Theme: Curating Curiosity

The pursuit of improving the contemporary realities we find ourselves in lies in the acknowledgment of the illusion that we are comfortable, that the world we live in is survivable, and that 'we've come so far'. In talking about crises and immersing ourselves in the routines that define our day, we often forget the potential we have to sit, think and innovate. Often we look around us and think, 'will we ever achieve world peace?' Or 'what would we have done without electricity?' In reality the endeavour to come up with concepts that today are so mundane to us, reflects how actually, all was once contemporary. Innovation and solutions, however complex or simple they were, came from the ability for an individual to relate to their context, condense their thoughts, and act on their curiosity.

What is there for us to be curious about today? What is the fast paced life we are living in screening us from? How blinding is the illusion that someone else will solve the problem for us? Or that in reality, we have come so far that there is little left for us to perfect or improve?

Inquisitiveness is a gift that keeps giving. In exploiting our curiosity, we rekindle notions which frustrate us, and which surprisingly, we have the authority to solve. Society is numb to the fact that innovation is not a divine concept that hovers above our heads, but rather an iterative process led by humans who acknowledged and exploited their ability to be curious.

This and more will guide a series of talks at tedxuniversityofmalta.

University of Malta
University of Malta
Msida, Msida, MSD2080
Malta

Alexandra Pace

Creative Industry Professional

Alexandra is an artist and curator who works predominantly with photography and film, but lets her curiosity and inability to sit still evolve her practice constantly. She was educated at Central Saint Martins University of the Arts in London. She founded Blitz, a non-profit contemporary art space in Valletta. During her TEDx talk Alexandra will be referring to her experience in the creative industry to explain her belief of how the creative and the curious have much to learn from each other.

Alexia Curmi

Forensic Court Expert

Alexia is a Forensic Court Expert at the Malta Magesterial Court and teaches at St. Catherine's High School. She's an avid reader and adores sharks. During her talk she will be focusing on two subjects which she is deeply passionate about: sharks and forensic work.

Andrea Dibben

Civil Rights Activist, Academic, and Lawyer

Andrea is a lecturer within the Department of Social Policy and Social Work within the Faculty for Social Well Being at the University of Malta. She is currently the Chairperson for the university's Cottonera Resource Centre and chairs the Community Engagement Committee within the Faculty. She is also a member of the Observatory for Living with Dignity within the President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society and is the Chairperson of the Women’s Rights Foundation.

Ludvic Zrinzo

Neurosurgeon

Ludvic is an academic neurosurgeon at the UCL Institute of Neurology, Ludvic also serves as Visiting Consultant Neurosurgeon in Malta. He will be talking and sharing experiences about the literal source of human curiosity; the brain, which in his words, "continues to raise some of the most interesting and challenging questions that nature has to offer."

Maria Attard

Urban Policy Expert

Maria is the Head of Geography and the Director of the Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development at the University of Malta. She specialises in urban transport, policy and project implementation. Whilst highlighting myths and interesting facts, Maria will be challenging the lack of curiosity that we have about our mobility.

Thomas Camilleri

Design Creative

Thomas' curiosity has led him to play a variety of characters on the West End and touring shows in London and around Europe. After a decade in the land of tea and the overly-polite, he returned to his beloved island to flex his creative muscle with local digital and design agency Switch, where variety is the order of the day.