TEDxAtlanta – Largest TED affiliate in Georgia

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TEDxAtlanta 2023: WE RISE

Days

Hours

Minutes

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Friday, May 19 Show Schedule

9:00 am - 9:45 am

Registration and X Zone Activities

Coffee courtesy of Boarding Pass Coffee. Tea courtesy of sTEAp House.

9:50 am - 11:05 am

SESSION ONE: BACK TO BASICS

Many times, the path forward requires a step back to the basics. From the co-making of advice, to breaking generational patterns, to a new take on sound, we’ll hear intriguing ideas that challenge the status quo.

11:10 am - 12:00 PM

X Zone Conversation Break

Yoga in the Refresh Room, Interactive Activities & Tastings from Local Foodpreneurs.

12:00 pm - 1:15 PM

SESSION TWO: The human response

What’s possible when we push through tragedy? Or when we don’t look away. Speakers in The Human Response embody the resilience and strength of the human spirit.

Sydney Scherr, child re-trafficking prevention champion

Isabel González Whitaker, civic evangelist champion

Anant Madabhushi, AI health researcher, biomedical engineer

Dr. Monisha Pujari, palliative care & hospice physician

Performance: Amol Khanapurkar & Sai Ravisankar

1:15 pm - 2:20 pm

X Zone: Lunch & Conversations

Vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options available.

2:20 pm - 3:30 pm

SESSION three: interplay

From the face of innovation to gerrymandering to life lessons from a fish, INTERPLAY boldly challenges assumptions and offers fresh perspective on the non-obvious interconnections that shape our lives.

Alistair Dove, marine biologist

Gerry Chen, roboticist

Debra Lam, inclusive innovation champion

Joe Bankoff, civic leader

Performance: JahWill Fannings

3:30 pm - 4:05 pm

X Zone Conversation Break

Yoga in the Refresh Room, Interactive Activities & Tastings from Local Foodpreneurs.

4:05 pm - 5:05 pm

SESSION four: the future of us

Where can we find inspiration to heal the epidemic of loneliness? How do we untangle the pressures of modern life? The Future of Us offers hope and love and the underscore that our collective future is in each of our hands.

Andrew McConnell, entrepreneur, author

Kris Braman, bee advocate, entomologist

Moe Ari Brown, LGBTQIA++ advocate, therapist

Tara Stoinski, primatologist, conservationist

Performance: Finale

5:10 pm - 6:20 pm

X Zone: Post-event celebration & Conversations

Zero-proof bars (non-alcoholic) and light appetizers.

~30 tickets left. Buy Now.

Speaker Line-up

Session one: Back to basics

ConunDrums

Performance

An all-women drumming group playing West African rhythms in the Atlanta area.

ConunDrums

Performance

ConunDrums is a diverse community of women drawn together by the call of the drum of West Africa. Their high energy, interactive performances are centered on the centuries-old musical tradition of the Mandingue and the teachings of master djembefola Mamady Keita and other master drummers.

Dr. Anthony Law

Laryngologist, research scientist

Dr. Anthony Law’s ground-breaking research is forging a new frontier in laryngeal cancer detection and treatment.

Dr. Anthony Law

Laryngologist, research scientist

Dr Anthony Law’s ground-breaking research is forging a new frontier in laryngeal cancer detection and treatment.

A board certified head and neck surgeon with broad experience in mathematical modeling and computational models, Anthony’s research and clinical interests converge with his focus on applying machine learning to characterize and categorize diseases of the voice box making voice a viable biomarker.

Anthony is a member of the Emory Voice Center team where he treats patients with disorders involving voice, airway, and swallowing using a wide array of techniques ranging from open surgery, endoscopic minimally invasive surgery, and laser surgery.

He also holds a faculty position at Emory University School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology.

Omer Inan

Biomedical engineer, inventor

Leading the wearable technologies revolution in modern healthcare.

Omer Inan

Biomedical engineer, inventor

Omer Inan creates medical devices and systems that improve human health and well-being. He believes that wearable technology can revolutionize healthcare by providing personalized feedback, improving diagnosis, and enhancing treatment.

A smart patch that measures fluid accumulation in the lungs of heart failure patients, a wireless device that monitors joint inflammation in arthritis patients, and a wearable system that can track muscle activity and fatigue in athletes are just some of projects powered by his research.

Omer is Professor and Linda J. and Mark C. Smith Chair in Bioscience and Bioengineering in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Adjunct Professor in the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech.

His work has earned him numerous accolades, including an Academy Award for Technical Achievement and the IEEE Sensors Council Young Professional Award.

Susan Cohen

Entrepreneurship researcher

Leading scholar on entrepreneurship and innovation and one of the foremost experts on startup accelerators.

Susan Cohen

Entrepreneurship researcher

Susan Cohen is a leading scholar on entrepreneurship and innovation and one of the foremost experts on startup accelerators. Her work explores how entrepreneurs and corporate managers can navigate technological transitions and create new markets.

An award-winning faculty member at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, Susan’s research has been published in top academic journals including the Academy of Management Journal, Organization Science and Strategic Management Journal and featured by the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Economist.

Susan is a sought-after speaker regularly presenting at conferences in France, Germany, the United Kingdom and across the U.S. She began her career in product and brand strategy and was a member of Priceline’s founding team.

Resources:
New research evaluates design of startup accelerators

Rob Hardy

Filmmaker

Celebrated director, executive producer and writer Rob Hardy unpacks the greatest role of his life.

Rob Hardy

Filmmaker

Known for his groundbreaking work in on hit shows such as STARZ's Power Book III: Raising Kanan, The CW's All American, and BET Network's The Quad, celebrated director and executive producer Rob Hardy believes that family is the foundation of success.

Rob's directorial genius has been recognized by the industry's top publications with Entertainment Weekly naming episodes of Power and All American on 'The 30 Best TV Episodes" in 2018 and 2020. He continues to direct some of TV's hottest shows, including Prodigal Son, Evil, Shameless, Black-ish, The Flash, and Grey's Anatomy.

A 2014 NAACP Image Award nominee, Rob is credited for being a foundational force in Atlanta's thriving television and film production industry. He is the CEO of Rainforest Entertainment.

Rob's commitment to diversity is reflected in The Amazing Stories Foundation, a nonprofit he co-founded to train and place apprentices from diverse backgrounds on film and TV sets

Credits & Accolades
AAFCA salutes Rob Hardy at 2017 SynergyAwards

IMDB Profile

Rob Hardy Inks First-Look Deal With Lionsgate & Courtney Kemp’s End of Episode, Deadline

Session TWO: The Human Response

Sydney Scherr

Re-trafficking prevention champion

Renowned jewelry designer and educator dedicating her life to ending the re-trafficking of children.

Sydney Scherr

Re-trafficking prevention champion

Sydney Scherr is a renowned jewelry designer and educator who is dedicating her life to ending the re-trafficking of children.

Over the last three decades, Sydney was a sought-after jewelry designer creating award-winning, museum quality pieces for appreciative clients from her studio and teaching college-level jewelry design.

But a chance encounter during her seven-year stint living and teaching jewelry design in Malaysia changed everything. While vacationing in Cambodia, Sydney met the two girls and their mom who sparked her interest in joining the fight against human trafficking.

She is the founder of The Alchemy Design Project, a program that seeks to end the re-trafficking of children in the commercial sex trade by equipping survivors with skills that will help them achieve financial independence when they are reintegrated into the community.

Resources:
Report - Global estimates of modern slavery: forced labour and forced marriage

U.S. Department of State 2021 Trafficking in Persons Report

Isabel González Whitaker

Civic engagement evangelist

Isabel González Whitaker believes engaging civically is not only a right, it is every citizen's responsibility.

Isabel González Whitaker

Civic engagement evangelist

Isabel González Whitaker believes that engaging civically is not only a right, it is a responsibility of every citizen.

She is a dynamic storyteller with a successful journalism and media career spanning over two decades. From covering the fashion runways of Paris and Milan to exploring the cultures of South America and Asia, she has interviewed some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey, and Beyoncé, as well as political figures like former President Bill Clinton.

Her mother’s sudden death when Isabel was 35 years old began her transformative journey from civics neophyte to evangelist. She is the chief operating officer of All in Together, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping voting-age American women with action-oriented, nonpartisan civic education so that they may realize their full potential as leaders shaping our nation.

Resources:
Legislative Advocacy Cheatsheet

Understanding Primaries in Your Statet

Civics (History and Government) Questions for the U.S. Naturalization Test

Anant Madabhushi

AI health researcher, biomedical engineer

Anant’s pioneering work in medical imaging and AI is revolutionizing cancer care.

Anant Madabhushi

AI health researcher, biomedical engineer

What if AI can be used to unlock the secrets hidden in medical images and data that human eyes cannot see? What if the aggressiveness of cancer tumors can be predicted more accurately and treatments tailored more precisely to save lives?

These questions drive Anant Madabhushi's pioneering research which improves diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of cancer and other diseases. He is a faculty member at Emory University’s Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering and Georgia Tech’s College of Engineering.

A world-leading authority on medical imaging and AI with more than 500 scientific papers and 100 patents to his name, Anant received the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society award in 2017 for technical achievements in computational imaging and digital pathology.

Resources:
New AI-based biomarker can help predict immunotherapy response for patients with lung cancer

How people and machines can work together to diagnose diseases in medical scans

Dr. Monisha Pujari

Palliative & hospice physician

Believes that striving to die well is an extension of striving to live well and she has dedicated her life to helping patients proactively manage their decline.

Dr. Monisha Pujari

Palliative & hospice physician

Dr. Monisha Pujari believes that striving to die well is an extension of a life well-lived. She is on a mission to help patients proactively manage their decline with dignity.

With more than a decade of experience as a palliative and hospice care physician, Monisha is known among her peers for her novel approach that offers terminal patients the option of hospice care in the home setting. She currently serves as Longleaf Hospice's medical director.

Monisha is board certified in hospice and palliative care in addition to holding a Hospice Medical Director certification. She received her internal medicine training at the Mayo Clinic.

Amol Khanapurkar & Sai Ravisankar

Performance

Amol Khanapurkar & Sai Ravisankar

Performance

Tabalchi Amol Khanapurkar and flutist Sai Kishore Ravisankar are both accomplished musicians who have separately performed on All India Radio and on various stages in India and the United States. Amol has performed the tabla for former Indian Prime Ministers Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Bharat Ratna Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

Today, despite their respective non-musical careers, Amol and Sai carve out time to collaborate musically as part of various international musical collectives.

Session Three: Interplay

Alistair Dove

Marine biologist

A globally renowned marine biologist and leading authority on the biology of whale sharks.

Alistair Dove

Marine biologist

Alistair “Al” Dove is one of the foremost experts on the whale shark, the world’s largest fish. He is a leading voice in marine research and education inspiring audiences around the world with his passion, expertise and storytelling skills.

From the depths of the Arctic Ocean to the coral reefs of the Caribbean, Al has explored and documented the biodiversity of some of the most inhospitable environments on Earth. His work has contributed to our understanding of the complex and interconnected ecosystems that make up our blue planet.

As Vice President of Science and Education at the Georgia Aquarium, he leads education, research and conservation initiatives and spearheads partnerships with other institutions. His work with policymakers and industry leaders have contributed to advancing sustainable marine resource management and conservation practices.

Resources:
Whale Sharks

Gerry Chen

Roboticist

A dreamer and maker, Gerry envisions a world where we perceive robots as empowering rather than threatening.

Gerry Chen

Roboticist

Gerry is a dreamer and maker. He envisions world where we perceive robots as sources of empowerment rather than threats. .

His fascination with robotics and autonomous vehicles was sparked by a 2006 documentary about the DARPA Grand Challenge featuring self-driving cars. While pursuing his undergraduate degree at Duke University, Gerry co-led the Duke Electric Vehicles team that broke the Guinness Book of World Records for vehicle fuel efficiency in 2018 and 2019.

Gerry is a doctoral candidate at the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing where he studies artist-robot collaboration. He has also authored several publications in the fields of robot art, optimal control, and agricultural robotics.

Debra Lam

Inclusive innovation champion

A force to be reckoned with in the global movement to create a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous future for all.

Debra Lam

Inclusive innovation champion

Debra Lam believes that technology can be a force for good and inclusion.

She is passionate about creating more equitable, resilient and sustainable communities through innovation. Debra has worked with cities nationwide and those in the United Kingdom, Taiwan and Hong Kong on addressing climate change, urbanization and social inequality.

Debra is the founding director of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation in Georgia and previously served as the city of Pittsburgh’s first Chief Innovation Officer.

Apolitical named Debra a top 100 most influential people in digital government. She is an Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia Trend 40under40 honoree and serves on the U.S. Department of Commerce Internet of Things Advisory Board.

Resources:
Smart City Digital Twin Convergence Workshop Report

Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto: Humans Negotiating Autonomous Vehicles is the New Driver's Ed

Small and Smart: Why and How Smart City Solutions Can and Should be Adapted to the Unique Needs of Smaller Cities[abstract only]

Joe Bankoff

Civic leader

Joe believes upholding the tenets of representative democracy is a cornerstone to building more sustainable, equitable and resilient communities.

Joe Bankoff

Civic leader

Joe believes that upholding the tenets of representative democracy is a cornerstone to building more sustainable, equitable and resilient communities.

He is passionate about exploring how culture and innovation can solve global challenges.

Joe has a wealth of experience in law, arts, and technology having served as president and CEO of Atlanta’s Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center and as a senior litigation partner at King & Spalding.

In 2012, he was appointed chair of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at Georgia Tech. Today, he continues to make an impact as a professor of international affairs.

Active in the community, he chairs the boards of the Fulton County Arts Council, which awards over $1 million annually in support of the arts, and the Georgia Foreign Trade Zone.

Atlanta magazine named him to the Atlanta 500 in 2019 and in 2020 he was awarded the Honorary Alumni Award by Georgia Tech.

Resources:
Brennan Center for Justice: Gerrymandering

Opinion: How to Protect Real Integrity of Elections

Opinion: Thoughts on Gerrymandering and Georgia's Constitution

JahWill Fannings

Hip-hop artist

Multi-genre ATL talent!

JahWill Fannings

Hip-hop artist

When not studying for his undergraduate degree in music technology at Georgia Tech, JahWill Fannings is a multihyphenate: Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter-producer, mixing engineer and graphic artist. Not satisfied with just one genre, JahWill’s musical expressions come to life through pop and hip-hop.

Session Four: The Future of Us

Andrew McConnell

Entrepreneur, author

Andrew McConnell believes the keys to living well in a chaotic world lay in the ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism.

Andrew McConnell

Entrepreneur, author

Andrew McConnell believes the keys to living well in a chaotic world lay in the ancient Greek philosophy of Stoicism.

He is the CEO of Rented.com, a company that helps property owners maximize their rental income and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of “Get Out of My Head: Creating Modern Clarity with Stoic Wisdom.” In the book, Andrew illustrates how Stoic principles helped him navigate the peaks and valleys of his entrepreneurial journey and his experiences as a management consultant working with some of the world’s largest enterprises.

Andrew is a contributor to Forbes, Inc., and Huffington Post and also pays it forward as an advisor to early-stage technology companies.

Resources:
Get Out of My Head: Creating Modern Clarity with Stoic Wisdom

Moe Ari Brown

Therapist, LGBTQIA+ advocate

Moe Ari envisions a world where all people experience belonging and love just for being who they are.

Moe Ari Brown

Therapist, LGBTQIA+ advocate

Moe Ari envisions a world where we all embrace our innate authenticity and diversity so that all people experience belonging and love just for being who they are.

He is passionate about helping LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies find their authentic selves and connect with others in meaningful ways. As a transgender, non-binary person and a licensed marriage and family therapist, he brings a unique perspective when helping others navigate identity, relationships and belonging in a diverse world.

An authority on relationships, Moe Ari has featured in a broad array of media outlets from USA Today to Out Magazine to Discover Magazine.

Kris Braman

Bee advocate, entomologist

Kris Braman works at the intersection of pollinator health, ecology and conservation.

Kris Braman

Bee advocate, entomologist

Kris Braman works at the intersection of pollinator health, ecology and conservation.

She leads the Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia. Her research not only advances our scientific understanding of insects, it has also informed public policy on issues such as pesticide use and environmental protection. The sustainable pest management practices developed by her team has helped farmers around the world reduce their reliance on harmful chemicals and increase their yields.

For her contributions in the field, Kris has received numerous awards including the Entomological Society of America’s Distinguished Achievement Award in Horticultural Entomology and Georgia Green Industry Association’s Environmental Friend of the Industry Award.

Resources:
The ultimate bee book for bee enthusiasts and experts alike

Scale-dependent effects of landscape context on urban bee diversity.

Tara Stoinski

Primatologist, conservationist

Renowned primatologist dedicated to saving the world's last gorillas from extinction.

Tara Stoinski

Primatologist, conservationist

Tara has dedicated her life to saving the world's last gorillas from extinction.

A renowned primatologist, she has studied gorillas for over 20 years and her research has been instrumental in developing conservation strategies for these majestic creatures, including the creation of new protected areas and the establishment of community-based conservation programs.

She is the president and CEO of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund.

JahWill Fannings

Hip-hop artist

Multi-genre ATL talent!

JahWill Fannings

Hip-hop artist

When not studying for his undergraduate degree in music technology at Georgia Tech, JahWill Fannings is a multihyphenate: Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter-producer, mixing engineer and graphic artist. Not satisfied with just one genre, JahWill’s musical expressions come to life through pop and hip-hop.

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X Zone

TEDxAtlanta is a multi-sensory experience and the Xperience Zone is where attendees connect over the ideas heard onstage.

Just as Speakers engage the eyes and ears, X Zone Partners engage our other senses.

Svnna Sea Moss

Tasting

Svnna Sea Moss

Tasting

Boarding Pass Coffee

Official Coffee

Boarding Pass Coffee

Official Coffee

Cultured South

Tasting

Cultured South

Tasting

sTEAp house

Artisanal Tea

sTEAp house

Artisanal Tea

KYVAN Foods

Tasting

KYVAN Foods

Tasting

PastrieArt by Ev

Tasting

PastrieArt by Ev

Tasting

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Zero Proof Bar

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Zero Proof Bar

Montane Sparking Water

Hospitality

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