The Competitive Advantage of Designing for Community | Richard Togman | TEDxLakeheadU
In this compelling talk, Dr. Richard Togman explores how small and medium-sized towns can harness their inherent strengths to foster vibrant, resilient communities. He emphasizes that by intentionally designing for community—through inclusive public spaces, collaborative initiatives, and shared resources—these towns can create environments where individuals feel connected and empowered. Dr. Togman illustrates how such community-focused design not only enhances quality of life but also serves as a strategic advantage in attracting and retaining residents, businesses, and investments. Dr. Richard Togman is the CEO of the Thunder Bay Public Library. He also currently acts as Chair of the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Policy and Advocacy Committee and sits on the Board of the Lakehead Social Planning Council.Previous to his role at the Library, Richard launched real estate start-up 'Rent Panda'. As Co-Founder and CEO, Rent Panda scaled from a 1 person Thunder Bay business to operating in every major city in Ontario within 5 years. Richard also holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and published a book with the world's top academic publisher, Oxford University Press. His book 'Nationalizing Sex' looks at how governments have tried to control and shape demographic growth and decline, why most government efforts fail and what we can do to shape our future. 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
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- 17:10Does free will exist? | Christian List | TEDxTUMDo we genuinely possess free will, or are our actions dictated by the laws of nature? In his insightful talk, Christian List, a Professor of Philosophy at LMU, delves into the intricate debate between free will and determinism. He navigates the scientific challenges to the concept of free will, exploring everything from deterministic physics to the randomness found in quantum mechanics. List thoughtfully considers whether our ability to make choices can truly exist alongside a scientific perspective. By drawing on examples from social sciences and everyday experiences, he argues that science has not disproven free will; instead, it serves as a crucial framework for understanding human behavior.Chair and Co-Director of the Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy. As a professor of philosophy at LMU Munich, Christian’s groundbreaking work explores decision theory, free will, and collective rationality.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
- 17:02How hustle culture suppresses our identity | Lou Pavek | TEDxStetsonUWhile hustle culture promises success to hard-working people, this chase for success often results in constant fight or flight, hindering people from thinking about their needs and goals through limited time and energy. This speaker addresses how hustle culture can impede people’s abilities to truly understand themselves through three components: burnout, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Lou Pavek was born in Edina, Minnesota, and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated summa cum laude from Stetson University in May 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. While at Stetson, she was introduced to research after serving as a Research Assistant on multiple projects with Dr. Garcia and Dr. Eskenazi in the Psychology Department. In her senior year, Lou later served as the first-ever Research Coordinator for Stetson’s Brain Fitness Academy and conducted a research project that, like this talk, studies productivity. Outside of psychology, Lou was involved in FOCUS Orientation, Student Ambassadors, and more. Since graduation, Lou has been a Research Assistant for Dr. Woods and Dr. Gullett at the University of Florida’s Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory. Lou has also volunteered as a crisis counselor, peer reviewer, and assistant at Gainesville’s Civic Media Center. 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
- 14:51From queer censorship to education | Noel Vincente | TEDxStetsonUGrowing up in Brazil, this speaker shares the impact that anti-queer culture and inspirational queer advocates had on their youth. From these experiences, this talk will explore the action and change led by a teenager in Brazil. Noel Vicente, a Stetson student from Brazil, advocates for queer rights and equity in education, shaped by personal experiences of discrimination in a conservative military school. He founded Mentoria Piloto, a free mentorship program helping low-income, mostly queer students from northeastern Brazil access competitive international programs with $40,000 in scholarships and now works with Volusia Pride to empower youth in queer advocacy. Through their experiences, Noel emphasizes the need for public policy reform to create safer and more inclusive educational environments for queer students, especially in light of growing anti-LGBTQ+ policies worldwide. 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
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- 7:12From blind spots to focus: Controlling what you can see | Alexia Sotomayor | TEDxSaintAndrewsSchoolIn this talk, Alexia Sotomayor challenges the way we perceive limitations. She shares how growing up with unilateral vision and navigating setbacks in her Olympic Journey taught her that seeing differently can turn obstacles into opportunities and redefine success. Alexia is a competitive swimmer from Peru and a senior at Saint Andrew’s School, where she is a Residential Life Student. She has spent the past three years training at the highest level while balancing academics and life away from home. Born with unilateral vision, she has to navigate the challenges of depth perception and limited peripheral sight both in and out of the pool. Outside of the water, she has a deep passion for storytelling and loves music and art, perceiving them as different ways to see everything. She is always looking for new ways to challenge her perspective and understanding of the world. She joined TEDx because she believes in the power of ideas to create change and wanted to share her journey of overcoming mental and physical barriers beyond what the eye can see. Through her talk, she hopes to inspire others to rethink how they define success and recognize that sometimes, the biggest obstacles aren’t the ones we can’t see, but the ones we refuse to. 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
