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).

Turnbull Conference Center
555 W Pensacola St
Tallahassee, Florida, 32301
United States

Alexander Brickler

Alexander Brickler is a fifth-year doctoral candidate at Florida State University, where his scholarship focuses broadly on African American literature, but more specifically on Black Science and Speculative Fictions. He has completed a Masters of Applied Social Sciences degree in History from Florida A&M University, and an MA degree in Asian Languages and Literatures from the University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities, with a thesis focusing on representations of Black masculinities in postwar Japanese literature. His scholarship frequently presents a methodological nexus of Afrofuturism and Afro Asia in order to imagine liberatory futures for people of colour in a global capacity. His forthcoming dissertation project is tentatively entitled, “Darker Matters: Allohistorical Racial Theorizing, Perpetual Black Bodies, and Towards a Black Mecha in the Science Fiction Oeuvre of Steven Barnes,” and seeks to address and unpack the significance of Black bodies within the author’s forays into alternate history, cyberpunk, and dark fantasy.

Dominique Dubon

Dominique Dubon is a senior honors student at Florida State University studying double majoring in Human Resource Management and Psychology. Upon graduation, Dubon will be working with Amazon as a Senior Human Resources Assistant for the year. Following that, she will be pursuing a doctoral degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology where she will take her years of research experience to further her education.

Dr. Alexander Brickler

Alexander Brickler is a fifth-year doctoral candidate at Florida State University, where his scholarship focuses broadly on African American literature, but more specifically on Black Science and Speculative Fictions. He has completed a Masters of Applied Social Sciences degree in History from Florida A&M University, and an MA degree in Asian Languages and Literatures from the University of Minnesota, Twin-Cities, with a thesis focusing on representations of Black masculinities in postwar Japanese literature. His scholarship frequently presents a methodological nexus of Afrofuturism and Afro Asia in order to imagine liberatory futures for people of colour in a global capacity. His forthcoming dissertation project is tentatively entitled, “Darker Matters: Allohistorical Racial Theorizing, Perpetual Black Bodies, and Towards a Black Mecha in the Science Fiction Oeuvre of Steven Barnes,” and seeks to address and unpack the significance of Black bodies within the author’s forays into alternate history, cyberpunk, and dark fantasy.

Dr. Jeremy Owens

Dr. Jeremy Owens conducts research that revolves around understanding biogeochemical evolution during major climatic events. Specifically, his work investigates the variability of oxygen contents in the ocean and the effects on marine chemistry and biology. This work requires developing new geochemical tools to better fingerprint the timing and evolution of ancient climate events. This talk will address the serious gap in understanding of scientific research and the tools used for deciphering the mechanisms and sequence of events in ancient climate change which result in global ecological change, ocean (de)oxygenation, and extinctions.

Dr. Trisha Terebelski

This talk addresses the TEDxFSU conference theme of "Unity in Diversity." Trisha (Spears) Terebelski is a PhD biologist who has done research in molecular systematics and evolution and now teaches at Florida State University. Noting that history shows that people from diverse cultures and backgrounds more often than not fail to act unified, she asks, "Is there a biological basis why humans – as an animal species – have difficulty embracing diversity?"

Jeremy Owens

Dr. Jeremy Owens conducts research that revolves around understanding biogeochemical evolution during major climatic events. Specifically, his work investigates the variability of oxygen contents in the ocean and the effects on marine chemistry and biology. This work requires developing new geochemical tools to better fingerprint the timing and evolution of ancient climate events. This talk will address the serious gap in understanding of scientific research and the tools used for deciphering the mechanisms and sequence of events in ancient climate change which result in global ecological change, ocean (de)oxygenation, and extinctions.

Kai Daniels

While at Florida State Kai was an active member of the Seminole community as a Service Scholar, 2011 Best New Senator of the Year in the Student Government Association and the 2012 Florida State University Sean Pittman Leadership Award recipient. In 2014 Kai graduated with a BS in Management Information Systems and Entrepreneurship. Kai currently lives in the heart of Detroit, MI and is working to continue her mission of supporting LGBTQ youth in their development both emotionally, finacially and spiritually.

Madhuparna Roy

Idea girl, entrepreneur, cheese-lover and the winner of the 3 Minute Thesis Competition™ at FSU, Madhuparna Roy is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. Her journey started at a young age in Japan and she went on to receive her bachelor’s degree in Electrical engineering in India and her Masters at FSU. These fine places introduced her to new people, big ideas and global concepts that helped shape the person she is today. She currently works on developing a process of additive manufacturing for composites that allows the user to control fiber orientation to eventually improve the strength of parts used in aircrafts. Her passion is not only limited to engineering, as she spends her spare time playing the piano, swimming, practicing her calligraphy, and whipping up stunning desserts.

Nikesha Williams

Nikesha Elise Williams is an Emmy award winning news producer and author. She was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She attended The Florida State University where she graduated with a B.S. in Communication: Mass Media Studies and Honors English Creative Writing. In addition to winning an Emmy, Nikesha also won the Florida Associated Press Broadcasters award for Best Breaking News in 2014. She released her debut novel, Four Women, November 23, 2017. Nikesha lives in Jacksonville, Florida, but you can always find her online at www.newwrites.com, Facebook.com/NikeshaElise or @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram

Pierce Kafka

Pierce Kafka graduated from Florida State University and has gone on to become the co-founder and CEO of an Advertising and PR agency with offices in Los Angeles and Orlando. At an early age, he became obsessed with the art of filmmaking and by the time he finished high school he had completed three short films and over 100 online videos. During his time at FSU, Pierce was an Intro to Film teacher and director/host of a student run variety show that aired on WFSU and PBS. Pierce is an award-winning commercial producer and has worked with many notable Fortune 500 companies. Heavily influenced by Franz Kafka's work, Pierce continues the Kafkaesque legacy through his most recent film, "Contradiction."

Shalom Chege

Shalom Chege is a senior honors student at Florida State University majoring in Exercise Physiology with minors in Biology and Psychology. She and her family are originally from Nairobi, Kenya, and came to the United States when she was six years old. Chege has served in several leadership roles on FSU’s campus. She was Co-President of Honors Medical Scholars Society in the 2016-2017 school year. Chege also served as a teacher of Liberal Arts Math at Gadsden County High School through the Science Students Together Reaching Instructional Diversity and Excellence (SSTRIDE) Program in the fall of 2017. Both programs are located in FSU’s College of Medicine, where Chege will join the class of 2022 in May of 2018. Chege also participates in various service activities, having logged over 200 hours in various local community efforts. Through her experiences, Chege has gained important insights into the interconnectivity between service, leadership, and success.