Emily Mao delivered a heartfelt address at the event, weaving personal anecdotes and global examples to explore “light” as a metaphor for kindness and resilience. Drawing parallels between the animated film The Wild Robot, her piano mentor Alex, and activist Dolores Huerta, she illustrated how perseverance and compassion can illuminate paths for others. Her speech highlighted the transformative power of small acts—like a neighbor’s encouragement or a leader’s advocacy—to inspire hope and drive change. Emily concluded with a rallying call for attendees to embody these values, urging them to “shine brightly” by paying forward the light they receive. Emily Mao is a G3 student at FDIS. 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

James Lin reflected on “light” as kindness and knowledge, sharing how both illuminated his darkest moments. In second grade, a cruel class vote left him isolated—until a friend’s defiant kindness became his “small light.” By fourth grade, he paid it forward, guiding a struggling peer through math, proving even fleeting support can reignite hope. Emphasizing reading as a beacon for limitless learning, he urged others to “live as a light,” echoing Tagore’s wisdom: we never know who our glow might guide from darkness. James Lin is a G4 student at FDIS. 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

如何讓孩子適應變動的未來？DFC 學習法透過「感受、想像、實踐、分享」四階段，幫助孩子發掘潛力，學會解決問題的能力並建立自信心。不僅如此，這套學習法也能讓教師與學生一起共創社會影響力，讓每一間學校都成為最理想的學校。讓我們一起發現教育如何塑造未來，讓每個人都能自信地說「I CAN！」 師大英語系畢業，看到印度Design For Change創辦人Kiran Bir Sethi的演講後，毅然決然離開正規教育體系，為全球孩童創意行動挑戰的臺灣發起人，並創辦臺灣童心創意行動協會。其後陸續獲選第一屆關鍵評論網「未來大人物」、2014年「十大傑出青年」等獎項。 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

Can we invent safer chemistry? Trace pharmaceuticals, pesticides and other everyday chemicals escape into wastewater, eventually making it into drinking water. These compounds are introducing toxicity to ecosystems and in some cases disrupting the endocrine systems of aquatic creatures. Even with wastewater treatment, drinking water supplies and food sources for humans and animals alike are facing contamination. Our solution sets to remove pollutants often involve using more water and chemicals to wash away or dilute problematic compounds. Natural systems have a more efficient approach. By mimicking nature, chemists have developed TAML catalysts to copy and intensify the natural metabolism of chemicals at a deployable scale. In a remarkably easy-to-apply technology, tiny amounts of TAML together with small peroxide concentrations create a reaction that can safely neutralize numerous wastewater pollutants in proportionally vast quantities of water. By fundamentally changing the approach, this new chemistry method has many potential applications and opportunities for global scale and impact. Terry Collins is the principal inventor of bio-inspired TAML activators, the most technically proficient homogeneous oxidation catalysts across both chemistry and biology. He created and followed for 40+ years an iterative oxidation catalyst design protocol that yielded the first TAML activator after 15 years; 30 years on, the protocol continues to advance TAML technical performances for myriad applications. Collins is the Creator-Founder of Sudoc, LLC, the global ambition, highly awarded CMU spinoff company that is scaling TAMLs commercially. Terry Collins taught the first university course at the Chemistry/Sustainability interface, iterating it over 30+ years for understanding and fixing unsustainability within the chemical enterprise. He sees endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as a climate change scale existential threat and spends much of his time working through teaching, research, public service, and entrepreneurship to reduce EDC contamination of people and the environment. 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

Jayoung is an 8th grader from South Korea, and just like any other teenagers, she is “obsessed” with her phone. Having witnessed firsthand the shift in how we consume content, Jayoung will address the pressing issue of our decreasing attention spans. Through her personal experience and in her worldviews, she will discuss how everyone is affected by the way they consume content. From analyzing the different social trends and its impact, to planned interactions between her and the audience, she challenges the audience to reflect on themselves and shares practical ways to reclaim their attention spans. Jayoung is an 8th grader from South Korea, and just like any other teenagers, she is “obsessed” with her phone. Having witnessed firsthand the shift in how we consume content, Jayoung will address the pressing issue of our decreasing attention spans. Through her personal experience and in her worldviews, she will discuss how everyone is affected by the way they consume content. From analyzing the different social trends and its impact, to planned interactions between her and the audience, she challenges the audience to reflect on themselves and shares practical ways to reclaim their attention spans. 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

You don’t need more goals. You need a reason. Rohaan Zuberi shares a talk for anyone feeling lost, stuck, or unfulfilled — whether you have found success or are still searching for purpose. Rohaan shares the Obsession to Impact framework: a practical way to use your passion to find clarity, take action, and build a life of meaning and fulfillment. Rohaan Zuberi is a Data Analytics Team Lead, Mentor, and Life Coach with a mission to help 1 million people turn their ambitions into legacies that matter. With over a decade of experience and a Master’s in Technology Innovation Management, Rohaan blends his professional expertise with a passion for helping people grow in ways that impact their lives. He believes success isn’t just about achievements - it’s about leaving a lasting impact and guiding people to align their actions with what truly matters. 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