This urgent talk exposes the human cost behind the drug’s global demand—displacement, violence, and the deep scars of narco-trauma. With raw insight and personal conviction, Nicolas Bermudez calls on global consumers to recognise their role in a hidden economy that’s devastating his country. Nicolas Bermudez is currently pursuing his MBA at London Business School, has experience across consulting, financial planning, and startup operations. Beyond work, he has a passion for education, sports, and tech, and has served on the board of the Colombia Waterski Federation. 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

Think maths and literature don’t mix? Think again. This mind-expanding talk reveals how mathematical beauty underpins poetic rhythm, narrative structure, and even the page-turning suspense of your favourite novels. Sarah Hart is a mathematician and author. She is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Birkbeck College (University of London), and a Fellow of Gresham College, London, where she recently served a four-year term as Professor of Geometry, the first woman to hold this chair since its creation in 1597. Sarah is particularly interested in the cultural, historical and creative impact of mathematics, and the links between mathematics and the arts. Her first book, Once Upon a Prime: The Wondrous Connections Between Mathematics and Literature, published in 2023, was a New York Times Book review Editor’s Choice, and won the Mathematical Association of America’s Euler Book Prize in 2024. 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

Could your office be quietly holding you back? This talk breaks down the science of design—showing how aesthetics, layout, and lighting shape not just productivity, but power. It’s time to rethink the rooms we work in. Dr. Bukky Akinsanmi Oyedeji is a strategy scholar who studies the relationship between human capital, workplace design, and firm performance. Her research focuses on how complementary firm resources – including physical work environments – affect the value created by a worker, in both established firms and start-ups. Dr. Oyedeji’s work combines architectural and urban design methodologies with econometric approaches to understand how human assets, workflow processes and spatial layouts affect human interaction and firm performance. Her research has been supported by the Strategy Research Foundation, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development population dynamics program as well as other research grants. Her findings are published in academic journals including Academy of Management Journal and Journal of Management as well as practitioner outlets in management and architecture. 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 it mean to truly reconnect with yourself? Through powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics, Milli-Rose Rubin takes you on a musical journey through self-reflection, resilience, and healing. Milli-Rose is a musician and writer, who combines both singing and spoken word in her music. Using her personal experiences, Milli-Rose writes and performs material around the topics of mental health, the housing crisis in the UK, and how creativity has sustained a form of therapy throughout uncertain chapters.Through writing and music, Milli-Rose explores these topical issues, which has led to creative facilitation work with young people as well as the creation of music and poetry platform Crossword Lyric, that aims to encourage unfinished work to get rid of perfection in the arts, and build confidence. 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 do toilet paper, sugar beets, and mobile phones have in common? They're all clues in a global puzzle about how the world really works. This thought-provoking talk reveals the fragile beauty—and hidden costs—of the manufactured world we depend on, and offers three powerful reasons to be hopeful about what comes next. Tim Minshall works at the University of Cambridge as the inaugural Dr. John C. Taylor Professor of Innovation, the head of the Engineering Department’s Institute for Manufacturing, and a fellow of Churchill College. His research, teaching, and outreach are focused on the links between manufacturing and innovation. He lives in Cambridge, UK, with his scientist wife, Nicola, and they have two children, Alastair and Elizabeth. Tim is also Chair of Trustees of the Foundation for Young People’s Mental Health (YPMH) 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

A single piece of debris—no bigger than a marble—could disrupt satellites, threaten global infrastructure, and spark a cascading crisis in orbit. With striking visuals and grounded urgency, this talk challenges us to take collective responsibility for protecting the future of space. Andrea Antonello is Head of Robotics at ClearSpace Today, leading the development of advanced robotic systems for sustainable space on-orbiting servicing. With 15+ years of experience in robotics, Andrea has worked in both academia and industry, driving innovation in automation and space systems. With a background in Aerospace Engineering (BSc, MSc, PhD) and an MBA from the University of Iowa, Andrea has contributed to cutting-edge robotics research and development. Previously, as Engineering Manager at Automata, Andrea led a team transforming automation in life sciences. Now focused on space robotics, Andrea is passionate about developing innovative solutions for a more sustainable future beyond Earth. 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