Speakers for TEDxGeorgeSchool Announced
June 6, 2016Three speakers—Dr. Mario Capecchi ’56, Sarah Dohle ’01, and Kevin Lewis ’99—are confirmed for the upcoming TEDxGeorgeSchool conference scheduled for December 3, 2016. “Our general approach for the conference will be ‘innovation’ particularly across the spectrum of science, engineering, design, and mathematics,” said Ralph Lelii, International Baccalaureate (IB) coordinator, English teacher, and TEDxGeorgeSchool curator. Dr. Mario Capecchi ’56, the 2007 Nobel Laureate in Medicine and Physiology, will speak about how his work with genetic manipulation is opening new possibilities in cognitive science, including adaptive strategies for addressing the illnesses of the brain that are so prevalent in an aging society. Also scheduled to attend is Sarah Dohle ’01, a PhD student working on bean breeding and genetics at the University of California Davis. A member of the “bean team” Sarah has been numerous hours of research dedicated to finding bean varieties that are not only more drought tolerant, pest resistant, highly productive, and maintain nutritional value and taste. The final confirmed speaker is Kevin Lewis ’99, assistant professor, earth and planetary sciences at Johns Hopkins University. As a post-doctoral fellow at Princeton University, Kevin was a member of the NASA team that conducted research using the Curiosity rover and his work has found links between climate variability in the thick sequence of sedimentary rocks and the forces that may be responsible for climate change. “A few years ago, I read a biography of Darwin. It was long and exhaustive, and I learned a great deal, but what I took away that sticks is this simple theory. Species that survive are not necessarily the strongest, or the smartest, but the species that is most adaptive to the environment it inherits and shapes,” said Ralph. “I always connect my reading of this biography to my deep interest in TED Conferences. TED allows us to spend time with human beings of incredible intellectual and spiritual diversity, and this knowledge is spread instantaneously across the globe. It is an adaptive mechanism of the first order, I believe.” About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.) About TED TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to “Ideas Worth Spreading.” Started as a four-day conference in California almost 30 years ago, TED (Technology, Education, Design) has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes on a diverse mix of topics. Many of these talks are then made available at no charge at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED. |
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