In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
1640 Cumberland Avenue
Toyota Auditorium
Knoxville, Tennessee, 37966-3340
United States

Alex Roschli

Alex Roschli is an engineering student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and an intern with Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility. Alex works under the direction of Dr. Lonnie Love with a focus on Manufacturing Systems Research.

Andrew Messing

Andrew Messing is an engineering student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville and an intern with Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Drew Paul

Drew Paul received his B.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from Emory University, and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures. His research focuses primarily on modern Arabic literature, with secondary interests in Arab cinema and Hebrew literature. His current research focuses on the representations of border spaces in Israel and Palestine in literature, film, and art.

Jack Viorel

Creating an environment of compassion, inclusion and self-worth, Jack Viorel uses surfing as a vehicle to connect with and empower medically fragile, special needs and at-risk youth with the individual confidence and skills necessary for lasting connection and growth. Jack founded Indo Jax Surf Charities in Wilmington, North Carolina; an organization which impacts the lives of hundreds of kids each year.

Lonnie Love

Lonnie Love, Ph.D., is the group leader of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Manufacturing Systems Research Group. With over 20 years of experience in the design and control of complex robotic and hydraulic systems, his primary expertise is design, robotics, hydraulics, additive manufacturing and nanomaterials. He is the project lead for the Big Area Additive Manufacturing program that is focusing on large scale, high speed polymer and metal additive manufacturing. Recent research efforts have focused on developing new lightweight low-cost hydraulic systems through additive manufacturing. Named ORNL's 2009 Inventor of the year, Lonnie has over 30 invention disclosures and patents and 75 peer reviewed publications. He serves on the scientific advisory board for the NSF's Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power and serves on the Medical and Scientific Advisory Board for OrthoCare.

Sarah Shebaro

Sarah Shebaro is an artist, instructor and technician, happy to call Knoxville, TN her home once again. Born and raised in the Midwest, Shebaro received her BFA from the University of Iowa before relocating to Chicago then Pennsylvania for a non-degree assistantship at Bucknell University. In 2008 she completed her MFA study in printmaking at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Heading north in 2009 to Brooklyn, she accepted an assistant professor and technician role in the printmaking department at the Pratt Institute. In her four years there she rehabilitated the print studios, paying special attention to the letterpress facilities. With help from the community as well as students and instructors, Sarah was able to collect donations of type, presses and equipment needed to revive the letterpress studio, complete with a fully-functioning type collection. In late December of 2014 Sarah returned to Knoxville to join the team of Striped Light. Her work can be found at sshebaro.com.