What if the simplest questions held the deepest truths? In this poetic puppet performance, Ukrainian soldier and puppeteer Valerii brings to life an angel and a lost human searching for purpose in a chaotic world. Through gentle gestures and quiet wonder, he explores creation, despair, and the power of connection, reminding us that even in the strongest winds, we are never alone when we lift each other.For three years, Ukrainian soldiers have fought for freedom, and supporting their mental health is essential. Ukrainian Army Officer and art therapist Valerii Dzekh offers this support in combat, training, and rehabilitation areas. As part of the Cultural Forces Unit, he arranges art therapy and puppetry performances, conducting over a thousand events in six months. Before his service, Valerii focused on educating children in hospitals and orphanages. Since 2011, he and his wife have run the Small Marionette Theatre, creating 25 children’s shows and five for adults. Valerii studied puppet theatre acting at Kharkiv I.P. Kotlyarevsky National University of Arts and is a member of the NUTWU and UNIMA. 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

In this provocative talk, Joseph argues that modern physics has become trapped in literalism and scientism, mistaking models for reality. Drawing on philosophy and metaphysics, he calls for a return to intuitive, meaningful understanding - and proposes a new role for the philosopher-physicist to help science rediscover its deeper purpose.Joseph Davidson is a Master’s student in Physics with Philosophy from the University of Lincoln. His area of expertise is metaphysics, with an emphasis on how physics and philosophy interact and how we may build a bridge between them that would be advantageous to both. In his bachelor’s dissertation, he attempted to answer questions on how various entities in 21st-century physics are understood in the context of classical frameworks of metaphysics like Descartes’ Substance Theory. Through this attempt, he found that philosophy has a vast and latent potential to disambiguate physics, particularly when it comes to its famously most abstract and unintuitive concepts, like wave-particle duality and quantum entanglement. In his bridging of physics and philosophy, he has twin aims: to shine a light on the utility of metaphysics and to improve the explanatory power of physics. 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 a puppet save a life? In this deeply moving talk, Valerii, a Ukrainian army officer and puppeteer, shares how he uses the power of traditional Ukrainian puppet theatre to heal hearts on the frontline. Blending art and service, he reveals how puppetry has become a form of resistance, remembrance, and hope, offering soldiers and civilians alike a reason to keep going and a vision of the future worth fighting for.For three years, Ukrainian soldiers have fought for freedom, and supporting their mental health is essential. Ukrainian Army Officer and art therapist Valerii Dzekh offers this support in combat, training, and rehabilitation areas. As part of the Cultural Forces Unit, he arranges art therapy and puppetry performances, conducting over a thousand events in six months. Before his service, Valerii focused on educating children in hospitals and orphanages. Since 2011, he and his wife have run the Small Marionette Theatre, creating 25 children’s shows and five for adults. Valerii studied puppet theatre acting at Kharkiv I.P. Kotlyarevsky National University of Arts and is a member of the NUTWU and UNIMA. 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 history could sing? In this joyful and moving performance folk musician theatre company, Boondog Balardeers, breathe life into untold local stories — turning community folklore and forgotten heroes into original songs. From a pub-owner who saved a town with beer, to sailors seeking home, to royal travellers resting in Grantham, these musical tales celebrate identity, memory, and the power of storytelling to keep culture alive.The Boondog Balladeers are a Lincoln-based folk band theatre company with a passion for unearthing stories and sharing them with the world. They aim to take audiences on playful and heartfelt journeys through enchanting songs and stories, reviving and adapting lesser-known folklore tales for modern-day audiences. Their ethos is to create theatre for families and young people that is accessible, fun, and emotionally engaging, crafting memorable, and often bespoke, experiences that place the power of storytelling at their core. 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

Yulia, a Ukrainian artist, reflects on how conflict reshapes creativity, identity, and expression. From abandoned projects and artistic silence to powerful digital illustrations and frontline reflections, she explores how Ukrainian artists are documenting war not just as history, but as lived experience. A story of resilience, transformation, and the urgent need to create in the face of destruction.Ukrainian artist Yuliia Liubchenko holds a Master of Fine Arts and has extensive experience in creative projects. She has dedicated her career to fostering creativity in both children and adults. Before the war, she was the project manager of a democratic school, focusing on developing children’s creativity. She has created collaborative artworks with children and other local Ukrainian artists. However, the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 significantly impacted her work and the broader artistic community. Yuliia has closely observed the career growth of many artists over time and analysed the impact of the war on their creativity 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 does a nation sound like in times of war and healing? In this heartfelt talk, Ukrainian scholar Olga shares how traditional folk songs have long served as tools of unity, diplomacy, and resilience. From early 20th-century tours to performances during the 2022 invasion, these songs carry deep emotional power. Drawing on research and her own experience, Olga shows how music helps communities process trauma - and why listening to Ukraine’s folk songs means truly hearing its soul.Olga is a Professor at the Higher School of Art (Kyiv, Ukraine) and is currently a visiting Professor at Lincoln University. Here, she is studying the practical experience of the “Mobile Art for Peace” project. Using the results of the project and her own research on the history of Ukrainian culture, Olga tries to show the features of Ukrainian folk songs as a unique cultural phenomenon, because Ukrainian folk song is the expression of the history of the Ukrainian nation and an important tool of cultural diplomacy. Now, in the context of Russian armed aggression, Olga’s research shows that Ukrainian folk songs are gaining new meanings. In her research, Olga tries to reveal the therapeutic potential of Ukrainian songs and their capabilities in the process of psychological support, especially for children and youth. 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