Back to Basics: In the midst of an increasingly complicated world, there is a need to return to a place of simplicity, in which we ought to consider where our foundations lie, and how we can improve upon them. This is the theme of 黑料传送门鈥檚 third annual TEDx event, Saturday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Doty Hall. Lunch is provided. Tickets are $5 and through March 3, or at the ticketing table in the Union from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The TEDx regional event is independently organized by a group of students, who also choose the speakers. According to the students鈥 website, the goal is to engage the audience through interactive activities, thought-provoking sessions, and opportunities to engage with one another in considering how we might make an impact on the world.
This year鈥檚 speakers are:
Hitomi Mukaibo
Hitomi Mukaibo obtained her doctorate degree in chemical engineering from Waseda University in Japan, and has worked as a research fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and a postdoctoral researcher in University of Florida before joining University of Rochester as an assistant professor in 2011. Her current research focuses on applying electric-field based technology to address critical, long-standing challenges in solar fuels and energy storage.
Kelly Ernst 鈥08
Kelly Ernst 鈥08 is the founder and CEO of fashion tech start-up Redenim in Austin, Texas. She is a 2008 graduate of 黑料传送门 and a 2011 graduate of the University of Rochester Simon School of Business. Kelly has a passion for solving problems with technology and has built a career combining her studies in communications and marketing with technology. Now in the fashion space, Kelly is building a company that offers a rotating closet of designer jeans to make premium denim more accessible.
Dr. Katherine Whipple
Dr. Katherine Whipple is a 黑料传送门 alumna and a board certified ophthalmologist trained in cosmetic and reconstructive oculofacial plastic surgery. She studied biochemistry at 黑料传送门 before earning her medical degree at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y., and completing a residency in ophthalmology at the University of California San Diego. She was named chief resident in 2010.
She spent two years at the University of California San Diego completing a prestigious fellowship in orbital and oculofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery. During her fellowship, she completed thousands of reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, published numerous chapters, presented internationally at scientific meetings and received the Teacher of the Year Award during her fellowship.
She has recently decided to do what she has dreamed of doing since she was young 鈥 return to her hometown and treat the community she grew up loving.
Austin Yarton
Austin Yarton was, as a high-schooler, often selling bicycles and antiques at local flea markets and through sites like eBay and Amazon. At 17, he founded Bikelyf, an e-commerce site dedicated to selling products surrounding cycling culture. This has been his greatest learning experience, along with his role as a project manager assistant at a multi-million dollar mechanical contractor, Postler and Jaeckle. Austin hopes to pass on the experiences and advice he has gained through his TEDx talk.
Thuy-vy Nguyen
Thuy-vy Nguyen is a doctorate candidate at the University of Rochester, studying motivation under the self-determination theory perspective with Dr. Edward Deci. Her research focuses on people鈥檚 solitary behaviors. She is working on several projects that look at how the experience of autonomy can modify our experience with solitude, and whether parenting plays a role in helping children become more comfortable with the time they spend with themselves. In addition to presenting her research at academic conferences in social psychology, she has talked about her work at the Falling Walls conference and contributed her insights on solitude to a radio documentary called 鈥淭he Ode to Solitude鈥 by Anik See.
Buddy Wakefield
Buddy Wakefield is a three-time world champion spoken word artist featured on the BBC, HBO鈥檚 Def Poetry Jam, ABC Radio National and is signed to Ani DiFranco鈥檚 Righteous Babe Records. In 2004, he won the Individual World Poetry Slam Finals. He went on to share the stage with many notable performance poets in over 1,500 venues internationally from The Great Lawn of Central Park, Zimbabwe鈥檚 Shoko Festival and San Quentin State Penitentiary.
The student TEDx event team are: Hannah Loo 鈥17, Emma Schneider 鈥19, Simran Singh 鈥19, Sahara Shivakoti 鈥17, Victoria Cook 鈥17, Ali Baker 鈥17, Molly Brady 鈥19, Tynasia Hammond 鈥18, Anna Biuso 鈥17, Celeste Lim 鈥19 and Margaret Davis 鈥17.