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).

Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts
3680 Walnut St
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104
United States

Americus Reed

Americus Reed II, is the Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor of Marketing at the Wharton School. He is intellectually obsessed with how, when, where and why people figure out who they are, act on it, change and evolve. How can people make their lives better by tapping into the power of their identities? He is the proud Dad of a 7 year mixed chick whom he constantly toils to parentally ensure that she internalizes a “warrior princess” identity and makes the world a better place.

Chrissy Hofbeck

Chrissy is a consulting actuary and frequent keynote speaker who specializes in helping organizations build or improve their predictive analytics capabilities and data driven decisioning. Her work has been featured in publications including The Actuary, Sync Magazine, and National Geographic’s documentary television series Breakthrough. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania (in Mathematics) and MIT (MBA), and currently serves on the Society of Actuaries Executive Board of Directors.

Colin Morris

Colin Morris is a data scientist and educator based in Toronto with a Master's in Computational Linguistics. His work often involves applying computational techniques to the analysis and appreciation of popular music. Most recently, he has analyzed trends in lyrical repetition of hit songs.

Cynthia Sung

Cynthia Sung is the Gabel Family Term Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception (GRASP) Lab. She received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT in 2016 and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University in 2011. Her research interests focus on computational methods for design automation of robotic systems. Robots integrate mechanical, electronic, and computational subsystems into physical devices that perform complex tasks ranging from autonomous navigation and manipulation to cooperative and social interactions. Cynthia aims to provide designers with intuitive computer-aided design and fabrication tools for creating customized robots and behaviors. Her work lies at the intersection of computational geometry, data driven methods, and rapid fabrication techniques such as 3D printing and origami-inspired assembly.

Dr Jesse Taylor Dr Gregory Heuer

Dr. Taylor is an attending surgeon in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies. He currently acts as co-director of CHOP’s Cleft Lip and Palate Program and serves as director of the University of Pennsylvania / CHOP Craniofacial Fellowship Program. Dr. Heuer completed his neurosurgery residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and his fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He specializes in fetal neurosurgery and the treatment of congenital conditions. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurosurgery.

Dr. Jesse Taylor and Dr. Gregory Heuer

Dr. Taylor is an attending surgeon in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies. He currently acts as co-director of CHOP’s Cleft Lip and Palate Program and serves as director of the University of Pennsylvania / CHOP Craniofacial Fellowship Program. Dr. Heuer completed his neurosurgery residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and his fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He specializes in fetal neurosurgery and the treatment of congenital conditions. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurosurgery.

Dr. Jesse Taylor and Dr. Greg Heuer Dr. Jesse Taylor and Dr. Greg Heuer

Dr. Taylor is an attending surgeon in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) specializing in the treatment of children and adolescents with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies. He currently acts as co-director of CHOP’s Cleft Lip and Palate Program and serves as director of the University of Pennsylvania / CHOP Craniofacial Fellowship Program. Dr. Heuer completed his neurosurgery residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and his fellowship training in pediatric neurosurgery at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He specializes in fetal neurosurgery and the treatment of congenital conditions. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neurosurgery.

Imani Davis

Imani Davis is a member of The Excelano Project at the University of Pennsylvania. The Excelano Project is Penn's first and premier spoken word group. The 15 student members speak on social just ice and the world around us to evoke imagery, express their opinions or just state their observations.

Kayvon Asemani

Kayvon Asemani is a recent alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania with a undergraduate business degree from the esteemed Wharton School, where he invested his time teaching financial literacy at local high schools and serving on multiple organizations on Penn's campus. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, he is the Founder and CEO of Kayvon Enterprises where he manages multiple brands, including Kayvon Music, Kayvon Fashion, Kayvon Technology, and more. After graduation, Kayvon will head to Facebook as a Product Manager.

Luam Keflezgy

Luam is an award winning choreographer, creative director, and writer working in media, television, and live performance. With past clients including Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, Beyonce, Robin Thicke, Nike, a YouTube Audience producing over 40 million views, and a loyal following, Luam is a global sensation in dance and choreography. Also, as creator of Rock The Industry (http://www.rocktheindustryonline.com), a revolutionary artist development program and a member of the Creative Council for 'Pencils of Promise (http://www.pencilsofpromise.org)', she seeks new ways and opportunities to effect change. Through her work, teachings and mentoring in the entertainment industry and beyond, Luam works to promote spiritual resilience & resistance and advocates for those overcoming all obstacles to do so.

Mark Rober

Mark Rober has made a career out of engineering, entertainment, and education. After completing degrees in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University and the University of Southern California, Rober joined NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 2004. In his nine years as a NASA engineer, seven of which were on the Mars rover Curiosity team, Rober worked on both the Descent Stage (the jet pack that lowered the Rover to the surface) and some hardware on the Rover top deck for collecting samples. In 2011, Rober’s iPad-based Halloween costume helped launch both his creative costume company, Digital Dudz, and his YouTube channel, which now boasts 3 million subscribers and 400 million views. His videos focus on creative ideas and science- and engineering-based pranks and activities. Rober is a regular guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Today, he does research and development work for a large technology company in Northern California, where he lives with his wife and son.

Masao Sako

Masao Sako is an astrophysicist using large telescopes, supercomputers, and big data to study the Universe. He is the recipient of numerous teaching awards at the University of Pennsylvania, including the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Dean’s Award for Innovation in Teaching.

Penn Dhamaka

Penn Dhamaka hopes to reach new and diverse audiences while still maintaining its roots in the University of Pennsylvania and larger Philadelphia community. We strive to spread the cultures of South Asia and South Asian immigrants through the form of dance and inspire all ages and ethnicities to look deeper into the differences and commonalities between all people.

Sarah Rottenberg

Sarah Rottenberg is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture in the School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as Executive Director of the Integrated Product Design Program, a Master’s Program that brings together design, business, and engineering to develop new products. Rottenberg is also co-founder of LIA Diagnostics, a startup that is launching a private, easy-to-use, and sustainable pregnancy test. She has a Master of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University. Ultimately, Rottenberg’s work emphasizes bringing people together to design products, experiences and businesses that are desirable, meaningful, and viable.

Stephen Trzeciak

Stephen Trzeciak, MD, MPH is a physician scientist and Professor of Medicine at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, and the physician leader of the Adult Health Institute at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Trzeciak is a practicing intensivist (specialist in intensive care medicine), and a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded clinical researcher with more than 100 publications in the scientific literature. Currently, Dr. Trzeciak’s scientific program is focused on a new line of research called “Compassionomics”. It’s the scientific evidence that caring makes a difference. Broadly, his quest is to make healthcare more compassionate through science.