Sailor + artist // A Chilean-American artist who creates large-scale, community-driven art projects that focus on water, urban waterfronts, and land rights. Her projects work to create new spaces for cultures on the margins by moving them onto the water. // Constance Hockaday is a queer Chilean American who grew up on the Southern tip of Texas. She is a powerhouse in organizational transformation. With her unique background in socially engaged art and conflict resolution strategies, she uses participatory design tools to align growing companies around their mission, vision, and organizational culture. She will surprise, challenge, and shake up the place in ways that disrupt entrenched cultural patterns getting in the way of organizational effectiveness and business results. In another dimension, Hockaday works as an artist creating immersive art pieces that confront issues surrounding public space, political voice, and belonging. Currently she is creating Disaster Furniture Showroom, a project that responds to our most intimate ideas about disaster and the future. The project questions how safety, preparedness, and disaster capitalism manifest in the social consciousness. Are we heroes in our fantasies about the future? What motivates people to prepare for the future? How does this fear contribute or impede our ability to take action against climate change and structural violence. // What does inclusive leadership look like? Artist and TED Fellow Constance Hockaday shares how the captain of a trans-Atlantic community raft taught her how to voice her hopes and desires, inspiring a vision of possibility for the future. Hockaday calls for mentors everywhere to step up and invites aspiring leaders to answer one crucial question in order to unlock their agency and power. // Constance Hockaday is a queer Chilean American who grew up on the Southern tip of Texas. She is a powerhouse in organizational transformation. With her unique background in socially engaged art and conflict resolution strategies, she uses participatory design tools to align growing companies around their mission, vision, and organizational culture. She will surprise, challenge, and shake up the place in ways that disrupt entrenched cultural patterns getting in the way of organizational effectiveness and business results. In another dimension, Hockaday works as an artist creating immersive art pieces that confront issues surrounding public space, political voice, and belonging. Currently she is creating Disaster Furniture Showroom, a project that responds to our most intimate ideas about disaster and the future. The project questions how safety, preparedness, and disaster capitalism manifest in the social consciousness. Are we heroes in our fantasies about the future? What motivates people to prepare for the future? How does this fear contribute or impede our ability to take action against climate change and structural violence. // Sailor + artist // land rights, inclusion, violence, water, participatory, climate, design, rights, land, community engagement, conflict resolution, urban

United States

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; The University of British Columbia; University of Oxford; Queen's University; JPL (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory); NASA Ames Research Center; NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The Chief Economist at NASA, Alexander MacDonald, has a background in economics and a strong history of involvement in various NASA programs and reports. He has held positions at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Ames Research Center, as well as at Carnegie Mellon University. MacDonald has authored and edited several NASA reports and received recognition for his work, including the AIAA History Manuscript of the Year Award in 2016. NASA's mission involves exploring the unknown in air and space, innovating for humanity's benefit, and inspiring discovery worldwide. // NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; The University of British Columbia; University of Oxford; Queen's University; JPL (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory); NASA Ames Research Center; NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration // Trying to advance humanity out into space in a collaborative, international, and peaceful manner. What role does the private sector play in space? What role does art play in space/ // Alexander MacDonald, the Chief Economist at NASA, is a distinguished professional with a strong background in economics and extensive experience in various NASA programs. With a notable history of contributions to NASA reports and projects, MacDonald has held key positions at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ames Research Center, and Carnegie Mellon University. His expertise lies in exploring the economic aspects of space exploration and understanding the role of the private sector in advancing humanity's presence beyond Earth. MacDonald's work reflects a commitment to fostering international collaboration and peaceful exploration of space while also exploring the intersection of art and space exploration. // Aerospace economist // Space economist currrently working at NASA on private space exploration // Alexander MacDonald is the Chief Economist at NASA. He is also the Program Executive for the International Space Station National Laboratory. He was previously the Senior Economic Advisor in the Office of the Administrator and was the founding program executive of NASA's Emerging Space Office within the Office of the Chief Technologist. He is the author and editor of a number of NASA reports including Emerging Space: The Evolving Landscape of 21st Century American Spaceflight, Public-Private Partnerships for Space Capability Development, and Economic Development of Low-Earth Orbit. He is also a former executive staff specialist on commercial space at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a former research faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University, and has worked for the Universities Space Research Association while at NASA’s Ames Research Center where he worked on small satellite mission designs and served as the center's first research economist. He received his undergraduate degree in economics from Queen's University in Canada, his master's degree in economics from the University of British Columbia, and was a Clarendon Scholar at the University of Oxford where he obtained his doctorate on the long-run economic history of American space exploration. He was also an inaugural TED Senior Fellow and received the AIAA History Manuscript of the Year Award in 2016. // Long before we had rocket scientists, the idea of spaceflight traveled from mind to mind across generations. With great visuals, TED Fellow and NASA economist Alexander MacDonald shows how 300 years of sci-fi tales -- from Edgar Allan Poe to Jules Verne to H.G. Wells and beyond -- sparked a culture of space exploration. A fascinating look at how stories become reality, featuring a goose machine sent to the Moon. // Alexander MacDonald, the Chief Economist at NASA, is a distinguished professional with a strong background in economics and extensive experience in various NASA programs. With a notable history of contributions to NASA reports and projects, MacDonald has held key positions at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ames Research Center, and Carnegie Mellon University. His expertise lies in exploring the economic aspects of space exploration and understanding the role of the private sector in advancing humanity's presence beyond Earth. MacDonald's work reflects a commitment to fostering international collaboration and peaceful exploration of space while also exploring the intersection of art and space exploration. // Aerospace economist // research, history of astronomy and space exploration, space policy, economic growth, space art, space economics, space history, propulsion, economics of space development, policy, satellite, space exploration // USA|Washington|United States|Arlington|Virginia|District of Columbia

USA|Washington|United States|Arlington|Virginia|District of Columbia

India

King cobra conservationist // I am a king cobra conservationist studying king cobras for two decades. MY WORK: My Ph.D. study reconstructs the biogeographic history of king cobras in Southeast Asia demarcating them into more than one species. I regularly rescue king cobras from distress situations which helps both humans and the king cobra. I conduct specialized workshops called Scientific Training On Reptile Management(STORM) and the King Cobra Bionomics for varied audiences to create awareness and garner support for king cobra conservation. PUBLICATIONS: I have authored and co-authored 15 peer-reviewed scientific papers on king cobras where six were part of a special issue for the 'Hamadryad', a herpetological journal. WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARIES My work has been documented most recently in a wildlife documentary titled, 'Cobra King' on NatGeoWild and Smithsonian Channels respectively. I also feature in wildlife documentaries like the King Cobra and I, Secrets of the King Cobra, One million snake bites, Asia's deadliest snakes, Wildest India, Wild India and Mysteries of Wild India by channels like the BBC, Discovery, NatGeo Wild, Animal Planet, Smithsonian and the National Geographic Channel. ORGANIZATIONS I run two organizations-Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology and Kalinga Foundation (named 'Kaalinga' i.e. king cobra in Kannada) which are an environmental education company and a non-profit organization respectively. Both organizations are based out of Agumbe, Karnataka, India. // A king cobra has enough venom to kill 10 people in a single bite. Recounting his near-death experience after being bitten by one of these majestic yet deadly snakes, conservationist and TED Fellow Gowri Shankar shares the epiphany he had when the antivenom failed: there's more than one unique species of king cobra. // I am a king cobra conservationist studying king cobras for two decades. MY WORK: My Ph.D. study reconstructs the biogeographic history of king cobras in Southeast Asia demarcating them into more than one species. I regularly rescue king cobras from distress situations which helps both humans and the king cobra. I conduct specialized workshops called Scientific Training On Reptile Management(STORM) and the King Cobra Bionomics for varied audiences to create awareness and garner support for king cobra conservation. PUBLICATIONS: I have authored and co-authored 15 peer-reviewed scientific papers on king cobras where six were part of a special issue for the 'Hamadryad', a herpetological journal. WILDLIFE DOCUMENTARIES My work has been documented most recently in a wildlife documentary titled, 'Cobra King' on NatGeoWild and Smithsonian Channels respectively. I also feature in wildlife documentaries like the King Cobra and I, Secrets of the King Cobra, One million snake bites, Asia's deadliest snakes, Wildest India, Wild India and Mysteries of Wild India by channels like the BBC, Discovery, NatGeo Wild, Animal Planet, Smithsonian and the National Geographic Channel. ORGANIZATIONS I run two organizations-Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology and Kalinga Foundation (named 'Kaalinga' i.e. king cobra in Kannada) which are an environmental education company and a non-profit organization respectively. Both organizations are based out of Agumbe, Karnataka, India. // King cobra conservationist // herpetology, environmental education, education, rainforest, evolutionary biology, species, documentary, job skills training, ecology, wildlife // Bengaluru|India|Karnataka

Bengaluru|India|Karnataka

Netherlands

Conceptual artist // There is a nebulous factor that successful artists and Jorge Mañes Rubio have. This factor is a relentless, yet stylish, drive to accomplish something significant, to make a difference, to fulfil a vision—in a big way. It’s inexorable. Jorge recontextualizes the common and overlooked in our society and reveals it to us in a way that makes us know more about what we thought we already understood. And he does it with a warmth or humor that includes us—not excludes or demeans. There’s a compassionate, shared, embracing energy to his art. It draws us in, makes us more aware and more human. Jorge Mañes Rubio is a sort of sociohistorical alchemist. When he travels, he absorbs what he sees and hears, and uses it as raw material to “reimagine what could be instead.” He graduated in Design Products from the Royal College of Art London in 2010, where he confirmed his indefatigable desire to travel beyond the usual scopes of design. In 2014 he obtained the prestigious TED fellowship and a year later the S&R Foundation Washington Award. Rubio has been a guest lecturer at several international conferences, his work is regularly exhibited in galleries, museums and art centers worldwide, and he’s currently artist in residence at the European Space Agency. // “There is a nebulous factor that successful artists and Jorge Mañes Rubio have. This factor is a relentless, yet stylish, drive to accomplish something significant, to make a difference, to fulfill a vision—in a big way. It’s inexorable. Jorge recontextualizes the common and overlooked in our society and reveals it to us in a way that makes us know more about what we thought we already understood. And he does it with a warmth or humour that includes us—not excludes or demeans. There’s a compassionate, shared, embracing energy to his art. It draws us in, makes us more aware and more human.” // One day, humans will explore space en masse and live scattered across the solar system on planets like Mars and beyond. Inspired by his time as artist-in-residence at the European Space Agency, TED Fellow Jorge Mañes Rubio wants to rethink what we need to bring on this grand journey -- and more importantly, what we should leave behind. Mañes Rubio takes us on an Earthbound journey through cultural practices and his own designs that blend science, art and ritual, encouraging a bold reimagining of what a future free of prejudice and exploitation could look like. // “There is a nebulous factor that successful artists and Jorge Mañes Rubio have. This factor is a relentless, yet stylish, drive to accomplish something significant, to make a difference, to fulfill a vision—in a big way. It’s inexorable. Jorge recontextualizes the common and overlooked in our society and reveals it to us in a way that makes us know more about what we thought we already understood. And he does it with a warmth or humour that includes us—not excludes or demeans. There’s a compassionate, shared, embracing energy to his art. It draws us in, makes us more aware and more human.” // Conceptual artist // cultural dialogue, design, science, solar, art // Netherlands|North Holland|Amsterdam

Netherlands|North Holland|Amsterdam

United States

Black Writers Ink is a platform that celebrates independent journalism by sharing opinions and thoughts on current global issues. The organization aims to provide insightful online content on a variety of topics such as health, fashion, food, events, fiction, travel, and education. Subscribing to their newsletters keeps individuals informed and engaged with their content. // I'm advocating for fairness and justice for Black African people and migrants. Through my writing, I aim to expose imperialistic tendencies, exploitation, and the plunder of Africa. // Yasin Kakande is a dedicated journalist and advocate who uses his platform, Black Writers Ink, to shed light on global issues, particularly focusing on the experiences of Black African people and migrants. Through his writing, he addresses topics such as imperialism, exploitation, and social justice, aiming to bring awareness to the challenges faced by marginalized communities. Black Writers Ink serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking insightful perspectives on a range of subjects including health, fashion, food, events, fiction, travel, and education. Kakande's work not only informs but also inspires conversations around fairness and justice for those often overlooked in mainstream narratives. // Investigative journalist+ author // Yasin Kakande is the author of "Slave States: The Practice of Kafala in the Gulf Arab Region and "The Ambitious Struggle: An African Journalist's Journey of Hope and Identity in a Land of Migrants." // In the ongoing debate over refugees, we hear from everyone -- from politicians who pledge border controls to citizens who fear they'll lose their jobs -- everyone, that is, except migrants themselves. Why are they coming? Journalist and TED Fellow Yasin Kakande explains what compelled him and many others to flee their homelands, urging a more open discussion and a new perspective. Because humanity's story, he reminds us, is a story of migration: "There are no restrictions that could ever be so rigorous to stop the wave of migration that has determined our human history," he says. // Yasin Kakande is a dedicated journalist and advocate who uses his platform, Black Writers Ink, to shed light on global issues, particularly focusing on the experiences of Black African people and migrants. Through his writing, he addresses topics such as imperialism, exploitation, and social justice, aiming to bring awareness to the challenges faced by marginalized communities. Black Writers Ink serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking insightful perspectives on a range of subjects including health, fashion, food, events, fiction, travel, and education. Kakande's work not only informs but also inspires conversations around fairness and justice for those often overlooked in mainstream narratives. // Investigative journalist+ author // author, education, food, expose, refugees, journalist, jobs, justice, land, migration // USA|United States|Waltham|Massachusetts|Africa|Boston

USA|United States|Waltham|Massachusetts|Africa|Boston

Mexico

Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca; YLAI / Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative; University of Notre Dame; Oaxacanita chocolate; China Chamber of Commerce and Technology Mexico

The organization is focused on reviving Indigenous Mixtec cocoa traditions in Mexico through a chocolate business in one of the country's poorest regions. They have been recognized by various platforms for their work in combating inequality and promoting local self-reliance through chocolate production. Additionally, they have received awards for their leadership in the Mexican industry and have been acknowledged for their economic contributions to rural Mexico. // Devorador de tacos profesional. Innovador Social a través de Oaxacanita chocolate. Pensador Universal y Miembro de 4 Consejos Directivos de Organizaciones Internacionales. Licenciado en Ciencias Empresariales de la Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca con Diplomado en Liderazgo de la Universidad de Notre Dame. Graduado del programa GSBI Boost para el Desarrollo de Capacidades de Empresas Sociales del Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship de Sillicon Valley. Graduado del programa Mexican Alumni Capacity Building through Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership de la Embajada de Estados Unidos en México. Miembro: Consejo Directivo y Asociado Fundador de la Asociación de Chocolateros del Estado de Oaxaca A.C. Junta Asesora de YLAI. Red de Líderes de Facebook. 1MillionStartups firmante de la 1a Declaración de Emprendimiento Global de las Naciones Unidas. YouthActionNet. YouthLead de USAID y PEPFAR. Asociación Mexicana de Ex Becarios del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos de América. Kybernus. Premio Nacional al Desempeño de Excelencia EGEL-CENEVAL. Becario profesional YLAI (Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative) del US Department of State. Nombrado por el Ex Presidente Barack Obama como Joven Líder de las Américas. Premio UVM 2017 de la Universidad del Valle de México. Nombrado por The International Youth Foundation y Laureate como uno de los 20 mejores emprendedores sociales del mundo en el Global Laureate Fellows. Premio Razón de Ser 2019. Caso de éxito internacional de Facebook. Goula Award 2020, 2021 y 2023. TED Fellow 2021. YABT - TIC Americas Award de la OEA 2021. Young Founders Programme Westerwelle Foundation 2021. Caso de éxito de la World Intellectual Property Organization 2023. Promesa de los Negocios de la Revista Expansión 2023. Beneficiario: Programa para la Creación de Comunidades Creativas en Oaxaca del Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Programa Innovadores Emergentes de Ashoka y American Express. International Visitor Leadership Program del US State Department. ACCELERATE2030 de UNDP e Impact Hub. BBVA Momentum 2020. Trascender Irrazonable de Citibanamex y Unreasonable México. // Somos una chocolatería tradicional ubicada en el municipio de Villa de Tamazulápam del Progreso, Oaxaca. Nos encargamos de la producción de chocolate tradicional de la región Mixteca.Oaxacanita chocolate es un proyecto social fundado el 1° de mayo de 2015 que busca la reactivación de la economía local de la Mixteca Oaxaqueña mediante la contratación de cocineras tradicionales y amas de casa del pueblo de Villa de Tamazulápam del Progreso, Oaxaca, quienes se encargan de elaborar el más exquisito chocolate tradicional de la región.Adicionalmente, en Oaxacanita trabajamos en conjunto con artesanos de la palma de la Mixteca para la elaboración de algunos de nuestros envases y con esto poder contribuir a la compra de sus productos a un precio más justo que eleve el bienestar de este sector.Nuestro actuar ha sido integral y durante nuestro primer año, hemos logrado motivar a la siembra de árboles de cacao en Villa Putla de Guerrero, Oaxaca, con el fin de incrementar la producción de este fruto en el Estado. // La Cámara de Comercio y Tecnología México-China, es un organismo empresarial sin fines de lucro, que representa, promueve y defiende los intereses de sus asociados en:El comercio bilateral de bienes y servicios.El turismo.La industriaTecnología.El buen desarrollo de negocios en general. // Representante del ex alumnado del programa del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos de América para la zona norte de América. // Universidad Tecnológica de la Mixteca; YLAI / Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative; University of Notre Dame; Oaxacanita chocolate; China Chamber of Commerce and Technology Mexico // Germán Santillán is a seasoned professional known for his innovative work in social entrepreneurship, particularly in the realm of Oaxacanita chocolate. With a background in Business Sciences and specialized training in leadership, Germán has been actively involved in various international organizations and advisory boards, showcasing his expertise as a strategic thinker and leader. He has received prestigious awards and recognitions for his outstanding contributions to the field, including being named a Young Leader of the Americas by former President Barack Obama. Germán's impact extends beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, as he has also been involved in programs aimed at fostering creativity, innovation, and sustainable development in communities, showcasing his commitment to social impact and positive change. // In a world that seems more connected and advanced but at the same time has a lots of inequalities, it is important that everyone can participate in the creation of solutions to have a better world. Indigenous cultures are too far from being part of the global community and that is the main reason I believe that some of the most pressing solutions for global problems are already practised by our originary towns in terms of sustainability, governance and social structures. We must hear them, learn from them, respect them and involve them to refresh our ideas of what is the "best" for the world. Probably what we think is ancient, is the future. // Germán Santillán is a distinguished figure in the realm of social entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on revitalizing Indigenous Mixtec cocoa traditions in Mexico through his Oaxacanita chocolate business. His innovative work has garnered recognition for combating inequality, promoting local self-reliance, and making significant economic contributions to rural Mexico. Germán's expertise in Business Sciences and leadership, coupled with his involvement in international organizations and advisory boards, underscores his strategic acumen and visionary leadership. Noteworthy accolades, including being named a Young Leader of the Americas by former President Barack Obama, attest to Germán's outstanding contributions to the field. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Germán is dedicated to fostering creativity, innovation, and sustainable development in communities, emphasizing his commitment to social impact and positive change. // Cultural chocolatier // Germán Santillán is a Social Entrepreneur - Taco Lover, Founder and CEO of Oaxacanita chocolate, social company that through the production of artisanal chocolate contributes to the social, economic and environmental development of proudly indigenous communities of the Mixtec Region of Oaxaca, the poorest region of Mexico. By the creation of a productive and a collaborative chain Germán's social company involves de work of cocoa farmers, traditional cooks and palm artisans who are involved from the cultivation of cocoa to the put in the market of the chocolate. Germán Santillán has a Business Science Degree by the Technological Univesity of the Mixtec (México) and a Leadership Diploma by the University of Notre Dame (USA). In 2016 Former President Barack Obama and the U.S. Government named Oaxacanita chocolate one of the best social projects of Latin America and the Caribbean in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative - YLAI, entrepreneurial initiative with impact in all the continent where Germán Santillán is a Former Alumni Advisory Board Member where he represented the North America region. Currently he is the only Alumni Advisory Leader for the Initiative in all the continent. In 2018 Germán Santillán and Oaxacanita chocolate were awarded with the Laureate Global Fellowship of the International Youth Foundation and Laureate International Universities considering the project as one of the best social entrepreneurial initiatives in the world and also becoming part of YouthActionNet. Germán Santillán is also Founder Member and Board Member of the Association of Chocolatiers of the State of Oaxaca, a non-profit that works for the boost of the chocolate industry in Oaxaca State and which represents more than 10 chocolate companies. As Oaxacanita chocolate develops its work in communities of rural Mexico, the need of social media and internet was very important to reach new costumers, this was the main reason the social company decided to focus their sales efforts via social media, principally Facebook. 4 years after this choice, Facebook selected Oaxacanita chocolate as its Succees Case Worldwide in the Facebook Communities Summit 2019. By 2021, Germán and Oaxacanita chocolate were the winners of the TIC Americas competition of the Young Americas Business Trust InnovAction Challenge, an initiative powered by the Organization of American States, the Summit Americas Secretariat and the Inter-American Foundation, putting the work of Oaxacanita chocolate as one of the best initiatives to solve the recovery of marginalized communities after COVID. He was invited by the Westwerwelle Foundation to be one of their 9 Global Ambassadors promoting entrepreneurship in emerging markets. By 2022, after preseting his first TED Talk in Monterey, California, Germán attended to TED2022 to give the "Farm to la Copa: a cacao experience" Discovery Session and also attended to TED2023 as Ambassador of the TED Fellows Program participating in the Re-Imagination process of the program Selected as the representant of Mexican Youth during the IX Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles and World Intellectual Property Organization success story. In 2024 he was considered a World Economic Forum UpLink Top Innovator and Next Gen Changemaker of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. Oaxacanita chocolate's work and social impact has also been awarded by national organizations like the Premio UVM for the Social Development Award, the Premio Razón de Ser Award of Fundación Merced and the 3 Goula Awards, as Industry Leaders, by the Food Agency Goula. Thanks to the efforts of Germán's team they were a participants of the International Visitor Leadership Program - IVLP of the U.S. Department of State. Graduates of the GSBI Boost Program of the Miller Center of Social Entrepreneurship of the University of Santa Clara. Graduates of the Mexican Alumni Capacity Building through Social Entrepreneurship and Leadership Program of the U.S. Embassy Mexico. Graduates of the ACCELERATE 2030 Program named as one of the best 10 social companies of Mexico by the Impact Hub Monterrey, Impact Hub Geneva and the United Nations Development Program - UNDP. Particpants of BBVA Momentum Program and Trascender Irrazonable Program of Unreasonable Mexico and CitiBanamex. Oaxacanita chocolate is member of entrepreneurial organizations like 1MillionStartups where they sign the First Global Entrepreneurship Declaration at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO, of YouthLead of USAID and of the "Boost With Facebook" Leaders Network. Oaxacanita chocolate's work is part of the Premios Latinoamérica Verde Ranking as one of the best socioenvironmental projects of Latin America. Participant of the OC3 Program of the MIT D-Lab and Connector for Ashoka in Oaxaca State. Allies of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network - SDSN Youth Mexico . Part of the TOP 2030 of the International Youth Agency for Iberoamerica. Considered one of the 20 social projects that is changing Mexico by Entrepreneur Mexico Magazine and one of the Business Promises of Expansión Magazine. Germán's vision for a better world stands by the principle of "the best way to think of myself is to think of others" and they're core values are humillity, honesty, responsability, professionalism, order and transparency. // Dating back more than 800 years, chocolate is deeply woven into the Indigenous history of Oaxaca, Mexico. TED Fellow Germán Santillán talks about his work reviving the Mixtec technique used to prepare this ancient delicacy by training a new generation of local farmers -- helping create economic opportunity and preserve a delicious legacy at the same time. // Germán Santillán is a distinguished figure in the realm of social entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on revitalizing Indigenous Mixtec cocoa traditions in Mexico through his Oaxacanita chocolate business. His innovative work has garnered recognition for combating inequality, promoting local self-reliance, and making significant economic contributions to rural Mexico. Germán's expertise in Business Sciences and leadership, coupled with his involvement in international organizations and advisory boards, underscores his strategic acumen and visionary leadership. Noteworthy accolades, including being named a Young Leader of the Americas by former President Barack Obama, attest to Germán's outstanding contributions to the field. Beyond his entrepreneurial endeavors, Germán is dedicated to fostering creativity, innovation, and sustainable development in communities, emphasizing his commitment to social impact and positive change. // Cultural chocolatier // technology, entrepreneurship, industry leaders, storytelling, job skills training, marginalized communities, social entrepreneurship, economic opportunity, indigenous peoples, farming, sustainable development , leadership, indigenous culture, farmers, covid, economics, marginalized, youth, networking, cacao, businesses, transparency, rurality, rural, science, cocoa, food, governance, indigenous, government, industrial, inequality, chocolate, capacity building // Mexico|Villa de Tamazulápam del Progreso|Oaxaca

Mexico|Villa de Tamazul√°pam del Progreso|Oaxaca

United States

AI engineer + innovator // AI engineer + innovator

United States

Kuwait

Zouz Al-Mahdi is an artist, writer, and filmmaker from Kuwait. Their work includes various art forms such as sketches, poems, and storytelling. They have a significant following on social media and are associated with other artists and creative individuals. // Zahra Al-Mahdi is an English Literature graduate from Kuwait University, College of Arts. She is an artist, writer, and filmmaker, known for her debut graphic novel "We, The Borrowed" published in 2016. Currently, she is working on her online miniseries "Bird Watch." // My approach in creating work is always storytelling from a Birds Eye perspective. I think my role in the world is make reflecting over painful/sensitive topics more palatable through edutainment. I take a mundane, day-to-day concept and dig deep into its history, to ask the right questions about its present form. Revealing that all that we are used to is not "natural" in the axiomatic sense. Thereby making sure that we never take "nature" for granted, and keep stirring our comforts with lively questions. // Zahra Al-Mahdi is an English Literature graduate known for her work as an artist, writer, and filmmaker. She gained recognition for her debut graphic novel "We, The Borrowed" and is currently engaged in creating an online miniseries titled "Bird Watch." Al-Mahdi's approach to storytelling involves exploring everyday concepts from a unique perspective, delving into their historical roots to provoke thought and reflection on sensitive topics. Through her work, she aims to blend education and entertainment to challenge societal norms and encourage critical thinking about the world around us. // Multimedia artist // Artist using satire, dark humor and tactile collage techniques to reveal the unintended impacts humans have on their societies and ecosystems. // TED Fellow Zahra Al-Mahdi was raised by screens -- "storytelling machines" like TV and the internet that shaped her sense of self and reality. Now a multimedia artist and filmmaker, she challenges common historical narratives and brings a multiplicity of perspectives to the surface. In this dynamic talk, Al-Mahdi traces her development as a storyteller using satire, dark humor and tactile collage techniques to expand what we think we know about ourselves. // Zahra Al-Mahdi is an English Literature graduate known for her work as an artist, writer, and filmmaker. She gained recognition for her debut graphic novel "We, The Borrowed" and is currently engaged in creating an online miniseries titled "Bird Watch." Al-Mahdi's approach to storytelling involves exploring everyday concepts from a unique perspective, delving into their historical roots to provoke thought and reflection on sensitive topics. Through her work, she aims to blend education and entertainment to challenge societal norms and encourage critical thinking about the world around us. // Multimedia artist // interdisciplinary artist, nature, birds, and filmmaker. , writer, ecosystem // Saudi Arabia|Berlin|Germany|Kuwait|Jeddah

Saudi Arabia|Berlin|Germany|Kuwait|Jeddah

United States

AI engineer + innovator // AI engineer + innovator

United States

Writer + filmmaker // Mitchell S. Jackson’s debut novel The Residue Years was praised by publications including The New York Times, The Paris Review, and The Times of London. Jackson is the winner of a Whiting Award. His novel also won The Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence and was a finalist for The Center for Fiction Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, the PEN / Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction, and the Hurston / Wright Legacy Award. Jackson’s honors include fellowships from the Cullman Center of the NYPL, PEN, the Lannan Foundation, NYFA (New York Foundation for the Arts), and The Center for Fiction. His writing has appeared in publications including The New Yorker, Harpers, The Paris Review, The New York Times Book Review, and Time Magazine. Jackson is an Assitant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Chicago. // Mitchell S. Jackson’s debut novel The Residue Years was praised by publications including The New York Times, The Paris Review, and The Times of London. Jackson is the winner of a Whiting Award. His novel also won The Ernest J. Gaines Prize for Literary Excellence and was a finalist for The Center for Fiction Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, the PEN / Hemingway Award for Debut Fiction, and the Hurston / Wright Legacy Award. Jackson’s honors include fellowships from the Cullman Center of the NYPL, PEN, the Lannan Foundation, NYFA (New York Foundation for the Arts), and The Center for Fiction. His writing has appeared in publications including The New Yorker, Harpers, The Paris Review, The New York Times Book Review, and Time Magazine. Jackson is an Assitant Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Chicago. // Writer + filmmaker // New York|United States|USA

New York|United States|USA

United States

Anti-surveillance advocate // Albert Fox Cahn is the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project’s ( S.T.O.P.’s) founder and executive director. He is also a Practitioner-in-Residence at N.Y.U Law School’s Information Law Institute and a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr Center For Human Rights Policy, Yale Law School’s Information Society Project, Ashoka, and New Profit’s Civic Lab. Albert started S.T.O.P. with the belief that local surveillance is an unprecedented threat to public safety, equity, and democracy. Albert is a frequent commentator, with more than 100 articles in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Guardian, WIRED, Slate, NBC Think, Newsweek, and other publications. He frequently lectures at leading universities and speaks at leading technology governance forums. Albert previously served as an associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where he advised Fortune 50 companies on technology policy, antitrust law, and consumer privacy. Albert also serves on the New York Immigration Coalition’s Immigrant Leaders Council, the New York Immigrant Freedom Fund’s Advisory Council, IEEE Standards Association P3119 AI Procurement Working Group, and is an editorial board member for the Anthem Ethics of Personal Data Collection. Albert received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School (where he was an editor of the Harvard Law & Policy Review), and his B.A. in Politics and Philosophy from Brandeis University. // Mass surveillance is worse than you think, but the solutions are simpler than you realize, says lawyer, technologist and TED Fellow Albert Fox Cahn. Breaking down the crude tactics law enforcement uses to sweep up massive amounts of data collected about us by our everyday tech, he lays out how new legal firewalls can protect the public from geofence warrants and other surveillance abuses -- and how we might end the looming dystopia of mass surveillance. // Albert Fox Cahn is the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project’s ( S.T.O.P.’s) founder and executive director. He is also a Practitioner-in-Residence at N.Y.U Law School’s Information Law Institute and a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Carr Center For Human Rights Policy, Yale Law School’s Information Society Project, Ashoka, and New Profit’s Civic Lab. Albert started S.T.O.P. with the belief that local surveillance is an unprecedented threat to public safety, equity, and democracy. Albert is a frequent commentator, with more than 100 articles in the New York Times, Boston Globe, Guardian, WIRED, Slate, NBC Think, Newsweek, and other publications. He frequently lectures at leading universities and speaks at leading technology governance forums. Albert previously served as an associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, where he advised Fortune 50 companies on technology policy, antitrust law, and consumer privacy. Albert also serves on the New York Immigration Coalition’s Immigrant Leaders Council, the New York Immigrant Freedom Fund’s Advisory Council, IEEE Standards Association P3119 AI Procurement Working Group, and is an editorial board member for the Anthem Ethics of Personal Data Collection. Albert received his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School (where he was an editor of the Harvard Law & Policy Review), and his B.A. in Politics and Philosophy from Brandeis University. // Anti-surveillance advocate // technology, standards, human rights, ethics, rights, immigration, procurement, governance, law, policy, accounting standards, data collection, politics, national security, technology & law, data, artificial intelligence // New York|United States|USA

New York|United States|USA

United States

Berggruen Institute; metaLAB (at) Harvard & FU Berlin; Ecole normale supérieure; VICE Media; The Rockefeller Foundation; Yale University; Centre on Armed Groups; Penguin Random House; King's College London; McKinsey & Company; Indian Institute of Technology, Madras; TED Conferences; Skoll Foundation; University of East Anglia

Anjan Sundaram is a war reporter and author with a background in mathematics and a Ph.D. in journalism from Yale. He has been involved in various projects such as TED talks, an Artificial Intelligence series, and TV shows focusing on different topics like India's taboos and Cambodia. Sundaram has also published books that have received praise from notable figures. His art pieces are inspired by his reporting on climate justice, showcasing the courage and trauma of environmental defense communities. The artworks incorporate elements from his journalism and personal experiences, creating a visual representation of conflict zones and environmental issues. // Anjan Sundaram is an Indian author, journalist, academic, and television presenter known for his immersive and courageous reporting. He has authored three memoirs of journalism, including "Stringer," "Bad News," and "Breakup," which have received critical acclaim and awards. Sundaram's work focuses on war reporting, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, shedding light on the persecution of journalists and the effects of conflicts on families. He has also ventured into television with series exploring the impact of algorithms and nationalism. Sundaram's writing has been compared to renowned authors like Ryszard Kapuciski and V.S. Naipaul, and he has received prestigious awards for his impactful journalism. // Author. Present TV shows. Mathematician. www.anjansundaram.com // Berggruen Institute; metaLAB (at) Harvard & FU Berlin; Ecole normale supérieure; VICE Media; The Rockefeller Foundation; Yale University; Centre on Armed Groups; Penguin Random House; King's College London; McKinsey & Company; Indian Institute of Technology, Madras; TED Conferences; Skoll Foundation; University of East Anglia // Anjan Sundaram is a versatile professional with experience as an author, television show presenter, and mathematician. With a diverse skill set spanning across these fields, Anjan brings a unique perspective to his work. His expertise in mathematics likely informs his approach to problem-solving and analysis, which is evident in his various projects and endeavors. Anjan's ability to communicate complex ideas through his writing and television appearances showcases his talent for engaging with audiences on different platforms. For more information about Anjan and his work, visit www.anjansundaram.com. // Hold power accountable by shedding light on inspiring humans in some of the world’s bleakest places // Anjan Sundaram is a multi-talented individual known for his work as a war reporter, author, and television presenter. With a Ph.D. in journalism and a background in mathematics, Sundaram brings a unique perspective to his projects. His writing, including acclaimed memoirs like "Stringer" and "Bad News," sheds light on conflicts in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, highlighting the challenges faced by journalists and families in these areas. Sundaram's television series delve into topics such as Artificial Intelligence and nationalism, showcasing his versatility and ability to engage audiences across different mediums. Through his work, Sundaram aims to hold power accountable and bring attention to the stories of individuals in some of the world's most challenging environments. // Author + investigative journalist // Anjan Sundaram (b. 1983, Ranchi, India) is the author of three award-winning memoirs of journalism, Stringer, Bad News and Breakup, and has been called "one of the great reporters of our age" by the BBC foreign correspondent Fergal Keane. He was an Artist in Residence at the Bellagio Center, run by the Rockefeller Foundation, in 2019, and has served as a Fellow at TED, The Berggruen Institute, The Skoll Foundation, and King’s College. Anjan has received a Frontline Club Award, a Moore Prize, and a Reuters Prize, with award citations and critics repeatedly comparing him to the Polish reporter Ryszard Kapuscinski and the Nobel Laureates V.S. Naipaul and William Faulkner. Anjan’s work centers marginalized communities in the world’s greatest but most neglected conflicts. Anjan creates personal, subjective, and non-authoritative narratives to evoke wonder and a sense of inspiration, by immersing audiences in the reporter’s experience on human rights and environmental frontlines. Anjan’s books have been featured by Christiane Amanpour and Fareed Zakaria on CNN, on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and Democracy Now by Amy Goodman. He writes for Granta magazine, The New York Times, and the New York Review of Books. His TED talk received over a million views, and he will speak again at TED about his reporting in 2024. Anjan graduated from Yale University and holds a PhD in creative writing and journalism from the University of East Anglia. // A war zone can pass for a mostly peaceful place when no one is watching, says investigative journalist and TED Fellow Anjan Sundaram. In this short, incisive talk, he takes us inside the conflict in the Central African Republic, where he saw the methodical preparation for ethnic cleansing, and shares a lesson about why it's important to bear witness to other people's suffering. "Ignored people in all our communities tell us something important about who we are," Sundaram says. "A witness can become precious, and their gaze most necessary, when violence passes silently, unseen and unheard." // Anjan Sundaram is a multi-talented individual known for his work as a war reporter, author, and television presenter. With a Ph.D. in journalism and a background in mathematics, Sundaram brings a unique perspective to his projects. His writing, including acclaimed memoirs like "Stringer" and "Bad News," sheds light on conflicts in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, highlighting the challenges faced by journalists and families in these areas. Sundaram's television series delve into topics such as Artificial Intelligence and nationalism, showcasing his versatility and ability to engage audiences across different mediums. Through his work, Sundaram aims to hold power accountable and bring attention to the stories of individuals in some of the world's most challenging environments. // Author + investigative journalist // violence, climate justice, television, entrepreneurship, biodiversity, investigative journalism, marginalized communities, dictatorship, research, war correspondence, press freedom, climate, human rights, rights, environmental policy and advocacy, policy, free speech, war, literature, marginalized, journalism, advocacy, environment, environmental defenders, indigenous, accountability, communication, artificial intelligence, justice, ecology // Mexico|Mexico City|India

Mexico|Mexico City|India

Turkey

Photojournalist // Ed Ou (b.1986) is a culturally ambiguous Canadian photojournalist who has been bouncing around the Middle East, former Soviet Union, Africa, and the Americas. His photography has so far taken him from dark eerie crypts in Madagascar, to radioactive lakes in Kazakhstan, refugee boats in the Gulf of Aden, to animatronic love doll factories in Tokyo. He started his career early as a teenager, covering the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and the fall of the Islamic Courts in Mogadishu, Somalia while he was studying in the Middle East. He first worked for Reuters and the Associated Press, covering a wide range of news stories in the area. He was also an intern at the New York Times. After university, he moved to Kazakhstan, where he documented the tragic consequences of Soviet nuclear weapons testing in Semipalatinsk. Recently, he has been covering the wave of uprisings that has rocked the Arab World. Ed has been the recipient of a Global Vision Award, World Understand Award, and Photographer of the Year Award from POYi, a 1st Place Contemporary Issues award from World Press Photo, and other recognition from the Overseas Press Club, Ian Parry Scholarship, Best of Photojournalism, PDN Photo Annual, UNICEF, among others. He has been selected for a Getty Images Editorial Grant, PDN 30 Under 30, and took part in the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass. In 2011, he was awarded the City of Perpignan Young Reporter Award. In 2012, he was selected for the TED Fellows Programme. He speaks English, Arabic, Mandarin, and gets by in Hebrew and French. He is represented by Reportage by Getty Images. // Ed Ou (b.1986) is a culturally ambiguous Canadian filmmaker who has been bouncing around the Middle East, former Soviet Union, Africa, and the Americas. He is currently based in Jerusalem. He started his career early as a teenager, covering the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and the fall of the Islamic Courts in Mogadishu, Somalia while he was studying in the Middle East. He first worked for Reuters and the Associated Press, covering a wide range of news stories in the area. He was also an intern at the New York Times. After university, he moved to Kazakhstan, where he documented the tragic consequences of Soviet nuclear weapons testing in Semipalatinsk. Recently, he has been covering the wave of uprisings that has rocked the Arab World. Ed has been the recipient of a Global Vision Award, World Understand Award, and Photographer of the Year Award from POYi, a 1st Place Contemporary Issues award from World Press Photo, and other recognition from the Overseas Press Club, Ian Parry Scholarship, Best of Photojournalism, PDN Photo Annual, UNICEF, among others. He has been selected for a Getty Images Editorial Grant, PDN 30 Under 30, and took part in the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass. Recently, he was awarded the City of Perpignan Young Reporter Award at Visa Pour L'Image and the Young Reporter Prize from the Prix Bayeux-Calvados Award for War Correspondents. He is represented by Reportage by Getty Images. // Ed Ou (b.1986) is a culturally ambiguous Canadian filmmaker who has been bouncing around the Middle East, former Soviet Union, Africa, and the Americas. He is currently based in Jerusalem. He started his career early as a teenager, covering the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, and the fall of the Islamic Courts in Mogadishu, Somalia while he was studying in the Middle East. He first worked for Reuters and the Associated Press, covering a wide range of news stories in the area. He was also an intern at the New York Times. After university, he moved to Kazakhstan, where he documented the tragic consequences of Soviet nuclear weapons testing in Semipalatinsk. Recently, he has been covering the wave of uprisings that has rocked the Arab World. Ed has been the recipient of a Global Vision Award, World Understand Award, and Photographer of the Year Award from POYi, a 1st Place Contemporary Issues award from World Press Photo, and other recognition from the Overseas Press Club, Ian Parry Scholarship, Best of Photojournalism, PDN Photo Annual, UNICEF, among others. He has been selected for a Getty Images Editorial Grant, PDN 30 Under 30, and took part in the World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass. Recently, he was awarded the City of Perpignan Young Reporter Award at Visa Pour L'Image and the Young Reporter Prize from the Prix Bayeux-Calvados Award for War Correspondents. He is represented by Reportage by Getty Images. // Photojournalist // nuclear weapons, journalism, storytelling, refugees, nuclear, war, migration // Istanbul|İstanbul|Türkiye|Turkey

Istanbul|İstanbul|Türkiye|Turkey

United States

Dr. Beck Brachman is a scientist and social entrepreneur leading the field of preventative psychopharmacology. She focuses on developing drugs to enhance psychological resilience against stress and prevent mental illness, such as PTSD and depression. Brachman's work emphasizes the importance of stress resilience as an active biological process and highlights the need for treatments that go beyond symptom suppression to address the underlying causes of psychiatric disorders. Through her research, she aims to pioneer a new class of drugs, called alexigents, that could potentially prevent mental illnesses before they occur. // IMPRINT is an organization currently in the process of launching a new initiative. They are actively seeking new employees and encourage interested individuals to get in touch with them. // My work aims to: 1) Revolutionize how psychiatric diseases treated and thought about. (a) Developing the first drugs to prevent PTSD & depression (primary prevention). (b) Leveraging the immune system to treat, cure, prevent, and diagnose psychiatric disorders. (c) Shifting public (and academic) mindsets away from "mind" and towards "body" as the source of psychiatric diseases. 2) Identify hidden causes of chronic diseases (eg, infections that trigger autoimmune disorders). 3) Help usher in the next wave of social finance that, unlike the current iteration, actually captures the value of social good and directly incentivizes impact via market mechanisms. // Dr. Beck Brachman is a pioneering scientist and social entrepreneur at the forefront of preventative psychopharmacology. Her groundbreaking work focuses on developing drugs, known as alexigents, to enhance psychological resilience against stress and prevent mental illnesses like PTSD and depression. Dr. Brachman's research emphasizes the active biological processes involved in stress resilience and advocates for treatments that address the root causes of psychiatric disorders. Additionally, she is dedicated to revolutionizing the treatment and perception of psychiatric diseases by leveraging the immune system to prevent, treat, and diagnose such conditions. Through her innovative approach, Dr. Brachman is not only reshaping the field of mental health but also contributing to the advancement of social finance models that incentivize impactful social good through market mechanisms. // Neuroscientist + entrepreneur // Rebecca Brachman is a pioneer in the field of preventative psychopharmacology, developing drugs to enhance stress resilience and prevent mental illness. Current treatments for mood disorders only suppress symptoms without addressing the underlying disease, and there are no known cures. The drugs Rebecca discovered could be the first to prevent psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Rebecca completed her PhD at Columbia University, prior to which, she was a fellow at the National Institutes of Health, where she discovered that immune cells carry a memory of psychological stress and that white blood cells can act as antidepressants and resilience-enhancers. Rebecca's research has been featured in The Atlantic, WIRED and Business Insider, and her work was recently described on NPR as a "moonshot project that is very much needed in the mental health arena." In addition to conducting ongoing research at Columbia, Rebecca is an NYCEDC Entrepreneurship Lab Fellow and cofounder of Aision -- a NYC biotech startup launched from Columbia University, whose mission is to develop the first drugs that would prevent mental illness. She is also working on a non-profit venture to create novel financial tools to fund scientific research and to repurpose generic drugs, and previously served as the Interim Program Director for Outreach at the Zuckerman Institute at Columbia University. Rebecca is also a playwright and screenwriter. She holds Bachelor's degrees in both neuroscience and creative writing, and she is currently working on a tech-focused writing project with her long-time writing partner, Sean Calder ("Grimm," "Damages," "ER"). She served as the director of NeuWrite, a national network of science-writing groups that fosters ongoing collaboration between scientists, writers and artists, and she has been featured as a storyteller at The Story Collider. Rebecca is a 2017 TED fellow. // Current treatments for depression and PTSD only suppress symptoms, if they work at all. What if we could prevent these diseases from developing altogether? Neuroscientist and TED Fellow Rebecca Brachman shares the story of her team's accidental discovery of a new class of drug that, for the first time ever, could prevent the negative effects of stress -- and boost a person's ability to recover and grow. Learn how these resilience-enhancing drugs could change the way we treat mental illness. // The path to better medicine is paved with accidental yet revolutionary discoveries. In this well-told tale of how science happens, neuroscientist Rebecca Brachman shares news of a serendipitous breakthrough treatment that may prevent mental disorders like depression and PTSD from ever developing. And listen for an unexpected -- and controversial -- twist. // Dr. Beck Brachman is a pioneering scientist and social entrepreneur at the forefront of preventative psychopharmacology. Her groundbreaking work focuses on developing drugs, known as alexigents, to enhance psychological resilience against stress and prevent mental illnesses like PTSD and depression. Dr. Brachman's research emphasizes the active biological processes involved in stress resilience and advocates for treatments that address the root causes of psychiatric disorders. Additionally, she is dedicated to revolutionizing the treatment and perception of psychiatric diseases by leveraging the immune system to prevent, treat, and diagnose such conditions. Through her innovative approach, Dr. Brachman is not only reshaping the field of mental health but also contributing to the advancement of social finance models that incentivize impactful social good through market mechanisms. // Neuroscientist + entrepreneur // research, mental health, resilience, entrepreneurship, biotech, science, immunology, focused research organization, founder, preventing depression and ptsd, neuroscience, disease, social entrepreneur, finance // Los Angeles|San Francisco|USA|New York|California|United States

Los Angeles|San Francisco|USA|New York|California|United States