Glowing, Glowing, Gone: What We Lose When We Turn On the Lights | Amy Oliver | TEDxUofA
What do fireflies, astronomers, bumblebees, cacti and night clubs all have in common? They all work better in the dark. Luckily, bringing our night skies back is well within our reach. Amy C. Oliver is Director of Smithsonian STARS— Scientists Taking Astronomy to Rural Schools— a program of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, Public Affairs Officer and Science Center Manager at CfA’s Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, and SkyNights Presenter at University of Arizona’s Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. As an informal science educator and communicator, Amy works to bridge gaps in access to science learning opportunities for emerging and future scientists. She is Principal scientific investigator on Dark SkyNet— a cross-border light pollution monitoring network— and Project GLOWworm, which found unexpected glowworms above 8,000 ft. in Southern Arizona. She holds a BA from University of Louisiana-Lafayette, MS from University of Oklahoma, and DEI certification from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Amy was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2021 and currently serves as Chair of the Tucson/Pima County Outdoor Lighting Code Committee. 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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- 13:33How an Evangelical pastor became a trans ally | Kevin R. Scott | TEDxWilsonParkWhat does it take to stand up for those who are vulnerable and misunderstood? In this heartfelt and powerful talk, Kevin R. Scott shares his personal journey as a father to a transgender daughter and an ally to the trans community. From calling out harmful comments to confronting systemic injustice, this talk explores the courage and compassion needed to protect and support transgender people.Scott sheds light on the challenges trans people face today, from legislative attacks to everyday bullying, and highlights the transformative power of simple actions: believing their stories, doing no harm, and using their name and pronouns. Through personal anecdotes and startling statistics, this talk offers a clear call to action: stand up to trans bullies, support trans lives, and be part of a world where everyone is treated with humanity and respect. Kevin R. Scott is an ordained pastor, author, and LGBTQ ally with a master’s degree in exegetical theology. For many years, he served as an executive, writer, and speaker for a well-known nonprofit ministry that trains laypeople to provide ongoing care and support for individuals experiencing emotional and spiritual challenges in a safe and confidential way.As the father of an adult transgender person, Kevin now focuses on creating safe spaces for LGBTQ people and their allies to receive emotional and spiritual care.His most recent book, Awakening Faith: A Guide for Loving Those Who Leave the Church, provides guidance to concerned loved ones on how to create safe spaces for those deconstructing their faith.#TransDayofVisibility #TDOVYou can connect with Kevin on TikTok: @kevin.r.scott 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
- 8:25The magical park that can make a rainy day incredible | Hazel Cottle | TED & TEDxBrightonBeing outside is known to be good for us, but it can be hard to get out of the house on a rainy day. And in countries like the UK, it’s rainy a lot, so we need to think specifically about building environments that work on bad weather days. Enter Puddle Parks, the wonderful public spaces that come alive when the skies open up.
- 10:06The potential of menstrual blood to improve women’s health | Karli Büchling | TED & TEDxBrightonWomen have lagged behind men in medical research for most of modern medical history, and this has lead to diagnostic and treatment gaps. Due to stigma, we also tend to think of menstrual blood simply as waste when in fact it could help us understand and treat various illnesses. To study it, we need to collect and store samples so let’s get to work.
- 6:23A farm that grows people alongside crops | Tom Morphew | TED & TEDxBrightonFarming is about a lot more than just making food. It’s about how we relate to the earth, to the environment and to each other. Through innovative farming practices and a focus on the life-improving benefits of farming, we can be better stewards of both natural and human resources.
- 7:39The power of shoes to change lives | Rishika Bhalla | TED & TEDxBrightonPeople take shoes for granted, but it’s clear how important they are when you don’t have access to them. Shoes are also awesome and allow s to related dto each other. So what if we could combine these things and make sneakerhead culture into a force for good that also delivers high quality shoes to those in need?
- 12:07How to create generational wealth through hair | Jade Buffong | TED & TEDxBrightonBlack women often spend a lot on their hair but always don’t see the benefits of that spending directly in their lives. What if we could empower them to be both consumers and successful business people in the hair marketplace? The first female millionaire built her fortune on a hair care business, and it can be done again.
