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).

Kirby Theatre
220 S Pleasant Street
Amherst, Massachusetts, 01002
United States

Amir Hall

Amir Hall is a son, brother, friend, writer and performance artist currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English at Amherst College. Amir at an early age found himself grateful for how other people, his parents, his brother and his teachers, for example, buttressed his upbringing. He wondered at the reciprocal effects people had on each other and how those effects resonated. He asked, "what do we carry with us when we receive a kindness?" and, "where in our body do we hold hurt when inflicted upon us?" These questions have led him to explore the self in his writing and performance work as a permeable membrane by considering how we construct ourselves and our stories with each other, through multiple frames of seeing and memory. An obsession with Love emerges in his work as the substance that opens and as the creative essence, much like storytelling, that renders a person immortal.

Dr. Alice Domar

Alice D. Domar, PhD is a pioneer inthe application of mind/body medicineto various health conditions. Herresearch focuses on creatinginnovative programs to help decreasephysical and psychological symptoms associated with stress. She is the Executive Director of theDomar Centers for Mind/Body Health and an associate professor, part-time, atHarvard Medical School. She is a practicing psychologist, specializing in cognitive-behavior therapy with individuals and couples. She is a senior staff psychologist in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She did her post-doctoral training at Deaconess Hospital, Beth Israel Hospital, and Children's Hospital all in Boston.

Dr. Prakarsh Singh

Prakarsh Singh is Assistant Professor of Economics at Amherst College, Massachusetts. He completed his Ph.D. in Economics from the London School of Economics in 2011. He has an MRes. and a BSc. in Economics also from the London School of Economics. His main area of research is the impact of performance pay to caregivers on child malnutrition in India. He has carried out four field experiments in association with state governments in India, targeting child undernutrition in Chandigarh (twice), West Bengal, and Punjab. He has received research grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (twice), DFID, UNU-WIDER, Fordham University, and several state governments in India (Punjab, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan).

Kevin Weafer

Kevin A. Weafer is a global executive focused on content development for digital, social and mixed reality media. His background includes new product innovation, franchise expansion, and operational management. Currently Kevin is President & CEO of Spinar America, Inc. a leading global augmented and virtual reality software development company. Previously he was President, US Operations of Kudan Ltd. a multinational AR engine company based in the UK; VP DAQRI Inc., a leading HUD augmented reality company; and Director level with Compass Labs, a NEA, Jim Clark, Mike Ramsey funded API social media player. Prior to this, Kevin was SVP, for a Sequoia Capital backed company Access Media, Inc. where he helped raise the company’s valuation to over $90 million. Kevin was President of AT&T/MediaOne backed Student Net Publishing LLC. And finally, at Time Incorporated, he held a series of increasingly senior positions, including Managing Director/Americas for Time Magazine.