A home that can grow with you, pay for itself, and restore Nature | Raul Polit Casillas | TEDxBoston
Buildings are major contributors to global environmental instability, carbon footprint, solid waste, and toxicity increase, yet we need more homes than ever before. Our only practical approach to evolve our dwelling experience during these times of uncertainty is to rethink and redesign architecture from scratch, because it is the framework of human life. Space exploration, advanced robotics, data science, and systems engineering design give us a unique mindset and a set of tools, so we can combine existing and ground-breaking technologies with ancient design principles to dwell better on our planet. How we build our homes directly addresses and fights housing, environmental, resources, and economic interconnected crises globally. Our team is combining top science, deep technologies, and the most forward-thinking design so our homes can grow with us, pay for themselves, and restore Nature, allowing us to enter a new era of economic growth that creates a better world for our children. Dr. Raul Polit Casillas is the founder, CEO, and chief architect of ARQESS – a robotic self-sustainable architecture company. As a NASA space architect and systems engineer, he worked for a decade on highly innovative projects and technologies (e.g., spacecraft 4D printing), where he created and led the JPL Atelier advanced design facility. Raul is a licensed architect with works around the world, furniture designer, art curator, poet, published researcher, and serial entrepreneur. As an awarded technologist he has led many ground-breaking projects (e.g., NASA-Autodesk AI-designed Europa Lander, JPL-Disney program). He holds a PhD in Sys. design Eng. (UNISTRA), MSc in architecture & construction Eng. (UPV), and MSc in space studies (ISU). He is an Amazon MARS and Google SciFoo alumni, holding multiple grants and awards from NASA, ESA, JPL, Caltech, UPV, AIAA, etc. With feet on the ground and head in the stars he is relentlessly committed to improving architecture on Earth and beyond. 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
More from TED
- 11:53Embracing the Unknown Through Intuition | Alexandra Turcanu | TEDxICS Zurich YouthIn her captivating talk, Alexandra Turcanu takes us on a thought-provoking journey through the labyrinth of decision-making. Reflecting on her own experience of choosing between IB subjects, and creating analogies to the quantum world, Alexandra highlights omnipresence of uncertainty. Drawing from ancient philosophers like Aristotle, and modern thinkers like Carl Gustav Jung, she explores the evolution of prudential decisions, and the role intuition plays in tackling pivotal decisions. Alexandra Turcanu is a Romanian-American 16-year-old IB student, whose passions in math, physics, and philosophy are immeasurable. In the future, she hopes to study physics. Beyond academics, Alexandra has a passion for both competitive swimming and violin playing.In this TEDx talk, Alexandra discusses and tackles the complexities that lie within decision-making, referring specifically to the role of uncertainty and the power of intuition whilst making choices. 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
- 10:11What I learned from growing up without social media | Anda Pascu | TEDxICS Zurich YouthIn this talk, Anda Pascu explores her experience as (what sometimes feels like) the world's only teenager without social media, providing a much needed adolescent perspective on the very hot topic of social media use. She discusses the positive and the negative impacts and finally, presents strategies to reach the best of both worlds. Anda is a Romanian student in grade 10 at an international school in Zurich. She moved to Switzerland when she was 7 years old and spent her time learning German and skiing in the mountains. She is now interested in politics, economics, and psychology and hopes to study PPE at Oxford University in the future. In her spare time, she loves to read, draw, and spend time with her friends in the city. In her TEDx talk, she will discuss the nuanced role social media plays in young people's lives from a unique perspective as a teenager without social media. 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
- 3:53Gender Inequality in Education | Martina Magrini | TEDxICS Zurich YouthA fascinating talk about what gender inequality is, where it happens and why. Please consider donating to UNICEF to give girls the opportunities they deserve. (https://www.unicef.ch/en/how-to-help/programs/education-for-girls) Martina is a 12-year-old Italian student. She is currently studying in her second year of middle school at ICS Zürich. She moved to Switzerland two years ago and she had to learn English from the very basis. She has always been fascinated by how teenagers spoke up to support human rights, therefore she wants to raise awaresness about gender equality in education. In the future Martina would like to focus her studies on marketing and psychology. 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
- 8:14Are superheroes symbols of hope or destruction? | Kai Healey | TEDxICS Zurich YouthSuperheroes aren’t just entertainment, they’re a reflection of our changing world. From Superman’s golden-age idealism to Spider-Man’s everyday struggles and the dark cynicism of The Boys, these stories reveal our evolving views on heroism, morality, and power. In this engaging and humorous talk, Kai Healey explores how superheroes mirror society’s shifting values, tracking their transformation across comic book history. Have we lost faith in heroes, or are we simply redefining them? Discover what our favorite superheroes say about us, and the world we live in today. Kai is a Canadian-born student attending Inter Community School Zurich. Besides his passion for superheroes, he enjoys playing rugby and skiing. After completing high school, he plans to pursue electrical engineering at university. Kai's TEDx talk is an exploration of society through the lens of comic book characters. 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
- 5:01The Power of Being You | Inza van den Heuvel | TEDxICS Zurich YouthIn a world filled with social expectations, discovering and embracing your authentic self can be overwhelming. In this vulnerable TEDx Talk, 12-year-old Inza van den Heuvel shares her personal journey of self-discovery after skipping a grade and facing the challenge of fitting in. Inspired by a RuPaul quote, she poses the question, "Who are you? And why is it important to be who you are?" Inza encourages us to embark on a journey of self-reflection, embrace our quirks, find supportive communities to be our authentic selves and more. Her talk sheds light on the importance of overcoming societal expectations and challenges us to explore our true selves, unhindered by the constructs around us. Join Inza on this powerful journey of self-discovery, and learn how embracing authenticity can lead to a better and more fulfilling life. Inza van den Heuvel is a creative spirit who loves to express herself through multiple mediums. When she graduates, Inza would like to study design or creative writing and make a lasting impact on the world. In her TEDx talk she hopes to inspire others to feel comfortable expressing their authentic personalities. 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
- 10:44The Leader and the Led | Melina Wittmann | TEDxICS Zurich YouthThe follower chooses the leader. Political leaders generate influence solely through those willing to follow their narrative. The impact of leaders rests tremendously on the decisions of followers and the consequences of power are a responsibility shared equally between the leader and the led. So why is it that political leaders are able to do so much damage and why is it the followers that always end up suffering the most? Melina is a Swiss student in the International Baccalaureate system at Inter-Community School Zurich. Adjacent to her involvement in Music and vocal performance both in and out of school, she is passionate about Politics and global power dynamics and will pursue this field at University. Her TEDx talk addresses the power of leadership in governance and everyday life and invites the audience to evaluate its impact on the trajectory of societal development. 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
