Theme: Impetus - force that drives change

When we reflect on the last year, many will note that 2020 was a year of transformation. The last 12 months have seen dramatic changes in the world and many others’ personal journeys:

COVID-19 has shaken up our perspectives, way of governance, and reset our world’s vision of what is ‘normal’. Issues related to climate change, racial injustice, and others have also had their moments in the spotlight.

Impetus is a word derived from physics describing momentum, or something that makes a process happen. It is also synonymous with ‘change’.

We believe that ‘Impetus – force that drives change’ provides a fitting theme for this year’s event and cannot wait for you to join us at TEDxImperialCollege 2021.

We have an inspiring line-up of student and external speakers who will focus on personal journeys, innovation, and international activism.

TEDxImperialCollege YouTube Live
Imperial College London
London, Kensington and Chelsea, SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom

Ambassador Yvette Stevens

Ambassador

Yvette Stevens earned a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Machines and Power Systems at Imperial College in 1974. She taught Electrical Engineering at the University of Sierra Leone for six years, before joining the United Nations. During 28 years, she worked for six United Nations entities and gained experience in all areas of the UN’s work, namely peace and security, humanitarian assistance and development. After retirement she became the Energy Policy Adviser in the Government of Sierra Leone, before being appointed as Sierra Leone’s first Permanent Representative to the United Nations and the World Trade Organization in Geneva. In this capacity she was actively involved in issues relating to human rights.

Franz Baumann

Research Professor

Franz Baumann is a Visiting Research Professor at New York University. He started his career at the European Parliament in Luxembourg before transferring to the European Commission in Brussels, joining Siemens in Munich and, in 1980, the United Nations, where he served in four cities on three continents in a variety of functions. His last assignment was Special Adviser on Environment and Peace Operations with the rank of Assistant Secretary-General. Franz is a Senior Fellow and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hertie School in Berlin, a member of the Board of Advisers of the Centre for United Nations Studies at the University of Buckingham (England, United Kingdom) and of the Editorial Board of Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development. His Ph.D. in Political Science (African Studies) was obtained from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.

Gabriele Messori

Associate Professor of Meteorology

Gabriele is Associate Professor of Meteorology at Uppsala University and an expert on extreme weather events. He currently leads two large European projects on this topic. Gabriele obtained his Ph.D. from Imperial College London, and has worked as a researcher in the U.K., France and Sweden. Beyond his research, Gabriele has been active in sharing his knowledge of meteorology and climate science through outreach activities aimed at the general public and school students. He is also a keen mentor and supports younger researchers in his field.

Jude Pullen

Creative Technologist

From the iconic BBC Two’s Big Life Fix and winner of the 2020 IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers) Alastair Graham-Bryce "Imagineering" Award, Creative Technologist and Physical Prototyping Expert Jude Pullen has worked for the NHS, Dyson, LEGO, and a number of start-ups. With an unparalleled appetite to investigate each subject matter that crosses his path, Jude often blends artistic provocation with novel application of technology in his work, and has won various awards, for products, strategy - and for communicating the power of creative engineering to global audiences.

Laurence Tubiana

Academic and diplomat

Laurence Tubiana is CEO of the European Climate Foundation (ECF). In addition to her role at ECF, she is the Chair of the Board of Governors at the French Development Agency (AFD), and a Professor at Sciences Po, Paris. Before joining ECF, Laurence was France’s Climate Change Ambassador and Special Representative for COP21, and as such a key architect of the landmark Paris Agreement. Following COP21, she was appointed High Level Champion for climate action. From 1997—2002, Laurence also served as Senior Adviser on the Environment to the French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin. From 2009—2010, led the newly established Directorate for Global Public Goods at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She founded in 2002 and directed until 2014 the Institute of Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI). She has held academic positions including Sciences Po and as Professor of International Affairs at Columbia University.

Mala Mawkin

Healthcare Innovator

Dr Mala Mawkin is an award-winning healthcare innovation researcher, writer and speaker. She was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 List, Vogue UK 10 Rising Female Stars 2018 and Women of the Future UK Awards Finalist 2019. Dr Mawkin also launched and hosts the Royal Society of Medicine's Digital Health Podcast Series, sits on the editorial board of the International Journal of Digital Health, and worked on projects with Harvard & Boston Children’s Hospital’s, European Space Agency, and NASA.

Nitish Nachiappan

Medical Student

Nitish Nachiappan is a medical student at Imperial College London with special interests in public health, medical technology, and entrepreneurship. He is the co-founder of Stepforce, a platform which connects skilled refugees with socially minded employers, Ambassador at The ONE Campaign, and Head of Partnerships at CodeMD, an initiative to improve access to coding skills in healthcare.

Rita Petracca

Researcher

Rita was born and raised in Italy. She graduated in Pharmaceutical Science and Technologies from the University of Salerno in 2011 and moved to Genoa for her doctoral studies. She received a PhD in Drug Discovery and Development in 2016. In 2017, she moved to Dublin where she worked on a research project at Trinity College for 3 years. Two years ago, she joined Imperial College London as a Marie-Curie-Postdoctoral fellow. Chemist by background, Rita is developing new skills in the fields of chemical and cell biology to become an all-rounded scientist and establish bases for a future career in academia.

Vikas Khanna

Chef, film maker and author

Vikas Khanna is an internationally acclaimed Indian American chef, film maker, and author. He is a James Beard nominee and one of the first Indian chefs to be awarded a Michelin Star in the U.S. He has been featured amongst the 10 most influential chefs in the world by Deutsche Welle and Gazette Review. He is the host of MasterChef India, Twist of Taste and Mega Kitchens on National Geographic. He founded the Museum of Kitchen Arts, located at his alma mater, WGSHA, Manipal, India. His initiative Feed India served more than 51 Million Meals during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The Last Color marks Khanna’s debut as a film writer and director which was eligible for OSCARS race for Best Feature, 2020.