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).

Beveridge Hall
Senate House, University of London
Malet Street, Bloomsbury
London, London, City of, WC1E 7HU
United Kingdom

Anastasia Broder

Student

Anastasia is passionate about poetry, literature, and theatre, leading her to be heavily involved with the Drama Society as a Vice President at the LSE. Since the age of 15, she has struggled with an eating disorder known as EDNOS, and through her experience she has realised the predominance of stigma and stereotypes around this particular mental issue. Her issues have led her to take interest in both charity and healthcare, and she hopes to be more involved in both fields in the future.

Enayatullah Safi

Entrepeuner

Enayatt Safi Is a food entrepreneur born in Afghanistan, now living in Copenhagen. He is the founder of the Dhaba Restaurants, and a passionate political science student. He believes that food is the greatest tool in building bridges. Safi invites elder home for free lunch once in a month to his restaurants, this is his way to say thank you to the elders for giving him a Muslim boy from Afghanistan, the opportunity to take education and build a business and most important offering him Love regardless of his background as refugee. Safi believes that everybody has a hero inside, we do not have to start with big things to change society. Give a smile to stranger, hold the door for another person, give your seat in the bus to an elder, and once you have done this it inspires you to make even more difference tomorrow and start a circle of love. Safi’s talk will leave with a good feeling.

Felix Günther

Mathmetician

Dr Felix Günther is a passionate mathematician and active science communicator. After his studies at the Berlin Mathematical School, he held postdoctoral positions in Bures-sur-Yvette near Paris, Cambridge, Vienna, Bonn, and Geneva. He now continues his award-winning research on discrete complex analysis and smooth polyhedral surfaces in the Collaborative Research Center "Discretization in Geometry and Dynamics" at Technische Universität Berlin. Felix got passionate about communicating science when he presented compact homogeneous Lorentz spaces to a diverse audience of fellows of the German Academic Scholarship Foundation during a summer academy. Felix also participated in the FameLab competition in three different countries and wrote expository articles about his doctoral research. His passion for explaining mathematics and his strong commitment to the German Academic Scholarship Foundation let him return to a summer academy as a lecturer.

Graham Rook

Professor

Graham Rook is emeritus Professor of Medical Microbiology at UCL (University College London). He was educated at the University of Cambridge and at St. Thomas’ Hospital London. He became professor of medical microbiology at UCL in 1994. The theme of his research was initially the immunopathology of tuberculosis, but in recent years GR’s focus has been the application of a Darwinian perspective to the effects on health of diminishing exposure to microorganisms, and of the changing composition of our symbiotic microbiota. GR coined the expression “Old Friends Hypothesis” to highlight a Darwinian reinterpretation of the hygiene hypothesis in 2003. Recently, in collaboration with neuroscientists and psychiatrists, this thinking has been applied to certain forms of depression and other psychiatric disorders that are accompanied by persistently raised biomarkers of inflammation.

Isaac Haq

Stand-Up Comedian

Isaac Haq is an entrepreneur and award winning stand up comedian. Throughout his studies of medicine, psychology and finance, and research projects covering topics from addiction to behaviour change, Isaac has been intrigued by human behaviour. Behaviours like love, laughter and friendship are central to our lives and taking a closer look at these behaviours will allow us to better understand the actions of ourselves and those around us.

Jozef Youssef

Molecular Gastronomer

Jozef Youssef is also the author of Molecular Gastronomy at Home, and is an associate editor at the International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science. Youssef designs Kitchen Theory’s Gastrophysics Chef’s Table, corporate experiences and product ‘sensplorations’ , by combining his exceptional culinary skills with ongoing research into the scientific field of gastrophysics, carried out in collaboration with Professor Charles Spence, head of Oxford University’s Crossmodal Department. Youssef’s contribution towards scientific research in the field of gastronomy has led him to travel the world sharing the findings and unique creative method; in which science is used to enhance experience design, resulting in gastronomic experiences which led to Kitchen Theory becoming among the most successful pop-up restaurants in London. Most recently, Youssef has created the Gastrophysics Chef’s Table, at which he hosts 10 guests, who are set to experience the most multisensory chef’s table in London

Libby Powell

Journalist

Libby Powell is the founding director of On Our Radar, the communications agency for unheard communities. The organisation creates new channels and opportunities for people on the margins of societies worldwide to share news and insight. They run collaborative research, advocacy and media projects with communities who have little or no public voice.

Michael Driver

Ilustrator

Michael Driver is a freelance illustrator who has worked full time in the creative industry since leaving Kingston university in 2015. Michael predominantly works in editorial but has also had the opportunity to work on projects in publishing, branding and advertising for the likes of Penguin, Sports direct and Deliveroo.

Nicole Nasr

Psycologist

Nicole Nasr is a 26 year-old student who is conducting her Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at City, University of London. She is currently working with clients both at UCLH and Altum Health Clinic, and finishing her degree as a third year trainee. Nicole decided to focus her doctoral thesis on Wives of Diplomats and decided to explore how their experience shapes how they feel about themselves and their relationships across diplomatic assignments. Nicole is very interested in feminist issues that tend to put women in a background position. She has been inspired throughout her life by strong women who have had an impact on her life, both as an individual and a professional. Also, coming from Lebanese parents and having lived in Montreal, Beirut and London, Nicole is very interested in understanding how short-term and long-term immigration impacts people’s lives.

Orla Doherty

Producer

Orla learned to scuba dive at the age of 30 and her first encounter with a coral reef changed the course of her life. She then spent ten years at sea studying the remote coral reefs of the Pacific Ocean with an NGO. A few years after returning to dry land, she joined Blue Planet II as the Development Producer. Since then, she has spent 500 hours at depths of 1,000 metres in three oceans as Producer of The Deep episode and filmed scientists at the frontline of ocean discoveries from Indonesia to the Arctic Circle as Producer of Our Blue Planet episode.

Ryan Bromley

Rehabilitation Officer

Ryan graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2014 with a BSc in Geography. After spending several years being unsatisfied in a variety of jobs, he successfully applied to join Unlocked Graduates – a pioneering new leadership scheme. As part of their first cohort, he now works day-to-day with some of the most challenging and vulnerable people in the UK. Alongside his day job, his passion is exploring how to increase employment opportunities for individuals and groups who are likely to be excluded from the workplace.