Replicating historical monuments to inspire global change | Roger Michel | TEDxAthens
Each of us has the power to do great things! As Gandhi said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” His faith and moral vision galvanized mass movements that achieved justice and equality for millions. My talk explores how all of us can find these same resources within ourselves to advance the important causes in which we believe. Roger Michel is the Executive Director of the Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA), a UK-based NGO that operates globally, undertaking a broad range of heritage projects, many of which employ novel imaging and fabrication technologies. Frequently working in conflict zones and post-conflict environments, the IDA specializes in the reconstruction/restoration of heritage assets, both physical and intangible.Notable recent projects include reconstructions of the Triumphal Arch of Palmyra, the statue of Allat, the Parthenon sculptures held by the British Museum, endangered Syrian storytelling traditions, and the olfactory experience of spice-rich ancient Ethiopia. The IDA’s principal partners are national governments, the United Nations, and major museums and universities.The IDA has been the subject of cover stories in hundreds of magazines and newspapers, including Newsweek, National Geographic, and the New York Times. Its monumental scale reconstructions have been displayed around the world, including at the United Nations in NYC and Geneva, Trafalgar Square, the US Capitol, the G7 in Florence and the Venice Biennale.Mr. Michel previously served as a senior prosecutor in the United States and was on the faculty at Boston University for 25 years. He lectures regularly on heritage protection policy and is the author or co-author of dozens of articles and books on a wide range of legal and historical topics. He is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Oxford and is an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford. 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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