Theme: Evolution of Inspiration

TEDxPlymouthUniversity will showcase new, exciting and inspirational ideas that can be found right here in Plymouth. Whether that’s internationally-leading research being carried out by Plymouth University, or an innovative local project that is helping transform lives in our community, we aim to start a conversation about the interesting and inspiring developments happening on our own doorstep.

Our theme, Evolution of Inspiration, will see our speakers cover a wide range of topics connected simply by the notion of evolving an idea and inspiring others. TEDxPlymouthUniversity is an opportunity to broaden your horizons and share new ideas with the global TEDx community.

Roland Levinsky Building
Plymouth Universtiy
Drake Circus
Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA
United Kingdom

Adam Cook

Conservationist and Entrepreneur

Adam Cook is a conservationist and entrepreneur dedicated to creating platforms for social and environmental change. Adam co-ordinates conservation projects around the world, creates ethical products and promotes a resilient future through his roles with the Science Assembly and WildSupport. After a recent tour with the U.S. State Department, Adam is setting his sights on global change for a better future. This talk will explore creating an open dialogue about ethics, sustainability, social justice and ways to inspire change.

Alexis Kirke

Senior Research Fellow

Alexis Kirke is an award-winning composer, filmmaker and writer who has been called “the Philip K. Dick of contemporary music”. He is a member of Plymouth University’s Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research and has completed a PhD in Arts and a PhD in Technology. On the 60th Anniversary of the meeting of the two most successful songwriters of all time, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, Alexis will explain how an automated computer analysis of their lyrics can develop an emotional trajectory of each of the individual songwriters over the years, plotted in parallel. This shows the evolution of their emotions and relationship, and how this might have inspired them.

Alistair Macpherson

Chief Executive, Plymouth Energy Community

Alistair is Chief Executive for Plymouth Energy Community (PEC), a multi award winning social enterprise aiming to transform how local residents can buy, use and generate energy. Since 2013, he has led the development of PEC from a council initiative into a big thinking multifaceted venture, delivering targeted support to the fuel poor and community owned alternatives to fossil fuels. In his talk, Alistair will show how Plymouth is leading the way with a rapidly growing movement of locally owned solutions to our energy crisis.

Antonio Rago

Associate Professor, Theoretical Physics

A theoretical physicist, Antonio graduated and obtained his PhD in Italy and, after working in Germany, he is now a Reader at Plymouth University. Antonio’s talk discusses his main area of research; particle physics and the theory of strong interactions. Antonio will explore the outstanding problems that the High Energy Physics community is currently trying to explain, such as the nature of the Higgs Boson and the identification of Dark Matter.

Chris Hunt

Creative Technologist

Chris Hunt is a Creative Technologist and builder of rather cool things. He is part of the i-DAT Research Collective at Plymouth University and runs his own technology consultancy. Chris is constantly exploring new technologies through engaging, audience-focussed prototypes, products and installations such as This Is Where We Are (or TIWWA), a dynamic digital artwork initially produced for the opening of the new Tate Modern extension in June 2016. This talk explores the technology and process used to produce a 3.6m tall touch and presence sensitive sculpture and reflects on the joys of watching an audience interact with your work.

Ismini Vasileiou

Lecturer in Information Systems

Dr Ismini Vasileiou is a Lecturer in Information Systems at Plymouth University. She is an international STEM Peer Learning Leader, a Database Developer, the chair for the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity committee, has national involvement across different professional bodies such as BCSWomen and has been twice shortlisted for a WISE award. Ismini will use her own personal experiences as a vehicle to provoke thought: How biased are we? What influences those biases? How can we be free from it?

James Close

Research Fellow

In 2002 I received a D. Phil from the University of Oxford in genome biology, where I continued to pursue a research career. However, I left academia for around a decade, applying my research skills in a variety of contexts including playing internet poker for a living, trading financial markets and popular science writing. Over the last year I have been pursuing formal academic research, where I am investigating new models of care in the Department of Primary Care at Plymouth University.

Jeremy Goslin

Lecturer in Psychology

Jeremy Goslin is a psychologist whose multidisciplinary approach to research explores both behaviour and cognitive neuroscience related to topics in language, economics, and trust. As the machines that support us become ever more sophisticated, there is both a need and desire to make them more human-like, so that our understanding and interactions with them can be more intuitive. But, do we want our machines to be efficient and implacable, or human-like and flawed?

Jo Higson

Equality and Diversity Professional

Jo Higson is an Equality and Diversity professional who has spent 25 years passionately working and campaigning around issues of equality and justice from the Home Office to the National Childbirth Trust to Devon and Cornwall Refugee Support - and currently working with Devon and Cornwall Police and Dorset Police. Jo has two children, lives in Plymouth and is a member of the Baha'i Community.

Mariana Lopez-Henen

CEO, The Ocean Corner

Founder of The Ocean Corner C.I.C. Fellow member of Dartington School for Social Entrepreneurs and Royal Society of Arts. Mariana uses marine debris, from the North Atlantic Ocean Gyre, for fashion design. She loves to learn about ocean research, using art to bring science to a broader audience. Like scientists, artists conceptualize and put together ideas in new ways.

Scott Gould

Engagement Strategist

Scott is a pilgrim in life: he’s been a church minister, TV producer, event manager, entrepreneur, designer, developer and creative director to name a few of his jobs. The one thread through them all has been people: how to connect with people, how to engage people, and how to inspire people. Using that experience, Scott now consults with purpose driven organisations who need to engage and galvanise their followers around their mission.

Sylvia Terbeck

Lecturer in Psychology

Lecturer in Psychology at Plymouth University. Completed BSc in Psychology in Kiel (Germany), MSc Psychology in Vienna (Austria), DPhil in Experimental Psychology at Oxford University. Research includes social psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and virtual reality technology. Published multiple scientific journal articles, including a book entitled “The social neuroscience of intergroup relations.

Tracey Guiry

Director of The Poetry Archive

Tracey Guiry is the Director of The Poetry Archive, the UK’s premier collection of recordings of poets reciting their own work. She has led arts and literature organisations for over a decade and is currently studying for a PhD with Plymouth University. Tracey will explore her own personal journey using poetry to unlock memories and combat the onset of dementia.