowledge in latin), a non-profit organisation which purpose is promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics STEM education in Egypt through innovative, effective, exciting and transparent learning promoting curiosity and critical thinking. // Mycologist // research, technology, nature, science, education, food, plants, crops, job skills training, stem // Île-de-France|Paris|France

Île-de-France|Paris|France

XR, artificial intelligence ethics, copyright, ethics, metaverse, video games

2022

Argentina

Video game lawyer // Hi there nice to meet you! 🙌 I am Micaela Mantegna, a video game lawyer and activist known as Abogamer, (a portmanteau of 'abogada', the Spanish word for lawyer, and gamer). Some facts about me: ✔️My first book "ARTficial: creativity, AI and copyright" is currently on press! 🎉 ✔️Currently, I am a TED Fellow and an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard, doing research at the intersection of video games, AI ethics, ©️ , immersive technologies for extended reality (XR) with a focus on the governance of the Metaverse. ✔️As an activist, I am the founder of Women In Games Argentina (WIGAr), a non-profit working towards a more inclusive gaming industry; and a Women in Games International (WIGJ) Ambassador. ✔️I have been featured by EA in the official video of my favorite video game. Just ask me, is great to start a conversation! ;) Here you can find more about me and my work: https://cyber.harvard.edu/people/micaela-mantegna // "The metaverse is already on fire, and we haven't even built it yet," says TED Fellow and video game lawyer Micaela Mantegna. She lays out why the metaverse is at risk of inheriting some of the internet's worst traits, like unchecked surveillance -- and shows how we could redirect its fate through new laws grounded in kindness and connection. // Hi there nice to meet you! 🙌 I am Micaela Mantegna, a video game lawyer and activist known as Abogamer, (a portmanteau of 'abogada', the Spanish word for lawyer, and gamer). Some facts about me: ✔️My first book "ARTficial: creativity, AI and copyright" is currently on press! 🎉 ✔️Currently, I am a TED Fellow and an affiliate at the Berkman Klein Center at Harvard, doing research at the intersection of video games, AI ethics, ©️ , immersive technologies for extended reality (XR) with a focus on the governance of the Metaverse. ✔️As an activist, I am the founder of Women In Games Argentina (WIGAr), a non-profit working towards a more inclusive gaming industry; and a Women in Games International (WIGJ) Ambassador. ✔️I have been featured by EA in the official video of my favorite video game. Just ask me, is great to start a conversation! ;) Here you can find more about me and my work: https://cyber.harvard.edu/people/micaela-mantegna // Video game lawyer // research, technology, inclusion, activism, ethics, metaverse, governance, copyright, fire, artificial intelligence ethics, artificial intelligence, xr, women, video games // Argentina

Argentina

2012

United States

Entrepreneurial educator // Entrepreneurial educator and founder of Skillshare, a online community where anyone can offer courses and anyone can pay to take them, leading to the democratization of teaching. // Michael is the CEO of Skillshare, a platform to learn anything from anyone. // Michael is the CEO of Skillshare, a platform to learn anything from anyone. // Entrepreneurial educator // New York|United States|USA

New York|United States|USA

2016

New Zealand

Culinary historian // Michael W. Twitty is a noted culinary and cultural historian who recreates the American slave experience through food and its preparation. He created Afroculinaria, the first blog devoted to African American historic foodways and their legacy, and was honored by First We Feast.com as one of twenty greatest food bloggers of all time. He has appeared on Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern, Many Rivers to Cross with Dr. Henry Louis Gates, and has lectured to more than 250 groups including at Yale, Oxford and Carnegie Mellon Universities, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Smithsonian Folklore Festival. Michael has been invited to speak around the world, from the MAD Symposium in Copenhagen to the Guardian Festival of Ideas in London to film festivals in Jerusalem, all on culinary justice and the African American impact on Southern foodways. His work has been featured in many publications and websites Ebony, the Guardian, Eater.com and NPR’s Codeswitch blog. He has appeared on NPR on a number of occasions including being interviewed on the acclaimed food program, The Splendid Table. He has also served as a judge for the James Beard Awards and is a Smith fellow with the Southern Foodways Alliance. He was recently named one of "Fifty People Changing the South" by Southern Living and one of the "Five Cheftavists to Watch" by TakePart.Com. HarperCollins will release Twitty’s first major book in 2016: The Cooking Gene, which traces his ancestry through food from Africa to America and slavery to freedom. And most recently he is a TED Fellow, who spoke at #TED2016 https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/his-paula-deen-takedown-went-viral-but-this-food-scholar-has-more-on-his-mind/2016/02/12/f83900f8-d031-11e5-88cd-753e80cd29ad_story.html // Michael W. Twitty is a noted culinary and cultural historian who recreates the American slave experience through food and its preparation. He created Afroculinaria, the first blog devoted to African American historic foodways and their legacy, and was honored by First We Feast.com as one of twenty greatest food bloggers of all time. He has appeared on Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern, Many Rivers to Cross with Dr. Henry Louis Gates, and has lectured to more than 250 groups including at Yale, Oxford and Carnegie Mellon Universities, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Smithsonian Folklore Festival. Michael has been invited to speak around the world, from the MAD Symposium in Copenhagen to the Guardian Festival of Ideas in London to film festivals in Jerusalem, all on culinary justice and the African American impact on Southern foodways. His work has been featured in many publications and websites Ebony, the Guardian, Eater.com and NPR’s Codeswitch blog. He has appeared on NPR on a number of occasions including being interviewed on the acclaimed food program, The Splendid Table. He has also served as a judge for the James Beard Awards and is a Smith fellow with the Southern Foodways Alliance. He was recently named one of "Fifty People Changing the South" by Southern Living and one of the "Five Cheftavists to Watch" by TakePart.Com. HarperCollins will release Twitty’s first major book in 2016: The Cooking Gene, which traces his ancestry through food from Africa to America and slavery to freedom. And most recently he is a TED Fellow, who spoke at #TED2016 https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/his-paula-deen-takedown-went-viral-but-this-food-scholar-has-more-on-his-mind/2016/02/12/f83900f8-d031-11e5-88cd-753e80cd29ad_story.html // Culinary historian // rivers and lakes, cooking, food, justice

Climate change policy design/influencing, Earth Science, Experiential Education, Feminism, Geography, Glaciology, Research, Science Policy, Teaching Thinking Skill, Theater, Travel and Adventure

2009

Canada

The organization focuses on studying the response of glaciers, landscapes, and communities to climate change. Their research projects include examining landscape and hazards responses to changing glacier dynamics, the effects of climate change on glacier meltwater systems, and the lived experiences of people affected by these changes. They conduct research in various locations such as British Columbia, Alaska, Patagonia, Greenland, and the Himalayas. The organization is interested in understanding geomorphic change, human impacts on landscapes, and the implications of climate change. They also explore alternative ways of understanding landscape change beyond western scientific thought. Additionally, the organization is involved in teaching courses related to environmental sciences and climate change, as well as outreach activities to communicate their research findings to the public through various mediums like podcasts, documentaries, and art installations. // The Landscapes of Climate Change Lab at the University of British Columbia's Department of Geography focuses on exploring past and present geomorphic changes on landscapes, ecosystems, and societies. The lab emphasizes community-based collaborations, ethical knowledge braiding, and holistic perspectives in physical geography. They prioritize integrating multiple perspectives of science and knowledge, conducting respectful research guided by and accountable to local and Indigenous communities. The lab aims to foster a deeper understanding of landscape change and takes a community-first approach in producing science and discoveries. Their research projects include exploring natural hazard responses, the impacts of climate change, and the livelihoods within the landscapes they study. // I am trying to foreground humility, reciprocity and compassion in western scientific practice, to counteract the colonial harms of Eurocentric sciences elevate local, indigenous and place-based voices, and address climate injustice. // Michele Koppes is a geographer and researcher known for her work in studying the response of glaciers, landscapes, and communities to climate change. She leads the Landscapes of Climate Change Lab at the University of British Columbia, focusing on exploring geomorphic changes and the impacts of climate change on landscapes, ecosystems, and societies. Michele's research projects include examining landscape and hazards responses to changing glacier dynamics, as well as the effects of climate change on glacier meltwater systems. She prioritizes community-based collaborations, ethical knowledge braiding, and holistic perspectives in physical geography, aiming to integrate multiple perspectives of science and knowledge while being guided by and accountable to local and Indigenous communities. Michele also engages in teaching courses related to environmental sciences and climate change, and actively communicates her research findings to the public through various mediums like podcasts, documentaries, and art installations. // Glaciologist // I study glacier processes, glaciated landscapes and the landscape response to climate change, from the long term (Quaternary era) to recent change (last year). I am fascinated with the rate at which landscapes change, particularly the effects of humans on the landscape and how we compare to the effects of glaciers and rivers. My work has taken me to six of the seven continents on Earth, to study the dynamics of ice from the Arctic to the Antarctic, and from Alaska to the Himalayas. When I am not spending my time living in a tent on top of a crackling glacier, you can find me hiking my students up the slopes of volcanoes around Vancouver, paddling small boats in front of calving glaciers in British Columbia and Greenland, climbing the mountains nearby, mountain biking in my backyard in Bellingham, and hunting for sand dollars at the beach with my daughter. // A keeper of the stories of ice and stone, Michele Koppes is an Associate Professor of Geography at the University of British Columbia, a Canada Research Chair in Landscapes of Climate Change, the Director of the UBC Climate and Cryosphere Lab and a Senior TED Fellow. She is grateful to live and work on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Musqueam people, in Vancouver, Canada. Her passion is forensic geomorphology: the art of reading and listening to landscapes to decipher their stories and the forces that shaped them. Her particular focus is on understanding how glaciers respond to climate change, and how glacier changes impact landscapes, waterscapes and people. She believes deeply that in order to address the ongoing climate emergency, there is a dire need for more place-based, integrated and embodied understandings of how the lives of the ice, the mountains, the rivers and the people who dwell among them are intertwined. She spends her time exploring and collecting these acoustic stories in remote places all over the world, from the mountains of the Pacific Northwest to the Patagonian Andes, the Himalayas, the Tien Shan, and the margins of the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheets, where she and her team combine detailed field observations of glacier and landscape changes with local perspectives, oral histories, acoustic mapping and conceptual modeling of ice-ocean-landscape-human interactions. // Michele Koppes is a geographer and researcher known for her work in studying the response of glaciers, landscapes, and communities to climate change. She leads the Landscapes of Climate Change Lab at the University of British Columbia, focusing on exploring geomorphic changes and the impacts of climate change on landscapes, ecosystems, and societies. Michele's research projects include examining landscape and hazards responses to changing glacier dynamics, as well as the effects of climate change on glacier meltwater systems. She prioritizes community-based collaborations, ethical knowledge braiding, and holistic perspectives in physical geography, aiming to integrate multiple perspectives of science and knowledge while being guided by and accountable to local and Indigenous communities. Michele also engages in teaching courses related to environmental sciences and climate change, and actively communicates her research findings to the public through various mediums like podcasts, documentaries, and art installations. // Glaciologist // rivers and lakes, education, teaching thinking skill, glaciers, climate change policy design/influencing, research, experiential learning , mobility, climate, arctic, theater, nature sounds, policy, earth science, experiential education, long term climate policy, feminism, geography, livelihoods, indigenous science, bicycle, travel and adventure, climate change, glaciology, science policy, nature, ethics, science, indigenous, accountability, ecosystem, mountains // Canada|British Columbia|Vancouver

Canada|British Columbia|Vancouver

Applied Physics, Astronomy, Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Medical Imaging, Visual Display of information

2009

United States

3D visualization researcher + physicist // Michelle Borkin works on creating new approaches to interdisciplinary scientific visualization and data exploration. She co-founded the "Astronomical Medicine" project at Harvard and collaborates with both astronomers and doctors to help them analyze and visualize their multidimensional data, and cross-fertilize visualization and analysis techniques across scientific disciplines. Most recently she has been collaborating with computational physicists, computer scientists, radiologists, and cardiologists to visualize the combination of simulation data with real medical imaging data to help diagnose and treat heart disease with novel non-invasive methods. Michelle graduated from Harvard College with a BA in Astronomy & Astrophysics and Physics in 2006, and is now an Applied Physics PhD candidate at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Michelle is a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellow, a National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow, and was chosen by TED as a TEDGlobal 2009 Fellow. // I work on creating new approaches to interdisciplinary scientific imaging, data exploration, and image analysis with a focus on 3D visualization. My research includes the application of medical imaging programs to astronomical data as part of the "Astronomical Medicine" project at Harvard's Initiative in Innovative Computing (IIC). I work with the developers of medical visualization tools to improve their effectiveness in multiple scientific disciplines, and collaborate with both astronomers and doctors to help them analyze and visualize their multidimensional data. I am now also working on "Multiscale Hemodynamics" with physicists and cardiologists visualizing the combination of simulation data with real medical imaging to help diagnose and treat heart disease. I graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in Astronomy & Astrophysics and Physics in 2006, and am now an Applied Physics Ph.D. candidate at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. // How do you measure a nebula? With a brain scan. In this talk, TED Fellow Michelle Borkin shows why collaboration between doctors and astronomers can lead to surprising discoveries. // I work on creating new approaches to interdisciplinary scientific imaging, data exploration, and image analysis with a focus on 3D visualization. My research includes the application of medical imaging programs to astronomical data as part of the "Astronomical Medicine" project at Harvard's Initiative in Innovative Computing (IIC). I work with the developers of medical visualization tools to improve their effectiveness in multiple scientific disciplines, and collaborate with both astronomers and doctors to help them analyze and visualize their multidimensional data. I am now also working on "Multiscale Hemodynamics" with physicists and cardiologists visualizing the combination of simulation data with real medical imaging to help diagnose and treat heart disease. I graduated from Harvard University with a B.A. in Astronomy & Astrophysics and Physics in 2006, and am now an Applied Physics Ph.D. candidate at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. // 3D visualization researcher + physicist // research, applied physics, interdisciplinary collaboration, medical imaging, science, astronomy, visual display of information, data, national defense, disease // Massachusetts|Cambridge|United States|USA

Massachusetts|Cambridge|United States|USA

Astrophysics, Data collection, Extreme weather, Research, Science communication, Solar science, Space exploration, Space physics, Virtual reality

2017

Indonesia

Dr. Miho Janvier is a solar and space physicist currently working at the European Space Agency (ESA/ESTEC, NL). Her research focuses on solar flares, solar storms, and their impact on planetary environments. She collaborates with NASA, ESA, and JAXA, analyzing data and developing 3D computer models of solar eruptions. Dr. Janvier is involved in the Solar Orbiter mission, working on instruments and enhancing data collection. She is also passionate about science communication, leading various projects and being a public speaker. Additionally, she is engaged in non-profit organizations, such as SpaceTravelVR, and has received several awards for her work in the field of solar and space physics. // The organization focuses on web protection services provided by Cloudflare to safeguard websites from malicious bots. They utilize techniques such as hiding email addresses and require enabling Javascript to decode them. Cloudflare's services aim to enhance performance and security for websites. // Miho Janvier is a solar and space physicist at the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale, France, currently seconded to the European Space Agency (ESTEC) in The Netherlands. Her work focusses on Solar Orbiter, the European Space Agency / NASA mission launched in February 2020 to explore the Sun and its close neighbourhood. At ESA/ESTEC, she coordinates observation campaigns with space missions from different space agencies and ground-based assets. Her scientific research covers the understanding of when solar flares occur, how solar storms travel in space and how they impact planetary environments in the solar system. In a nutshell, she works towards a better prediction of "space weather," with a goal of better understanding the influence of the Sun's activity on human societies. She uses data from space missions from NASA, ESA and JAXA as well as developing 3D computer models of solar eruptions. Miho is also involved as the deputy project scientist on the instrument SPICE as well as a scientific co-Investigator on the instrument EUI on board Solar Orbiter. Her passion for astrophysics and science communication has led her to develop several science communication projects: she partnered with the movie production company TreeHouse Digital Ltd to develop a 360 degrees experience of a solar storm using science data and VFX. She is currently developing a project to showcase the Solar Orbiter mission in Virtual Reality in collaboration with the French Space Agency (CNES) and ESA. Her projects are now developed under the NPO "SpaceTravelVR" she created to bring space to a general audience. She was selected as a WIREDUK Innovation Fellow in 2016 and a TED Fellow in 2017. // SolAR is an augmented reality application that presents 4 aspects of solar and spacephysics research, from the colours of the Sun to the presentation of Solar Orbiter. I led the development of this project with VR/AR engineer Jean-Charles Fedini. // This project is supported by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES) to present the French participation, and in particular that of IAS, to the upcoming space mission Solar Orbiter. I lead the development of a VR software that presents the objectives of the mission as well as the different instruments on board the spacecraft. // This project was developed in collaboration with the movie production company TreeHouse Digital (UK). // Miho Janvier is a solar and space physicist with a focus on the Solar Orbiter mission, a joint project of the European Space Agency and NASA. Currently based at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in The Netherlands, she coordinates observation campaigns involving various space missions and ground-based assets. Her research delves into solar flares, solar storm propagation, and their effects on planetary environments, aiming to enhance space weather prediction and understand the Sun's impact on human societies. Miho's involvement as a deputy project scientist and scientific co-Investigator on Solar Orbiter's instruments underscores her expertise in the field. Beyond her scientific pursuits, she is dedicated to science communication, leading projects that merge astrophysics with virtual reality to engage a broader audience. Her innovative work has garnered recognition, including being selected as a WIREDUK Innovation Fellow and a TED Fellow. // As a scientist, I participate in expanding the knowledge that we have about our universe. As a keen science communicator, I hope to share my knowledge and enthusiasm about my work as much as possible. Big questions that drive my science work: are we alone in this universe, can we learn anything about the Sun and the solar system to understand how life can emerge somewhere else around another star, how to prepare ourselves for extreme solar events. As a woman of colour in science, I don't see many people like me. In fact, in my current person, I see 0 people like me. So I hope that the career that I have inspires others to chase opportunities in STEM careers. // Dr. Miho Janvier is a solar and space physicist at the European Space Agency (ESA/ESTEC, NL), specializing in solar flares, solar storms, and their impact on planetary environments. She is actively involved in the Solar Orbiter mission, collaborating with international space agencies to analyze data and develop 3D models of solar eruptions. Dr. Janvier's expertise extends to coordinating observation campaigns, enhancing space weather prediction, and understanding the Sun's influence on human societies. Beyond her research, she is dedicated to science communication, leading projects that merge astrophysics with virtual reality to engage a wider audience. Dr. Janvier's innovative work has earned her recognition as a WIREDUK Innovation Fellow and a TED Fellow, inspiring others, especially women of color, to pursue careers in STEM fields. // Solar storm scientist // Miho is a space physicist at the Institute for Space Astrophysics in France. She studies the Sun's activity and focuses on solar flares, which are big explosions occurring in the Sun's atmosphere. They are at the origin of phenomena called solar storms which impact the space environment of Earth and other planets in the solar system. Solar storms are a fundamental criterion in assessing the habitability of planets in other star systems. Miho's passion for public outreach has led her to develop virtual and augmented reality experiences that appeared at science festivals in the UK and France. Miho developed her passion for astrophysics when she was little: the night sky and its stars fascinated her and this interest grew even more after watching films such as E.T. and the X-Files series. These days, Miho works on computer models of solar flares, comparing them with Sun's observations obtained by spacecrafts. She also works on Solar Orbiter, the European Space Agency's next mission to the Sun. // Space physicist Miho Janvier studies solar storms: giant clouds of particles that escape from the Sun and can disrupt life on Earth (while also producing amazing auroras). How do you study the atmosphere on the Sun, which burns at temperatures of up to around 10 million degrees Kelvin? With math! Join the TED Fellow as she shares her work trying to better understand how the Sun affects us here on Earth. // Dr. Miho Janvier is a solar and space physicist at the European Space Agency (ESA/ESTEC, NL), specializing in solar flares, solar storms, and their impact on planetary environments. She is actively involved in the Solar Orbiter mission, collaborating with international space agencies to analyze data and develop 3D models of solar eruptions. Dr. Janvier's expertise extends to coordinating observation campaigns, enhancing space weather prediction, and understanding the Sun's influence on human societies. Beyond her research, she is dedicated to science communication, leading projects that merge astrophysics with virtual reality to engage a wider audience. Dr. Janvier's innovative work has earned her recognition as a WIREDUK Innovation Fellow and a TED Fellow, inspiring others, especially women of color, to pursue careers in STEM fields. // Solar storm scientist // data collection, led, data, research, augmented reality, weather, space exploration, storms, hurricanes and tornadoes, stem, virtual reality, astrophysics, solar, campaigns, extreme weather, science communication, space physics, science, hurricanes, software, communication // Netherlands|United Kingdom|London|Leiden|Paris|France|England

Netherlands|United Kingdom|London|Leiden|Paris|France|England