Usually, our identity is associated with our name or country of birth
or ethnicity or other such details. But is that all? Can a mere name
or a number define my persona? A standard definition of ‘Identity’
would be: “our inner perception of ourselves while in contact with
others, which can evolve over time and within particular
circumstances”.
We are not born with a fixed identity. Our identity is flexible and
dynamic. It changes over time. Trying to understand identity compels
us to reflect on our relationship with the world. Individual identity
is a patchwork of various aspects, a sum of many different traits and
characteristics that, if each one is taken away, one would no longer
be the same.
The TEDxUFRO believe that in these crucial times of conflicts and
challenges, it is imperative for us explore our identity as
individuals and as cultures to understand the relationships between
people, the environment and our place in the world.
Speakers
Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.
Rodrigo Garrido
Rodrigo heads the “Centro de Investigaciones de la Inclusión Digital y la Sociedad del Conocimiento” (CIISOC) at Universidad de La Frontera. For the last fifteen years he has been involved in digital inclusion initiatives in Chile and across Latin America, with a focus on community tele-centers, digital literacy, indigenous people and Information Communication Technology (ICT) for Development. Rodrigo holds a Master’s in Educational Technology from the University of Salamanca, Spain, and is finalizing his PhD. at the University of Bristol, UK. Currently, Rodrigo leads the Chilean research team for the Global Impact Study, an international initiative whose goal is to know the social and economic impacts of public access of ICT.Juan Luis Dumont
Juan Luis has a Bachelor’s degree in Education and is a Professor of Technical and Vocational Education with a Minor in Tourism from the Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities at Universidad Austral, Valdivia, Chile. He holds a Master of Science degree in Education, with a specialization in Curriculum Development, Assessment and Evaluation from Universidad Mayor, Chile. He has been a full time teacher for over ten years, teaching English as a foreign Language. Currently, he teaches at the Language Coordination Department at Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.Hari Ravikumar
Hari is the co-author of "The New Bhagavad-Gita", a 21st century translation of the Bhagavad-Gita, India's most celebrated spiritual text. His interest in spirituality, philosophy and Eastern wisdom goes back to his school days. Also deeply interested in mathematics and design, he studied Mechanical Engineering at BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore, India and then trained and worked as a software engineer with Infosys Technologies. For the past three years, Hari has been working as the editor and content manager of the Melton Foundation. He also works as the administrative director of the Subramaniam Academy of Performing Arts (SAPA). Some of his other academic interests are alternative education, South Indian classical music, typography and films. Hari plays the violin, practices aikido and yoga, speaks six languages and loves to travel.Kelli McLoud-Schingen
Kelli is the president of KMS Consulting and has facilitated Diversity and Inclusion workshops for educational, non-profit, government, and corporate institutions in the USA, Canada, and Europe since 1989. She is currently co-authoring the African-American version of the Cultural Detective® (a tool to help develop cross-cultural competence in individuals and organizations). She is also currently coordinating a city-wide Racial Healing project in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA in collaboration with the Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League, the YWCA and the John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation. Kelli has studied and researched on the topic of racial identity and internalized racism in-depth. It is this research and her theatre background that led to the production of “Anything but Black” – Kelli’s intimate narrative of her personal journey to self-love and to embracing her racial identity with pride. Kelli studied theatre at the Oxford School of Drama and holds a Master’s in Cross-Cultural studies. She is the president of SIETAR (Society for Intercultural Education, Training, and Research), USA.Alejandro Arroyo
Alejandro Arroyo is a renowned Chilean classical guitarist and a PhD in neuroscience. He ventured into Chilean folk tradition through the transcripts of composers such as Violeta Parra and Victor Jara, contributing decisively to the development of the "Chilean Guitar" as a concert instrument. Sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile, he has performed as a soloist in classical guitar and has been the music director of chamber music groups (both instrumental and vocal) in several countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. In his field of specialization he has directed the program of “Musical Induction for Pregnancy” in the Araucanía region in Chile, a program designed to stimulate the development of emotional and cognitive intelligence associated with pregnancy and early childhood. Currently, he is the director of the Chamber Choir of the Universidad De La Frontera, a professor in the Department of Medical Specialties and a researcher at the Laboratory of Neurosciences at the same university. In 2010, he was awarded the APES prize, annually awarded by the Association of Chilean Entertainment Journalists, for his "Significant contribution the Musical Arts and Integration". This award is given to the most prominent representatives of film, radio, theater, ballet, folk music, and Chilean TV.Carolina Bos
Carolina studied at the Faculty of Architecture of the Technical University of Delft, Netherlands. She worked in research programs on rural social housing in Algeria, the Republic of Congo and Brazil. She has been teacher in Urbanism, Urban Design and Architecture Theory. Since 2000 she teaches History of Architecture at the Universidad Mayor, Temuco.Radhika Saralaya
Radhika graduated from BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore, India in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She is currently working with Mannai Technical Services, Kingdom of Bahrain as an Electrical Engineer, Internal Sales for Oil and Gas Industries. Her domain is Power Distribution and Electrical design of Communication and Analyzer shelters. She really enjoys dancing and has been professionally trained in Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi. Also, Radhika was trained in Bollywood dancing, Salsa and Hip-hop while she was a part of Lourd Vijay’s Dance Studio, Bangalore. Learning and performing these dances has given her a deep insight into her own culture as well as that of others and has shaped her personality. Her perspective to life has been largely influenced by new experiences and challenges faced while travelling to and residing in different countries. She will share some of her learnings with her presentation “Astitva – Discovering Identity through Dance”.Vidya Thayoor
Vidya has been a Fellow of the Melton Foundation since 2007. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore, India in Electrical Engineering. Vidya is currently working in Akamai Technologies India Pvt. Ltd. as an Associate Production Services Consultant, primarily involved with Content Adaptation for Mobile websites. She is a trained dancer in the Indian Classical Style of Dance - Bharatnatyam. In her own words: "My journey in the MF so far has been memorable, to say the least: filled with learning, experiences and wonderful friends. And ‘Identity’, this Symposium's theme is in perfect sync with dance - my interest and passion.”Magia Chilena
The folklore ballet “Magia Chilena”, integrated by 24 dancers was founded by its current director Miguel Ángel Leiva. This ballet became part of the permanent art performers of Universidad de La Frontera in 2008. From then on they have initiated a prolific career that has taken them to countries like Canada, Argentina and México. Recently they have shared stage with International Folkloric Ballets from China, Russia, Mongolia and Venezuela. With dedicated work these performers have managed to gain international recognition, showing typical dances from traditional Chilean countryside, Mapuche dances, Rapa Nui from Easter Island and Sambos Caporales, besides a tribute piece to Violeta Parra.Cona Rilul (The Path of The Warrior)
Cona Rilul is a trio that has Ivan Mosalvez -- guitarist; bassist; composer; teacher and art entrepreneur, Felipe Maurelia -- drummer; percussionist and teacher and Javier Lorca - Physicist; Engineer; pianist and composer. With vast experience in jazz, afro, urban and Latin rhythms in the Chilean scene, their music is a fusion of modern jazz with Chilean folklore, thus making it intimately Chilean in its idiom and totally international in its appeal.Organizing team
