Theme: Independent Thinking

TEDx is a grassroots initiative, created in the spirit of TED’s overall mission to research and discover “ideas worth spreading.” TEDx brings the spirit of TED to local communities around the globe via “rules and tools”. TEDx events are organized by passionate individuals who seek to uncover new ideas and the latest research in their local areas and spark conversations in their communities. More than 3000 events are now held annually. TEDxSkidmoreCollege is ushering its fourth conference on Feb 29, 2020 at Gannett Auditorium. Several professors and students are going to share their ideas and experience there. Our event will be recorded and uploaded to TED's official website, and youtube to let more people around the world know about the amazing people in Skidmore College.

Gannett Auditorium
Skidmore College, 815 North Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York, 12866
United States

Arthur Lin

Captain of the China Youth Polo Team; Player of the China National Polo Team; Overseas Project Manager of 1003 Polo Culture Technology Co., Ltd.; Member of the China Polo Association

Arthur Lin is a Freshman at Skidmore College, he is an achieved polo player and sports enthusiast. He founded and is currently the captain of the China Youth Polo team in 2016, and has won numerous tournaments both abroad and locally in China, including but not limited to Annual Dalian International Beach Polo Tournament 2014, China Open 2016 and 2017. He is a recent member of the newly reinstated China Polo Association, and as well as a member of the China National Team. He participated most recently in the 2020 Asia Games, coming in 4th and will be drafted to participate in the National Games of China in 2022.

Bri Watts

Leader of Love and Light

A student of how words and letters are married to emotion and indisputable strength, a daughter of many black mothers, and a giver of joy and truth. Bri Watts is a person who believes in the goodness and possibility of every other person, including herself. Bri, as a Skidmore senior – has studied English with endless curiosity, traveled three continents in one year, co-founded a niche and needed organization and platform on campus called Pass the Mic, and has delved deep into the pits of her own soul with hopes of helping to guide everybody else into their own.

Mary Odekon

Professor of Physics

Mary Crone Odekon is Professor of Physics and Kenan Chair of Liberal Arts at Skidmore College, where she studies the formation of galaxies and large-scale structure in the universe. She has approached this problem using computer simulations as well as data from a variety of telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope and the Arecibo Radio Observatory. She has published dozens of peer-reviewed articles and is currently funded by the National Science Foundation. Dr. Odekon teaches across the curriculum at Skidmore, having developed over twenty distinct courses. She served as Chair of the Physics Department for nine years, and has been on many major committees, including Skidmore’s Committee on Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure. She is currently serving on the Lever Press Editorial Board, the Education Board of the American Astronomical Society, and the Board of the New York Astronomical Corporation.

Shaylan Kolodney

Student, Environmental Scientist

Shaylan Kolodney is a junior at Skidmore College studying Environmental Science. Her passion for the environment began developing at a young age but was sparked in high school after creating a campaign to ban polystyrene in her school cafeteria. Her efforts later inspired her hometown to encourage more sustainable business practices. Shaylan now does research on carbon farming at Caney Fork Farm with a small group of other Skidmore environmental science students. She has also had the opportunity to study in Bhutan where she participated in conducting research to find the possible contributing factors to the rapid dieback of the Himalayan Blue Pine (Pinus wallichiana). Although she studies the processes of the earth, she is also deeply interested in understanding the role of humans in the environment. She is driven every day to figure out how she can positively contribute to our world.

Xiting Huang

Student, Member of "Why can't you enjoy galleries?---explore the reasons behind the lack of aesthetic structure" Project

My high school emphasizes developing student’s art, with a major focus on fine arts, music, and theater. It gives me a lot of opportunities to take part in art activities during my school years. I enjoy traveling thought the different art spaces. I am willing to explore the diversified development of contemporary art and thought in the most famous art galleries all over the world. “To feel is the most important thing in art, to feel the most sincere, real, and essential things." This is what my idol said on a TV show. I can dislike this piece of work, and you can appreciate the dust-covered paintings in the corner. I hope that through this speech, more people are willing to feel it.