Theme: Exploring an even bigger world

Each and every one of us is a life-long learner. As we acquire more knowledge, we realise that there is so much left to discover. At TEDxYouth@ISF, an event curated by the International School of Florence, we seek the beauty of diversity and embrace youth both as speakers and audiences. Feel free to email us at tedxyouth@isfitaly.org if you have any questions or concerns.

Polimoda International Institute of Fashion Design & Marketing
Via Curtatone, 1
Florence, Firenze, 50123
Italy

Andrea Mayer

Oxfam Community Project Officer

Andrea Mayer has always been guided by a crucial interest in humanity’s social problems. The Philosophy graduate started his career in projects related to the field of education of minors, juvenile delinquency and disability. Since June 2015, Andrea has been Host Community Project Officer in the Florentine area for Oxfam Italia hosting projects for asylum seekers and political refugees.

Anna Maria Danti Sirakova

An ISF senior of Bulgarian origin but has lived in Florence, Italy, for most of her life. Music amateur and winner of the ISF Got Talent 2014. Now lives in Italy, but will soon start pursuing her college life in England.

Brighton Steinberg

Student

A senior at ISF and currently the President of the high school student council, Brighton has been active in the Model United Nations and is presently the captain of his school's football team.

Emily Volpe

Originally from England. Former ISF Middle School Student Council President. Young songwriter and talented student singer. Currently an ISF Sophomore.

Leo Horiuchi

Student

Of Japanese origin, Leo has attended the International School of Florence since he was a small boy in the second grade. The high school junior is impassioned about the Model United Nations, athletics, history and his friends, but lately he has been giving much thought to what it means to be a global citizen.

Marianella Sclavi

Sociologist

Sclavi taught the Art of Listening, Emotional Self-Awareness and Creative Conflict Management at the Polytechnic University in Milan from 1993 to 2008. Her ethnographies are based on an ‘open systems’ epistemology and since 2008 she has been designing participatory programs and acting as a facilitator in “creative confrontation” decisional processes.

Michael Landolfa

Teacher

Michael Landolfa grew up in New York State and eventually went on to Berkeley for his Ph.D. in Neurobiology. When he was a practicing scientist he researched the biology of invertebrate animals in various North American and European countries. He now lives in Italy with his wife and children and teaches at the International School of Florence.

Nicholas Accattatis

Student

Nicholas Accattatis has been a student at ISF for two years. Before ISF, Nicholas lived in Malaysia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. This exposure to diverse cultures have made him a well-rounded person in terms of intercultural awareness.

Riccardo Talini

Student

Presently an 11th grader at the International School of Florence, prior to that, Riccardo attended Italian public schools. He has been described by his teachers as an intellectually curious young man, one who enjoys critical thinking and he is the Italian editor of his school newspaper, the Tuskan Times. He is an avid surfer and sailor. Riccardo believes that education goes beyond school: “It is fundamental to know the world in which we live, in order to improve it.”

Sophie Culpepper

Student

Sophie Culpepper: born in Boston; have lived in Florence since January 2010; endowed and burdened with a Southern American heritage and three younger siblings. Editor of the school newspaper and passionate sub-par water polo player. 11th grade IB candidate at ISF; additionally taking political philosophy, and last year also studied US history (she describes herself as a "chronic nerd").

Susan George

Linguist

Susan George: previously head of business and public sector communication degree at Pisa University, researcher into alternative teaching approaches and cross-cultural pragmatics; practitioner of democratic participation projects and water and talent diviner.

Vittoria Conforti

Vittoria Conforti: ISF Freshman from California. Young student singer who has performed in multiple important occasions, such as the ISF Festival of Songs and ISF Got Talent.