Why are one‑in‑four female collegiate runners sidelined by the same pelvic stress injury while their male teammates stay healthy—and why do women still wait years for diagnoses like endometriosis? In this candid lightning talk, MIT machine‑learning master’s student and former varsity distance runner Lily shares how her own back‑to‑back pelvic fractures exposed a systemic blind spot: less than 1 percent of global R&D targets female‑specific conditions, and women are diagnosed four years later than men across 770 diseases. Lily spotlights MIT’s new Female Medicine through Machine Learning (FEML) initiative, showing how AI models trained on inclusive data can: Screen for endometriosis non‑invasively using multi‑omics and symptom data Detect bias in state‑of‑the‑art chest‑X‑ray algorithms that miss Black, Hispanic, and low‑income women Mine wearables and patient‑reported data for personalized insights at scale She then demos the prototype she’s building with classmates and FEML: a private, AI‑powered chat tool that answers birth‑control questions with evidence‑based, personalized guidance—no Reddit rabbit holes required. Lily call to action is clear: “AI systems mirror what—and who—we value.” With the right datasets, validation standards, and equity‑first mindset, we can stop asking women to wait and start delivering the answers their health demands today. Lily Janjigian is working in the Earth Intelligence Lab, conducting computer vision research for agriculture mapping. Lily was a member of the varsity cross country and track & field teams throughout her undergrad, and is a huge fan of distance running. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

A brief talk about knowledge and beliefs. Sahara Idler is a lifelong learner with a deep passion for discovery. She finds inspiration in the world around her, always seeking new knowledge and experiences that expand her perspective. Whether she's diving into a new film, exploring different cultures, or immersing herself in the melodies that move her, Sahara believes that learning is a journey with no limits. Passionate about the power of interpretation, she delves into the theme of subjectivity, sparking conversations that encourage others to see the world through new and diverse lenses. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

A brief talk about immigration and selling yourself. Nicolas Batista is an 18-year-old speaker and founder of The Doral Speech & Debate Initiative, the first public speaking and debate club in his school’s history. As a Brazilian immigrant, he blends speech, music, and entrepreneurship to empower others and create space for self-expression. Whether performing, leading discussions, or mentoring peers, Nicolas uses words to inspire change. He plans to study political science and business to continue building platforms that elevate voices and ideas. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

A brief talk about children's programming and attention spans. Kristen Agudelo is an avid reader with a passion for both writing and analyzing literature. She enjoys examining the intricacies of works throughout the entire spectrum from the novels of Jane Austen to the newest Disney fairy tales. Her achievements include several awards for her original plays, The Half of Me and Ángeles Maracayeros. Kristen lives in Miami, Florida and hopes to continue doing the thing she loves: writing. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

A brief talk that opens for discussion about society's role in school shootings. Sofia Bances is a 17-year-old with a passion for learning in both the classroom and in her everyday world. With a passion for neuroscience, she's a student researcher looking at how behavior affects our society. She is also a competitive ballroom dancer with a nonprofit organization that introduces hospitalized children to ballroom dancing. Having lived through two shootings in her area, she shares findings that indicate that mental health may be a significant factor behind school shootings, but society's behavior towards those struggling may be more significant. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

A talk about "what matters"Abygail Schafir-Mendez is 17 years old and is hoping to pursue a career in forensic science as an FBI Agent. Although not seemingly related to her path, she is an active advocator for both students and adults alike to pursue the idea of public speaking in order to better understand society and all the complex ideas that make it so unique. Through political speeches, social speeches, or even just speaking to the general public, she believes that people may better themselves by listening and understanding the world around them, the good and the bad. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx