Step inside the TED Fellows community

Designer + Filmmaker // Sumit Dagar is a designer and technologist who puts his skills to use for innovating accessibility solutions. He believes that a deprived sense should not dictate an inability to use technology, rather, technology should adapt to user‚Äôs needs and capabilities. He founded Kriyate with this vision in 2012. Before founding the company, he headed a number of startups in services and products related to the design field. His work has earned him international recognition such as Rolex Young Laureate, TED fellowship, and MIT India TR 35. // Sumit Dagar is a designer and technologist who puts his skills to use for innovating accessibility solutions. He believes that a deprived sense should not dictate an inability to use technology, rather, technology should adapt to user‚Äôs needs and capabilities. He founded Kriyate with this vision in 2012. Before founding the company, he headed a number of startups in services and products related to the design field. His work has earned him international recognition such as Rolex Young Laureate, TED fellowship, and MIT India TR 35. // Sumit Dagar is a designer and technologist who puts his skills to use for innovating accessibility solutions. He believes that a deprived sense should not dictate an inability to use technology, rather, technology should adapt to user‚Äôs needs and capabilities. He founded Kriyate with this vision in 2012. Before founding the company, he headed a number of startups in services and products related to the design field. His work has earned him international recognition such as Rolex Young Laureate, TED fellowship, and MIT India TR 35. // Designer + Filmmaker // technology, interaction design, movie making, accessibility, design, entrepreneurship, traveling, information visualisation, social entrepreneurship // Delhi|India

Delhi|India

Sunita Nadhamuni

CEO

NonProfit Manageme, Rural Development, Software Development, WATER AND SANITATION

Clean water activist // CEO of Arghyam, a charitable Indian foundation with a mission to promote safe, sustainable water for all. // CEO of Arghyam, a charitable Indian foundation with a mission to promote safe, sustainable water for all. // Clean water activist // software development, rural, water, water management, sanitation, nonprofit manageme, rural development, community development, water and sanitation, rain water, software, rural community development, water sanitation // Bangalore|Bengaluru|India|Karnataka

Bangalore|Bengaluru|India|Karnataka

Ear surgeon // There are an estimated 1.6 billion people living with hearing loss globally, and 60% of all hearing loss in children can be prevented. Susan Emmett, MD, MPH is committed to addressing this disparity. She serves as Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR, USA. Susan completed residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. During her surgical training, she also obtained a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Bloomberg School‚Äôs Center for Human Nutrition. A native of Tennessee, Susan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University in Molecular Biology and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. She worked in science and health policy at the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Senate before matriculating in medical school at Duke University. Her commitment to global health began as a Duke medical student during a year-long Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Training Fellowship in Moshi, Tanzania. She was thrilled to return to Tanzania in 2017 as a TED Fellow ‚Äì her first visit since moving back to the U.S. in 2009. // Children who live in rural areas can have a hard time getting to the doctor -- much less to an audiologist's clinic for expensive, complex tests to check their hearing. The result for too many kids is hearing loss caused by ear infections and other curable or preventable problems. That's why ear surgeon and TED Fellow Susan Emmett is working with 15 communities in rural Alaska to create a simple, low-cost test that only requires a cell phone. Learn more about her work and how it could change the lives of children who don't have access to hearing care. // There are an estimated 1.6 billion people living with hearing loss globally, and 60% of all hearing loss in children can be prevented. Susan Emmett, MD, MPH is committed to addressing this disparity. She serves as Associate Professor of Otolaryngology and Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, AR, USA. Susan completed residency in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. During her surgical training, she also obtained a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Bloomberg School‚Äôs Center for Human Nutrition. A native of Tennessee, Susan graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University in Molecular Biology and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. She worked in science and health policy at the National Institutes of Health and U.S. Senate before matriculating in medical school at Duke University. Her commitment to global health began as a Duke medical student during a year-long Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Training Fellowship in Moshi, Tanzania. She was thrilled to return to Tanzania in 2017 as a TED Fellow ‚Äì her first visit since moving back to the U.S. in 2009. // Ear surgeon // children, research, rural, rural areas, science, nutrition, policy, public health, low-cost, job skills training // Arkansas|Little Rock|United States|USA

Arkansas|Little Rock|United States|USA

Susie Ibarra

composer + improviser + percussionist educator

Composition, Drumming, Environmental advocacy, Environmental research, Field recording, Indigenous rights + cultural preservation, Music, Nature conservation, Percussion, Performance, Sound art, Sound ecology

2010

Germany

Self-employed; Mannes College of Music | Goddard College

The organization focuses on offering a monthly subscription course starting in February 2023 related to rhythm in nature. They also provide music exploration opportunities, videos, and events. Additionally, they offer a platform for contacting Susie Ibarra for further engagement. // Susie Ibarra is a Pilipinx composer, percussionist, and sound artist. She is the founder of Susie Ibarra Studio and Sound Health Habitat, a cultural studio and journal that focuses on sharing and supporting listening health practices, global soundwalks, acoustic ecology focused on climate, and eco-friendly and sustainable global music practices. She is passionate about supporting fresh water sources, and cultural & environmental preservation for next generations. // Self-employed; Mannes College of Music | Goddard College // Susie Ibarra is a Pilipinx composer, percussionist, and sound artist with a strong focus on promoting listening health practices, global soundwalks, and acoustic ecology related to climate change. As the founder of Susie Ibarra Studio and Sound Health Habitat, she is dedicated to fostering eco-friendly and sustainable global music practices. Susie's work also extends to advocating for the preservation of fresh water sources and cultural and environmental heritage for future generations. // I believe music can be a change agent. My work in recordings sound in nature and composing works that draw attention to and support conservation and also research climate change through sound. // Susie Ibarra is a Pilipinx composer, percussionist, and sound artist known for her dedication to promoting listening health practices, global soundwalks, and acoustic ecology in the context of climate change. Through her initiatives at Susie Ibarra Studio and Sound Health Habitat, she actively fosters eco-friendly and sustainable global music practices. Susie's work extends to advocating for the preservation of fresh water sources, cultural heritage, and environmental conservation for future generations. Her compositions often blend natural sounds with music to draw attention to conservation efforts and research on climate change, showcasing her belief in the transformative power of music as a catalyst for change. // Composer + improviser + percussionist + educator // I am a Composer/Performer , Percussionist and Educator whose musical influences stem from World, Jazz and New Music. I enjoy very much interdisciplinary collaborative work in the Performing Arts and in Research. I lived in NYC for many years and toured frequently as a performing artist. I now live with my family in Kerhonkson , a small country town 2 hours above in the mountains and in the Philippines during parts of the winters. I still do enjoy working with many different communities globally. Thankfully I have found a wonderful school for our son in Woodstock which supports artists lives and travel. In the Philippines I continue to work with and archive traditional folkloric and Indigenous music and culture. I am preparing to set up a Music and Ecology Residency in the Philippines. Just recently I'm delighted to say I received an appointment as a Faculty Member in Bennington College to teach in their Music Department and in the new Center for Advancement of Public Action. Two classes I'll begin with are a World Percussion Ensemble and a class I'll co-teach with the President Elizabeth Coleman, Human Rights; Women and Girls Issues. I enjoy teaching and outreach to young children, highschools and young adults. I am interested in the intersection of tradition and avant-garde,Indigenous and urban, improvisation and composition, acoustic and electronic, oral and written tradtiions, and how these pairings inform and shape music. Through music I have been drawn to the social dialogue and advocacy for cultural and environmental preservation and children's education in the arts. My work can be seen and heard at susieibarra.com songofthebirdking.com www.facebook.com/SusieIbarraMusic @susieibarra Current Work Include: 2012 March Premiere for Re-Visiting Tarab, a new work for mixed ensemble based off Tarab music, commissioned by Tarek Atoui and the Sharjah Art Foundation , Sharjah, Emirates 2012 Hidden Truths, A surround sound composition and performance co-commissioned by Harvestworks and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council 2012 Commission for the BT River of Music Festival with Arun Ghosh, for the opening celebrations of the London Olympics 2013 World Drum Project, A Site Specific Partiicipatory Performance piece to involve 12 percussion ensembles live, a parade and a new composition for the multi-ensemble in EMPAC // Susie Ibarra is a Filipinx composer, drummer/percussionist, and sound artist who creates live and immersive music that invites people to connect to their natural and built environments. Ibarra is passionate about working to preserve and support Indigenous music and culture (musika katatubo in the Philippines) and advocating for preserving freshwater towers through sound recording and research around glaciers and fresh water. New works include album releases Rhythm Cycles, a drum solo performance commissioned by the Bagri Foundation and released with OTO Projects UK (2020); and the composer portrait album, Talking Gong, featuring Claire Chase and Alex Peh with Ibarra on New Focus Recordings (2021) and Water Rhythms Listening Room, a multichannel sound installation created mapping 5 water towers source to sink in collaboration with climate scientist Michele Koppes for a 2021 commission for Arko Art Center Museum Seoul Korea Sept-Dec, TED Countdown Climate Conference Edinburgh UK and Fridman Gallery exhibition in Beacon NY Nov/Dec 2021. Ibarra is a 2020 National Geographic Explorer in Storytelling, 2019 United States Artist Fellow in Music, and a 2018 Asian Cultural Council Scholar supported by the Rockefeller Foundation. She is a Senior TED Fellow and a Yamaha, Zildjian, and Vic Firth drum artist. // Susie Ibarra is a Pilipinx composer, percussionist, and sound artist known for her dedication to promoting listening health practices, global soundwalks, and acoustic ecology in the context of climate change. Through her initiatives at Susie Ibarra Studio and Sound Health Habitat, she actively fosters eco-friendly and sustainable global music practices. Susie's work extends to advocating for the preservation of fresh water sources, cultural heritage, and environmental conservation for future generations. Her compositions often blend natural sounds with music to draw attention to conservation efforts and research on climate change, showcasing her belief in the transformative power of music as a catalyst for change. // Composer + improviser + percussionist + educator // freshwater, rivers and lakes, water, percussionist, education, field recordist, sound artist, eco-friendly, sound ecology, urban, habitat, research, music, climate, human rights, rights, composer, women, stem, water sources, youth, composition, advocacy, sound art, children, field recording, girls, percussion, nature, drummer , performance, drums, indigenous, ecology, mountains // USA|Berlin|New Paltz|Germany|New York|Mannheim|New York City

Suzanne Lee

Designer, biofabrication pioneer

Biomaterials, Design and Science collaboration, Living materials, Visioneering new technology for fashion, Wearable technology, biofabrication, design, design R&D

2012, 2011

Designer // Suzanne is the Founder of Biocouture the world‚Äôs first ‚Äòliving materials‚Äô consultancy. Biocouture's unique focus is to bring emergent biomaterials, biodesign and biofabrication to consumer products, working exclusively with material innovators and brands to take materials from the lab to the market. Biocouture is the convener of BIOFABRICATE, the first ever summit dedicated to biofabrication for future consumer products. Biofabrication comprises highly disruptive new technologies enabling design to intersect with the building blocks of life. Suzanne is the author of ‚ÄòFashioning The Future: tomorrow‚Äôs wardrobe‚Äô, the first book to capture the future of fashion through science and technology. It remains a key text for designers, scientists and engineers wanting to glimpse the future of wearable technology. // Suzanne is a designer turned biofabrication pioneer for consumer products. She started growing microbial materials in 2003 coining the term ‚ÄòBiocouture‚Äô. She advises material startups and global consumer brands on the amazing new world of grown materials. A graduate of the celebrated design school Central Saint Martins in London, her work has been featured widely in the media and exhibited globally. Suzanne's ground-breaking book ‚ÄòFashioning the Future: tomorrow‚Äôs wardrobe‚Äô, was the first to articulate the future of fashion through science and technology. She is a TED Senior Fellow, and a Launch Material Innovator - an initiative of NASA, Nike, USAID and the US State Department. For the last 5 years Suzanne has been the Chief Creative Officer of Modern Meadow, a biofabrication startup in New York. In 2014 Suzanne founded ‚ÄòBIOFABRICATE‚Äô, an international summit fostering design, biology and technology. Today BIOFABRICATE offers three pillars: Design, Consult, Learn. // What if we could "grow" clothes from microbes, furniture from living organisms and buildings with exteriors like tree bark? TED Fellow Suzanne Lee shares exciting developments from the field of biofabrication and shows how it could help us replace major sources of waste, like plastic and cement, with sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. // Designer Suzanne Lee shares her experiments in growing a kombucha-based material that can be used like fabric or vegetable leather to make clothing. The process is fascinating, the results are beautiful (though there's still one minor drawback ...) and the potential is simply stunning. // Suzanne is a designer turned biofabrication pioneer for consumer products. She started growing microbial materials in 2003 coining the term ‚ÄòBiocouture‚Äô. She advises material startups and global consumer brands on the amazing new world of grown materials. A graduate of the celebrated design school Central Saint Martins in London, her work has been featured widely in the media and exhibited globally. Suzanne's ground-breaking book ‚ÄòFashioning the Future: tomorrow‚Äôs wardrobe‚Äô, was the first to articulate the future of fashion through science and technology. She is a TED Senior Fellow, and a Launch Material Innovator - an initiative of NASA, Nike, USAID and the US State Department. For the last 5 years Suzanne has been the Chief Creative Officer of Modern Meadow, a biofabrication startup in New York. In 2014 Suzanne founded ‚ÄòBIOFABRICATE‚Äô, an international summit fostering design, biology and technology. Today BIOFABRICATE offers three pillars: Design, Consult, Learn. // Designer // technology, buildings, eco-friendly, cement, design, microbes, wearable technology, design and science collaboration, apparel, living materials, visioneering new technology for fashion, wearables, clothes, design r&d, plastic, trees, biomaterials, science, biofabrication // New York|United States|Brooklyn|USA

New York|United States|Brooklyn|USA

Svati Bhogle

Sustainable development technologist

Climate, Community development, Energy access, Energy efficiency, Energy olicy, Environmental consciousness, Environmental impact, Job skills training, Poverty alleviation, Renewable energy technologies, Rural community development, Sustainable development, Technology, Water management

Technology Informatics Design Endeavour; Technology Informatics Design Endeavour (TIDE); Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay; Sustaintech India Pvt. Ltd; Sustaintech India Private Limited

Bangalore|Bengaluru|India|Karnataka

Taghi Amirani

Documentary filmmaker, physicist

Art, documentary filmmaking, entrepreneurship, global politics, government, history, research, science

2009, 2010

United Kingdom

COUP 53 is a documentary film that delves into the CIA/MI6 coup in Iran in 1953, uncovering never-before-seen archive material that sheds light on the overthrow of the Iranian government. The film not only provides a detailed account of historical events but also reveals dark secrets hidden for 67 years. With the collaboration of renowned figures like Ralph Fiennes and Walter Murch, the documentary transforms into a live investigation, offering insights into Iran's complex relationship with America and Britain. The film has received critical acclaim, being described as a gripping and authoritative masterpiece that combines thoroughness and compelling storytelling. COUP 53 has been praised for its meticulous research, captivating storytelling, and its ability to present historical facts in a thrilling and engaging manner. // Educate the western audience about its own history of imperlalist and colonial crimes in the rest of the world. // Taghi Amirani is a filmmaker known for his documentary "COUP 53," which uncovers the CIA/MI6 coup in Iran in 1953 through never-before-seen archive material. The film not only provides a detailed account of historical events but also reveals hidden secrets surrounding the overthrow of the Iranian government. Collaborating with renowned figures like Ralph Fiennes and Walter Murch, Amirani's documentary transforms into a live investigation, offering insights into Iran's complex relationship with America and Britain. "COUP 53" has garnered critical acclaim for its meticulous research, captivating storytelling, and ability to present historical facts in a thrilling and engaging manner. Amirani's work aims to educate Western audiences about their own history of imperialist and colonial crimes in the rest of the world. // Filmmaker // Taghi Amirani is an Iranian physicist turned documentary filmmaker. He has made over 40 documentaries, a couple of fiction shorts and a handful of commercials. He is from the very first class of TED Fellows. When invited to apply for a Senior Fellowship in 2009, he pitched his first feature documentary, COUP 53. Ten years in the making, the film has just been completed. Edited by the great Walter Murch, COUP 53 tells the story of the 1953 Anglo-American coup d‚Äô√©tat in Iran in unprecedented detail. Described as "politically explosive" and "cinematically innovative," the film will be released in 2019. COUP 53 will have a special personal invitation only sneak preview in Vancouver on Tuesday 16 April at 5:30pm // I‚Äôm a TED Senior Fellow and a documentary filmmaker. Have just finished making COUP 53, my first feature, edited by the legendary multi Oscar winning Walter Murch (Apocalypse Now, The Godfather, The English Patient) and featuring Ralph Fiennes. ‚Äî- Now you can read the boring bio, if you must He is an Iranian physicist turned documentary filmmaker. He has made over 40 documentaries, a couple of fiction shorts and a handful of commercials. He is from the very first class of TED Fellows. When invited to apply for a Senior Fellowship in 2009, he pitched his first feature documentary, COUP 53. Ten years in the making and edited by the great Walter Murch, COUP 53 tells the story of the 1953 Anglo-American coup d‚Äô√©tat in Iran in unprecedented detail. Described as "politically explosive" and "cinematically innovative," the film had its world premiere at the 2019 Telluride Film Festival. 80% of the funding for COUP 53 came from prominent TED donors. In 2023 COUP 53 will be marking the 70th anniversary of the coup in a series of major events and screenings across the US and Europe. // Taghi Amirani is a filmmaker known for his documentary "COUP 53," which uncovers the CIA/MI6 coup in Iran in 1953 through never-before-seen archive material. The film not only provides a detailed account of historical events but also reveals hidden secrets surrounding the overthrow of the Iranian government. Collaborating with renowned figures like Ralph Fiennes and Walter Murch, Amirani's documentary transforms into a live investigation, offering insights into Iran's complex relationship with America and Britain. "COUP 53" has garnered critical acclaim for its meticulous research, captivating storytelling, and ability to present historical facts in a thrilling and engaging manner. Amirani's work aims to educate Western audiences about their own history of imperialist and colonial crimes in the rest of the world. // Filmmaker // research, global politics, history, science, entrepreneurship, politics, documentary, government, filmmaker, artist // United Kingdom|Tehran|London|England|Iran

United Kingdom|Tehran|London|England|Iran

Tahir Amin

Co-Founder & Director

Football, Middle east politics, Patents, IP and Registrated Trademarks, Pharmaceuticals, Photography, Tennis

IP Revisionist // Practising Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, specialising in all intellectual property - IP (trade marks, patents, copyright etc). Co-Founded I-MAK in 2006 to ensure the patent system works for patients in the developing (and developed) world and does not prevent access to affordable medicines. Prior to I-MAK, spent nearly 3 years working on researching IP and the public interest and helped start a civil society intervention in the Indian patent system. I have over 12 years practice experience in the private sector having trained and worked for two of the leading IP firms in the UK and Levi Strauss & Co. // Practising Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, specialising in all intellectual property - IP (trade marks, patents, copyright etc). Co-Founded I-MAK in 2006 to ensure the patent system works for patients in the developing (and developed) world and does not prevent access to affordable medicines. Prior to I-MAK, spent nearly 3 years working on researching IP and the public interest and helped start a civil society intervention in the Indian patent system. I have over 12 years practice experience in the private sector having trained and worked for two of the leading IP firms in the UK and Levi Strauss & Co. // Practising Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, specialising in all intellectual property - IP (trade marks, patents, copyright etc). Co-Founded I-MAK in 2006 to ensure the patent system works for patients in the developing (and developed) world and does not prevent access to affordable medicines. Prior to I-MAK, spent nearly 3 years working on researching IP and the public interest and helped start a civil society intervention in the Indian patent system. I have over 12 years practice experience in the private sector having trained and worked for two of the leading IP firms in the UK and Levi Strauss & Co. // IP Revisionist // photography, middle east politics, affordable, ip and registrated trademarks, pharmaceuticals, football, politics, tennis, patents // United States|New York

United States|New York

Tal Danino

Synthetic biologist

Bioengineering, Cancer, Probiotics, Synthetic Biology

2015

Synthetic biologist // Synthetic biologist using genetically programmed bacteria to create a cancer diagnostic test which, after being ingested, changes the color of urine to signal the presence of a tumor in the body. // Tal Danino's research explores the emerging frontier of combining biology, engineering, and medicine. His work as a synthetic biologist focuses on reprogramming bacteria to detect and treat diseases in our bodies such as cancer. Originally from Los Angeles, Tal received B.S. degrees from UCLA in Physics, Chemistry, and Math, and received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from UCSD. He did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is currently an assistant professor at Columbia University in New York. Tal's work has been published in scientific journals and highlighted in several popular press venues. He actively develops "Bio-Art" projects that share perspectives and stories about science with recent projects featured in the New York Times, WIRED, and the Wall Street Journal. // Liver cancer is one of the most difficult cancers to detect, but synthetic biologist Tal Danino had a left-field thought: What if we could create a probiotic, edible bacteria that was "programmed" to find liver tumors? His insight exploits something we're just beginning to understand about bacteria: their power of quorum sensing, or doing something together once they reach critical mass. Danino, a TED Fellow, explains how quorum sensing works -- and how clever bacteria working together could someday change cancer treatment. // Tal Danino's research explores the emerging frontier of combining biology, engineering, and medicine. His work as a synthetic biologist focuses on reprogramming bacteria to detect and treat diseases in our bodies such as cancer. Originally from Los Angeles, Tal received B.S. degrees from UCLA in Physics, Chemistry, and Math, and received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from UCSD. He did a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is currently an assistant professor at Columbia University in New York. Tal's work has been published in scientific journals and highlighted in several popular press venues. He actively develops "Bio-Art" projects that share perspectives and stories about science with recent projects featured in the New York Times, WIRED, and the Wall Street Journal. // Synthetic biologist // research, technology, probiotics, synthetic biology, science, cancer, bioengineering, disease // New York|United States|USA

New York|United States|USA

Tanzeem Choudhury

People-Aware Computing, Technology for Mental Wellbeing, Ubiquitous Computing

Information scientist // I am an associate professor in Computing and Information Sciences at Cornell University. I received my PhD from the Media Laboratory at MIT. I direct the People Aware Computing group which develops mobile sensing systems for understanding life patterns of individuals, groups, and societies. I specifically focus on analyzing voice patterns for health. I hope to change the way mental health is diagnosed and treated by creating novel wearable and cellphone system that continuously track mental wellbeing. My work has been featured in the Economist, NYTimes, BBC, MIT Technology Review, FastCompany and other popular press. I was recognized in MIT Technology Review's 2008 TR35 list which recognizes 35 most innovative technologist under the age of 35. // I am an associate professor in Computing and Information Sciences at Cornell University and co-founder and CEO of HealthRhythms. I received my PhD from the Media Laboratory at MIT. I direct the People Aware Computing group which develops mobile sensing systems for understanding life patterns of individuals, groups, and societies. I specifically focus on analyzing voice patterns for health. I hope to change the way mental health is diagnosed and treated by creating novel wearable and cellphone system that continuously track mental wellbeing. My work has been featured in the Economist, NYTimes, BBC, MIT Technology Review, FastCompany and other popular press. I was recognized in MIT Technology Review's 2008 TR35 list which recognizes 35 most innovative technologist under the age of 35. // I am an associate professor in Computing and Information Sciences at Cornell University and co-founder and CEO of HealthRhythms. I received my PhD from the Media Laboratory at MIT. I direct the People Aware Computing group which develops mobile sensing systems for understanding life patterns of individuals, groups, and societies. I specifically focus on analyzing voice patterns for health. I hope to change the way mental health is diagnosed and treated by creating novel wearable and cellphone system that continuously track mental wellbeing. My work has been featured in the Economist, NYTimes, BBC, MIT Technology Review, FastCompany and other popular press. I was recognized in MIT Technology Review's 2008 TR35 list which recognizes 35 most innovative technologist under the age of 35. // Information scientist // technology, ubiquitous computing, people-aware computing, technology for mental wellbeing // Ithaca|New York|United States|USA

Ithaca|New York|United States|USA

Teru Kuwayama

Crisis photographer

Afghanistan, armed conflict, communication, complex emergencies, entrepreneurship, hardcore travel, humanitarian response, photo-journalism, photography, plant-based diets, politics, punk rock, technology

2012, 2010

For better and worse, the human species is defined by its capacity to communicate. Across a spectrum of communication practices, from art to journalism, to what is sometimes called information or influence operations in the realm of military and industrial sectors, I study the ways ideas move across networks and the social frameworks that support those human + tech networks. // Teru Kuwayama is a researcher who delves into the intricate dynamics of human communication. His work spans various fields such as art, journalism, and the intersection of information operations in military and industrial contexts. Kuwayama's focus lies in understanding how ideas traverse networks, both human and technological, and the social structures that underpin these networks. His research sheds light on the complexities of communication practices and the mechanisms through which ideas are disseminated in contemporary society. // Crisis photographer // Teru Kuwayama is a photographer from New York. His work over the past decade has focused on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Kashmir. In 2004, while working in Iraq, he designed Lightstalkers, a global, online community of photographers and unconventional travelers. In 2007 he launched the Battlespace project, a traveling exhibition of photographs from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was a 2009‚Äì2010 Knight Fellow at Stanford University, a 2010 TED Global Fellow and a 2010 Ochberg Fellow at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma. He received a 2010 Knight News Challenge Award to launch Basetrack, an online social media project that chronicled the deployment of a US Marine battalion in Afghanistan from 2010 to 2011.¬† He is a 2012-2014 TED Senior Fellow. // OFP 2018 Instagram Community Team 2014 Facebook Strategic Partnerships Team 2013 Hoover Institution Media Fellow 2013 TED Senior Fellow 2012 Dart Center Ochberg Fellow 2010 Knight Newschallenge Award 2010 TED Global Fellow 2010 John S. Knight Fellow at Stanford University 2009-2010 Dorthea Lange-Paul Taylor award 2009 South Asian Journalists Association Fellow 2009 NYC Urban Artists Initiative Fellow 2008 Alicia Patterson Fellow 2006 W. Eugene Smith Fellow 2006 Nikon Storyteller Award 2006 Days Japan International Photojournalism Award 2006 Esquire magazine Best and Brightest, The Iraq Generation, 2004 Marty Forscher award, 2003 New York Foundation for the Arts award, 2002 Yann Geffroy award, 2000 Alexia Award for World Peace 1999 // Teru Kuwayama is a researcher who delves into the intricate dynamics of human communication. His work spans various fields such as art, journalism, and the intersection of information operations in military and industrial contexts. Kuwayama's focus lies in understanding how ideas traverse networks, both human and technological, and the social structures that underpin these networks. His research sheds light on the complexities of communication practices and the mechanisms through which ideas are disseminated in contemporary society. // Crisis photographer // technology, cooking - vegetarian, hardcore travel, photo-journalism, raw, entrepreneurship, communications, humanitarian response, complex emergency, urban, afghanistan, research, photography, social technology, punk rock, policy, species, war, humanitarian, plant-based, oceans, vegan, journalism, plants, politics, plant-based diet, cooking, food, armed conflict, communication, industrial, war and armed conflict // Queens|New York|United States|USA

Queens|New York|United States|USA

Tharanga Goonetilleke

2015

Japan

Opera singer // A Juilliard-trained Sri Lankan opera singer who has sung internationally, including with the New York City Opera, at Carnegie Hall and the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka while providing free master classes, workshops and recitals in South Asia and the US. // A Juilliard-trained Sri Lankan opera singer who has sung internationally, including with the New York City Opera, at Carnegie Hall and the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka while providing free master classes, workshops and recitals in South Asia and the US. // Opera singer

Thiago Mundano

Graffiti artist + activist

Advocacy campaigns, Amazonian rainforest conservation, Cacti and succulents, Curation, Environmental activism, Graffiti, Homeless People, Homelessness and housing, Indigenous rights, Marginalized communitites, Painting, Plastic waste, Recyclables, Recycling waste, Social projects, Street Art

2014

Brazil

Mundano is an artist and activist known for founding projects like Pimp My Carroca, Cataki, Megafone Ativismo, and Parede Viva. They are currently involved in researching various topics. Their work focuses on artivism, addressing issues such as plastic pollution, social injustices, and environmental concerns. Mundano's art often involves reinterpreting historical artworks and creating pieces that raise awareness about pressing issues like plastic waste and the rights of marginalized communities. They advocate for legislative changes to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable practices. Additionally, Mundano is actively engaged in supporting waste pickers and raising awareness about the challenges they face. // Mundano, also known as Thiago Mundano, is a Brazilian street artist known for his impactful and socially conscious work. He gained recognition for his street art in the early 2000s and has been involved in various projects, including painting graffiti on the legislative assembly plaque in Ibirapuera Park, So Paulo. Mundano is the founder of the movement Pimp My Carroca, which involves painting the carts of Brazilian trash collectors in collaboration with other artists. One of his notable murals, Workers of Brumadinho, serves as a memorial to the miners who lost their lives in a dam burst in Minas Gerais, Brazil. In 2021, Mundano created a large mural titled The Forest Brigade in So Paulo using ash from fires in the Amazon rainforest to raise awareness about deforestation. // Fighting for social justice was always what drove me in my work, and trough artivism I try to bring the spotlight to topics like climate change, bringing value to waste pickers and protecting indigenous rights // Thiago Mundano, a Brazilian artist and activist, is recognized for his impactful artivism that addresses pressing social and environmental issues. Mundano is the founder of projects like Pimp My Carroca, Cataki, Megafone Ativismo, and Parede Viva, which aim to raise awareness about plastic pollution, social injustices, and environmental concerns. Through his art, which often reinterprets historical works, Mundano advocates for legislative changes to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable practices. His work also includes supporting waste pickers and highlighting the challenges they face. Mundano's dedication to social justice and environmental activism shines through his art, which serves as a powerful tool for advocacy and raising awareness on critical global issues. // Graffiti artist + activist // A Brazilian street artist and activist who created ‚ÄúPimp My Carro√ßa‚Äù, a crowdfunded, community-led movement to raise awareness about the invisible work garbage collectors do with carro√ßas in Brazil and around the world. // MUNDANO is an artivist, born in S√£o Paulo, Brazil, with worldwide recognition for using his art, his talks, and for standing up against social inequality. Either in a public space, or in over 320 ‚Äò‚Äôcarro√ßas‚Äù of ‚Äúcatadores‚Äù (waste pickers), his work shines a light over societies environmental, social and political issues. As a graffiti artist and activist, he questions and teases public authorities and population‚Äôs behavior through interventions, often carried with impact phrases inspired by local context. The environment and its current worries, as well as the universal human rights, are the base of his activism, which transcends his paints and colors. Mundano is an Ashoka and TED Fellow. Founder of the ngo ‚ÄúPimp My Carro√ßa‚Äù, and ‚ÄúCataki‚Äù, a nonprofit app that became a hit in Brazil, creating a match between ‚Äúcatadores‚Äù, companies, businesses and general society. There over two thousand ‚Äúcatadores‚Äù registered already in more than 400 cities, and these numbers grow organically everyday. Mundano have been awarded with many prizes in different areas, such as public art, human rights, creativity and digital innovation. The tireless artivist have already defined his main life goal: to create an environmental and social legacy with his art. To fulfill this challenge, he‚Äôs been travelling around the globe for the last ten years, giving speeches, making interventions, and exposing his art in over 40 cities in Brazil and the world. facebook.com/pimpmycarroca www.pimpmycarroca.com // In Brazil, "catadores" collect junk and recyclables. But while they provide a vital service that benefits all, they are nearly invisible as they roam the streets. Enter graffiti artist Mundano, a TED Fellow. In a spirited talk, he describes his project "Pimp My Carro√ßa," which has transformed these heroic workers' carts into things of beauty and infused them with a sense of humor. It's a movement that is going global. // Thiago Mundano, a Brazilian artist and activist, is recognized for his impactful artivism that addresses pressing social and environmental issues. Mundano is the founder of projects like Pimp My Carroca, Cataki, Megafone Ativismo, and Parede Viva, which aim to raise awareness about plastic pollution, social injustices, and environmental concerns. Through his art, which often reinterprets historical works, Mundano advocates for legislative changes to combat plastic pollution and promote sustainable practices. His work also includes supporting waste pickers and highlighting the challenges they face. Mundano's dedication to social justice and environmental activism shines through his art, which serves as a powerful tool for advocacy and raising awareness on critical global issues. // Graffiti artist + activist // plastic waste, climate justice, activist organizer, mobilization, forest, recyclables, cactus and succulents, fire, cities, artist - painter, amazonian rainforest, marginalized communities, artivism, indigenous rights, homeless people, activism, graffiti, climate, human rights, curator, rights, environmental policy and advocacy, climate emergency ,waste pickers, policy, advocacy campaigns, recycling our world creating art, waste, climate justice , mining, pollution, deforestation, environmental activism, marginalized, street art, homelessness and housing, advocacy, social justice, social projects, campaigns, plastic, workers, plastic pollution, trash, housing, expose, rainforest, inequality, indigenous, justice, recycling // Brazil|S√£o Paulo|State of S√£o Paulo

Brazil|S√£o Paulo|State of S√£o Paulo

Fellows Talks

We’ve organized Fellows talks into curated playlists to make it easier to find content you’re interested in.

2024 TED Fellow Films Series

Royal Ramey

From prison to purpose through wildland firefighting

Sahba Aminikia

The greatest show on Earth — for kids who need it most

Paule Joseph

Why smell matters more than you think

Mohamed Aburawi

A hospital in the cloud bringing health care anywhere in the world

Lehua Kamalu

What you can learn crossing the ocean in a canoe

Ramin Hasani

How a worm could save humanity from bad AI

Huiyi Lin

What does poverty look like on a plate?

Joel Bervell

A medical mythbuster's mission to improve health care

Erika Moore

Why do some bodies respond differently to disease?

Daro Sulakauri

A lens on Georgia's survival in the shadow of a superpower

Norah Magero

This refrigerator is saving lives

Most Popular TED Fellows Talks of all time

Bel Pesce

5 ways to kill your dreams

Burçin Mutlu-Pakdil

A rare galaxy that's challenging our understanding of the universe

Sonaar Luthra

We need to track the world's water like we track the weather

Will Potter

The secret US prisons you've never heard of before

Usman Riaz + Preston Reed

A young guitarist meets his hero

Genevieve von Petzinger

Why are these 32 symbols found in ancient caves all over Europe?

Shohini Ghose

A beginner's guide to quantum computing

Nanfu Wang

What it was like to grow up under China's one-child policy

Marc Bamuthi Joseph

"You Have the Rite"

Greg Gage

How to control someone else's arm with your brain

Candy Chang

Before I die I want to ...

Shubhendu Sharma

How to grow a forest in your backyard

Greg Gage

Electrical experiments with plants that count and communicate

Prosanta Chakrabarty

Four billion years of evolution in six minutes

Sangu Delle

There's no shame in taking care of your mental health

Shape Your Future

Aparna Hegde

The life-saving tech helping mothers make healthy decisions

Matthew Mazzotta

Playful, wondrous public spaces built for community and possibility

Kathy Hannun

How to heat your home without hurting the planet

Itamar Mann

A new approach to defending the human rights of migrants

Zahra Al-Mahdi

The infinite alchemy of storytelling

Brittany Young

How dirt bikes and STEM ignite ingenuity in Baltimore

Katie Mack

The death of the universe -- and what it means for life

Almudena Toral

Documentary films that explore trauma -- and make space for healing

Naomi Mwaura

A feminist reimagining of Kenya's public transport

Madame Gandhi

Why we must stop dancing to the sound of our own oppression

Aaron Morris

How your body could become its own diagnostic lab

Gowri Shankar

A king cobra bite -- and a scientific discovery

Bianca Tylek

The multibillion-dollar US prison industry -- and how to dismantle it

Feras Fayyad

The real-life superheroes helping Syrian refugees

Rohan Pavuluri

An app that empowers people to solve their legal problems

Sarah Rugheimer

The search for microscopic aliens

Jorge Mañes Rubio

What should humans take to space (and leave behind)?

Daniel Alexander Jones

What to do when everything feels broken

Khalil Ramadi

Electronic pills that could transform how we treat disease