Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the UK accounting for 30% of new cancer cases. Despite this, over 1 million women per year ignore NHS screening invitations for early detection of breast cancer at least in part due to the invasive and sometimes painful process of mammography.Prof Simona Francese came to TEDxManchester to discuss an unlikely but highly promising alternative to traditional cancer screening. The collection of fingerprints is already well-known as a classic tool of crime scene investigation, but Simona believes the humble fingerprint has enormous potential to become a new way to screen for breast cancer. The fingerprint screen would be cheaper and far less invasive and could become a powerful new tool in the vital early detection of cancers for millions of women.Simona Francese is Professor of Forensic and Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry at Sheffield Hallam University (SHU), UK. She is the Lead of the Sheffield Multi-Modal Imaging Centre and Head of the Centre for Mass Spectrometry Imaging at SHU. Simona is an expert in the development of MALDI MS Imaging applications and has pioneered its development for the analysis of latent fingermarks and blood to profile criminals. More recently she has engaged in research at the interface between forensics and clinical diagnostics using blood and sweat in fingertip smears to detect cancer and other pathologies. She has generated a combined total of 97 publications and has been awarded a total of ~£1.8m worth of research grants/contracts to date. Her research has been implemented in police casework in UK and Europe and has been partly funded by the Home Office, West Yorkshire Police and The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, UK. Simona regularly seeks to communicate her work to wider audience including a presentation at the main TED Conference in Vancouver in 2018 and at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in 2023 on molecular fingerprinting.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

What if trust wasn't just a feature we hoped for but something we could build in by design? Nia Luckey invites us to imagine not just smarter tech, but trustworthy tech. She shares a new protocol for building reliable systems and teams that draws from the principles of cybersecurity and applies them to human behavior. Nia Luckey, LSSBB, GRCA is a cybersecurity expert and CISO advisor, recognized as a LinkedIn Top Voice. Among many accolades, Nia was named one of the Top 10 Cybersecurity Women Leaders Shaping The Future of Digital Safety in 2025. She is a keynote speaker and author, renowned for her leadership innovations. 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

Passionate about combating the opioid epidemic, Dr. Ward focuses on identifying and promoting policies that can effectively reduce its devastating impact on society. Recognizing that the national overdose crisis continues to claim approximately 100,000 American lives annually—and is a leading cause of the recent decline in life expectancy—he is committed to initiatives that aim to heal and strengthen individuals, families, and communities affected by this ongoing tragedy. Dr. Ray Ward is a physician and a public servant serving as a Representative in the Utah Legislature. With a unique perspective shaped by his dual roles in healthcare and politics, Dr. Ward is deeply invested in shaping effective health care policies. In the legislature, he participates in the discussion and implementation of policies, while in his clinic, he witnesses firsthand how policies affect individuals and communities—sometimes positively, and occasionally proving counterproductive.Passionate about combating the opioid epidemic, Dr. Ward focuses on identifying and promoting policies that can effectively reduce its devastating impact on society. Recognizing that the national overdose crisis continues to claim approximately 100,000 American lives annually—and is a leading cause of the recent decline in life expectancy—he is committed to initiatives that aim to heal and strengthen individuals, families, and communities affected by this ongoing tragedy. 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

Passionate about the intersection of art and science, Kate believes that embracing diverse fields empowers individuals to become forces for positive change. She has applied this philosophy to critical issues like the ecological challenges facing the Great Salt Lake. By creating visual narratives, she simplifies complex environmental concepts, making them accessible and compelling to a broader audience. Through her work, Kate has helped people not only learn about pressing environmental issues but also care deeply about them. Kate Olsen is a student at Brigham Young University (BYU), uniquely combining studies in Illustration and Environmental Science. She currently works as an illustrator for both the Life Science College at BYU and Grow the Flow, where she merges her artistic talents with environmental advocacy. Aspiring to attend law school, Kate aims to leverage her multidisciplinary background to address environmental challenges and drive positive change through policy and public engagement.Passionate about the intersection of art and science, Kate believes that embracing diverse fields empowers individuals to become forces for positive change. 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

Half American Half Japanese student Erika Kim, or Erika Hosokawa in Japan, compares her experiences in US Schools to those in Japan that she attends during Summer vacations and lays out the academic impacts of disrespect in classrooms. Erika Kim/Hosokawa is a student at NeoCity Academy where she serves as Vice President of both the Asian Student Alliance and the Light Music Club. Drawing from her personal experience attending school in both Japan and the United States, Erika explores the cultural and behavioral contrasts between the two systems. Her TEDx Talk, sheds light on how classroom behavior in the U.S. is often perceived through a different lens in Japan and how bridging these perspectives can foster greater respect and learning. Erika also volunteers at a Japanese supplementary school, deepening her connection to education and cultural values. 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

What if your bank account wasn’t the ultimate measure of success, but your impact on the planet was?In this provocative talk, Sandeep Ahuja shares the family moment that collided with the global climate crisis, and sparked a radical idea: Carbon Wealth. A radical reimagining of a world where every choice we make, what you eat, how you build, what you buy, is a transaction measured in carbon. In this world, survival is the ultimate currency, and wealth is earned by preserving the planet.From climate-smart buildings like the Kendeda Building to "low-carbon" carrots, Sandeep argues that this reimagining may be closer than we think. Sandeep Ahuja is passionate about transforming the architecture, engineering, and construction industry— and to save the planet.She is the co-founder and CEO of cove.tool, an AI-driven platform, that integrates energy analysis into the building design and construction process, accelerating decarbonization and reducing costs. By automating up to 50% of sustainability tasks, her work makes high-performance buildings more accessible and scalable.Recognized as an Inc. Top 100 Women CEO, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and an Atlanta Power 30 Under 30 leader, Sandeep has spoken at the UN Environment Assembly and SXSW.She is co-author of “Build Like It’s the End of the World: A Practical Guide to Decarbonize Architecture, Engineering, and Construction.” 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