How AI is helping transform coral reef conservation | Ben Williams | TEDxLondon
Pops, purrs and grunts - did you know a healthy coral reef emits a whole range of sounds? Marine biologist and data scientist, Ben Williams, shares how underwater audio recorders are helping scientists listen to the soundscape of coral reefs to measure their health. Yet, Ben quickly ran into an issue - there were thousands of hours of soundscapes to listen to! That’s where AI comes in. In a fraction of the time, AI tools can be used to analyse coral reef soundscapes to help track destructive human impacts and restoration efforts. This technology is a game changer for coral reef conservation and restoration - which couldn’t be more timely with coral reefs facing mass bleaching events and degradation.Ben is completing a PhD at University College London and the Zoological Society of London. His work focuses on using AI to study the soundscape of coral reefs to support conservation and restoration. Ben collaborates closely with the world’s largest reef restoration programme, led by Mars' Sheba Hope Grows campaign, and has worked with Google DeepMind's bioacoustics team. He collaborates with both local researchers and industry leaders to protect coral reefs together.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
More from TED
- 19:41Hospitable Leadership | Laura de la Mar | TEDxHotelschool The HagueWhat makes a truly hospitable experience? Is it training, scripted service, or mystery guests? In this compelling and humorous talk, Laura takes us on a journey from their first job in a fine-dining restaurant—where a toxic culture stifled genuine hospitality—to becoming a leader on a mission to bring real hospitality into every industry. Through personal stories and 20 years of research, Laura reveals a critical truth: hospitality isn't about rules, checklists, or forced smiles—it thrives in a culture where employees feel valued, empowered, and inspired by leadership. While traditional training can provide short-term improvements, it often fails to create lasting change. The secret? Hospitable Leadership. By fostering a culture where employees want to be hospitable rather than have to be, businesses can transform service from scripted transactions into heartfelt interactions. This talk challenges leaders to shift from rigid protocols to a mindset of Embody, Empower, and Embed—the three pillars that turn hospitality from an obligation into an art.Laura de la Mar Speaker, Author, Trainer & Founder of Gastvrijheid in BedrijfTrue hospitality isn’t about service—it’s about genuine personal attention. But how do you ensure employees are intrinsically motivated to be hospitable? Many companies invest in training, protocols, and CX surveys, yet the impact fades quickly. Why? Because without a hospitable culture, hospitality remains superficial.As the author of Hospitable Leadership (2024) and other books, Laura de la Mar helps organizations embed lasting hospitality from within. Combining scientific insights, practical strategies, and powerful storytelling, she inspires leaders to rethink their role. 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
- 18:38I Want(ed) to Be Famous | Frerick den Haan | TEDxHotelschool The Hague‘I want to be famous!’ was the thought that drove Frerick when he was a teenager, listening to his favourite bands in his room. He embarked on his own journey, with the goal of becoming a rock star with what he had available: a piano and a recorder. In his journey to fame story, he draws parallels to how life unfolds and how one's vision helps navigate it. He describes movement as what life throws at you, as the stones that are placed in your path. Stones such as rejection from people who don't understand you and unforeseen changes in the external environment are just examples of this. In his TEDx talk, Frerick invites everyone to reflect on our own goals and how valuable it is to be single-minded about who we want to be. His vision changed in a moment of reflection during a concert he was playing. With his approach to life, we can learn to enjoy it while it lasts and that adjusting our vision can keep the fire of our passion burning. Frerick den Haan is a pianist and composer from The Hague (NL). Escaping the hectic pace of the day, he creates his own world with his compositions in which chaos is transformed into order, creating an escapade to a certain form of tranquility for the mind. Something many of his listeners can relate to. Den Haan continuously experiments in his music with elements from film music, classical music and pop music, consciously seeking out the melancholy of the piano. 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