"This talk centers on a set of questions, such as: What is the role of design and technology in our society? What if public buildings could share our dreams and fears? What if our clothing could sense and respond to our emotions? To explore how design and technology can move beyond problem-solving to ask deeper questions and imagine new possibilities.At the Critical Matter group at the MIT Media Lab, we design across scales—from wearable technology to public art—focusing on how design can spark imagination, provoke dialogue, and amplify unheard voices.AI, Design, Empathy, Fashion, Interactive " Behnaz Farahi is an award winning designer and critical maker. She is an Assistant Professor at MIT Media Lab where she leads the Critical Matter research group. She holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Media Arts and Practice from USC. Her work addresses critical issues such as feminism, emotion, perception and social interaction. Farahi has won several awards including the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum Digital Design Award, Innovation By Design Fast Company Award, World Technology Award. She is a co-editor of an issue of AD, ‘3D Printed Body Architecture’ and 'Interactive Design: Towards a Responsive 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

In this TEDx talk, Victory shares a bold vision for Nigeria’s biotechnology future — one where homegrown research drives local innovation, vaccine production, and global health leadership. Drawing from personal experiences growing up in Lagos and training at MIT, Victory explores the urgent need to strengthen Nigeria’s academic research ecosystem, foster interdisciplinary science, and mobilize the global Nigerian diaspora. "R&D in the Wild" challenges us to imagine a future where Nigeria, and Africa at large, are not just consumers of biotechnology but leaders in it.Academic, Africa, Biotech, Education, Pharmaceuticals, Science, Vaccines Undergrad Student in Computer Science & Molecular Biology, MIT Incoming PhD Candidate in Computational Biology & Medicine, Cornell School of Medicine 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 everything we’ve been taught about aging is wrong?In this paradigm-shifting TEDx Talk, Melissa D. Hall—Medicare expert, speaker, media personality and founder of The Hall Insurance Group—invites us to reimagine aging not as a slow decline but as a powerful, purpose-filled progression.Drawing from her personal journey—watching her grandmother struggle with Alzheimer’s and inadequate healthcare, to eventually becoming an insurance agent and trusted health and wellness guide for seniors—Melissa uncovers the deeper truths about ageism, healthcare, and our cultural resistance to growing older.With heartfelt stories, striking statistics, and real-world encounters with vibrant seniors like the unforgettable Miss Louise Gooch, Melissa reveals how aging can be a time of winding up, not winding down–full of joy, connection, love, and leadership.Melissa challenges society’s outdated narrative: Aging isn’t a problem to fix—it’s a season to embrace and shows us that the future of aging isn’t bleak—it’s bright.A call to action for every generation, this talk empowers us all to prepare better for our senior years, speak louder, and build community and government systems that honor life at every age and stage. Melissa D. Hall is the founder and CEO of the award-winning Hall Insurance Group, a leading firm dedicated to assisting seniors in navigating their Medicare options. Since 2017, Melissa and her team have provided thousands of seniors with personalized Medicare plans tailored to their individual needs. A speaker, thought leader and frequent on-air guest, Melissa D. Hall has shared her expert advice on numerous outlets, including Fox, CBS, Radio One Baltimore, My Carolina, Good Day Baltimore, Roland Martin Unfiltered and more. Melissa is the creator and host of the award-winning talk show “The Golden Report” which highlights the vibrant side of aging. A consummate businesswoman, Melissa has founded, scaled and sold a business, and endeavors to educate and inspire other business owners with courses and workshops to help them master sales, execute client events that convert, and brand themselves to become a household name. 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

The Grass is Greener on Mars: Dawn of Aerial Exploration" invites you to reimagine planetary exploration—through the skies of Mars. From poetic reflections on existential curiosity to the cutting-edge design of Martian drones, aerospace researcher and innovator Dr Vishal Youhanna bridges space science, drone technology, and planetary design thinking. Discover why Mars has become the most explored planet after Earth, and how flying robots, or aerobots, could unlock the terrain that rovers never could. Blending planetary science and space innovation, this talk is a call to dream bigger and fly farther.#MarsExploration #AerialRobots #SpaceInnovation #TEDxCranfield Vishal Youhanna is an aerospace engineer designing aerial robots for extreme environments, from Mars’s thin skies to Earth’s most challenging terrains. He completed his PhD at Cranfield University, developing innovative aerial concepts for Martian exploration.Blending engineering and creativity, Vishal rethinks how we explore remote or inaccessible regions. Passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship, he applies technology to real-world challenges in space and on Earth. He hopes to make space exploration more accessible and inspire the next generation of explorers and problem-solvers. 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

How do you save a failing heart? This talk is about innovation in the cardiovascular space that may one day save your heart, or that of someone you love. It details real-life inventions that allow for human hearts to go on living outside of the body, and bodies to live without a heart.Academic, AI, Health, Heart health, Ideas, Innovation, Medicine, Science, Technology, Transplant Tucker “Cinco” Hamilton is an inspirational leader whose journey from high school dropout to a top national security expert exemplifies the principles of this talk. A former fighter test pilot and Air Force officer ranked in the top 1% of his peers, Cinco has flown over 30 aircraft and led aviation’s largest flight test organization. He spearheaded groundbreaking advancements in AI for the Department of the Air Force, and his work has saved countless lives through innovations in autonomous systems. Beyond his military career, Cinco is a tech executive who helps companies drive transformation by shaping both culture and product innovation. As founder and CEO of STEM-ED, 501c3, Cinco empowers young minds through the Aerospace Robotics Competition. He shares his insights globally, inspiring audiences to realize their full potential. 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

The rising prevalence of mental health disorders among adolescents has emerged as a critical societal concern, with frequent news reports underscoring its urgency. Dr. Xu Kaiwen, founder of Daru Psychology, a Peking University-trained clinical psychology Ph.D., and practicing psychiatrist, addresses this crisis through his groundbreaking concept of "empty heart syndrome" (Kongxin Bing). Drawing on decades of clinical expertise, he contextualizes this phenomenon within adolescent psychology and proposes actionable solutions to combat the growing sense of existential void plaguing younger generations. Dr. Xu Kaiwen, founder of Daru Psychology, is a Peking University-trained clinical psychology PhD and licensed psychiatrist. Growing up in Suzhou's Daru Alley, he developed a profound connection with traditional Chinese wisdom. Committed to bridging Western psychology with Chinese cultural heritage, he established Daru Psychology in August 2018 to develop culturally attuned mental health services, guided by the principles of self-discipline, integrity, and innovation. In 2016, Dr. Xu introduced the groundbreaking "Kongxin Bing" (Empty Heart Syndrome) theory at the New Oriental Family Education Forum, sparking nationwide discussion about adolescent existential crises. This framework has become essential for understanding youth mental health in China. With 27 years of clinical practice, he conducted over 30,000 counseling sessions while training thousands of mental health professionals. His expertise in psychological education and crisis intervention strategies has been sought by educational authorities nationwide, delivering lectures across multiple provincial school systems. 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