TEDxUSC 2019 is set to be our most inspiring and dynamic event yet. Join us to learn about everything from the intersectionality of gender identity and body image, the societal impacts of AI technology, social entrepreneurship, and more!

Joyce J. Cammilleri Hall
3620 McClintock Ave
Los Angeles, California, 90089
United States

Clayton Bingham

PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering

”I’m thrilled to speak about the work being done to design replacement parts for the broken brain. I’ve been fascinated by brains my whole life. Our brains determine most of who we are and what we do...it allows us to do amazing and creative things when it works, but can also be a source of extreme disappointment when it doesn’t. My current work focuses on understanding brain implant technologies that can improve our memory and may someday bring relief to those suffering from brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury. Our research group, led by Dr. Ted Berger, has made some exciting innovations that will pave the way toward new therapeutic devices. All of this is done with the goal of improving the quality of life of the many people who have exhausted all existing treatment options.”

Daniella Mohazab

Masters Student

"I chose to speak about mental health and my lawsuit against USC because I want to provide a public voice for those that have been victims to sexual violence. My goal is to help others recognize that they are not alone, in their mental illnesses, recovery, or their confusion in the subject. I want the public to understand that each person has a story, a life, and that we have the power to control our stories."

Emily Liu

Student

"I’ve always believed that the ways we imagine the future are deeply influenced by the ways others have imagined the future before us –in storytelling, in media, in oral traditions. Today, it’s almost as if we don’t have to imagine anymore: the leaps and bounds we’ve seen in technological inventions constantly amaze me, especially in digital assistants like Siri and Alexa. In fact, from their friendly names to their personality quirks to the jokes they tell, they seem less like products and more like characters of a SciFi story. I was intrigued by their human-like characteristics; but when I dug a little deeper, what I found completely changed my view. Rather than pinnacles of human ingenuity, I came to see them as failures of imagination, and of our commitment to societal growth. These implications and this change, I want to be able to convey to everyone else in my own form of storytelling: my TED talk."

Erica Wenger

Masters Student

"I chose this topic because I want to show people that profit and purpose are not mutually exclusive elements of business. I want to expose people to the growing field of social entrepreneurship and highlight the meaningful opportunities that exist at the intersection of the public and private sectors. I will be discussing my experiences in and out of the classroom developing self-sustaining business models that combat social inequities in hopes of inspiring more people to take action."

Rishi Rawat

PhD/MD Candidate

"We’re at an unprecedented moment, where computers powered by Artificial Intelligence blur the line between science fiction and reality. From self-driving cars to phones that talk back, the world is rapidly changing through automated analysis of complex signals. Because modern medicine is awash in big data, it also stands to benefit. Each year, for example, pathologists assess tissue slides from millions of patients to make or exclude the life-changing diagnosis of cancer. But they’re not always right. Have computers reached a stage where they can do better? If so, what does this mean for the future of domestic and global medicine? In this talk, I will address these questions and paint a future where AI accelerates research for tomorrow’s cures."

Vaughn Darst

Masters Student

"I’m studying to become an anti-diet Dietitian and I work with people who have eating disorders. I’m also a queer transgender/non-binary person, and I’ve struggled with disordered eating since I was 9 years old. Within the transgender community, my story is neither unusual nor remarkable. One recent study found that transgender and gender nonconforming youth are four times more likely to have an eating disorder than cisgender youth. The pressure to conform is immense for all young people, and it turns out this burden is dramatically compounded for transgender folks who want to control their body size and shape to meet the world’s expectations. My TEDx talk will illuminate the needs and challenges facing the young people of my community, in hopes of finding the solutions we need to this complex issue at the intersection of gender, body image, food, and identity."