Our theme, Odyssey, is inspired by elements of a Greek epic poem and a science fiction film. These elements are a journey, a challenge, and a promising destination.
On our shared human journey many challenges, e.g., global warming, health crisis, etc., have announced their presence. We recognize it is crucial to be mindful of our recent strides towards a better tomorrow. For us, Odyssey personifies hope and call for optimism.
At TEDxDrexelU, we want to showcase stories and ideas that resonate with the spirit of the theme. We wish to give you, the viewer, an insight into recent advancements across disciplines, inspiration from stories of triumph, and learnings from new important findings. All of which aim to ground us to our vision of building a better tomorrow.
Speakers
Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.
Joe Callahan
Founder & CEO of Ciright Companies
Joe Callahan, Founder and CEO of the Ciright Companies, oversees more than 100 employees spanning several continents and over 15 brands. A serial entrepreneur with a unique mix of engineering, programming, and creative marketing, Joe is passionate about all things technology. He is a highly sought after thought-leader serving the needs of companies striving for growth, efficiency, and productivity.Nicholas Jushchyshyn
Program Director, VR and Immersive Media at Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design at Drexel University
Nick directs the Westphal College's programs in Immersive Media and The Immersive Research Lab. His research focuses on the development and application of virtual production and immersive media formats in areas including education, cultural heritage, medicine, and narrative experiences. His background is in feature film visual effects and includes work on films such as "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo", "I Am Number Four", "Let Me In", "The Last Air Bender" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"..Nicole Koltick
Director of Design Futures Lab at Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Nicole Koltick currently serves as an Associate Professor and Associate Director for the MDes in Design Research program in the Department of Architecture, Design & Urbanism. She founded the Design Futures Lab, one of the first speculative design research labs in the country in 2012, to explore the convergence of Machines, Materials and Narratives. Her lab develops design research projects from speculative provocations into highly resolved prototypes of objects, experiences and environments for the near and far future. Recent lab projects include scent communication devices, synthetic biological interior surfaces, hybrid bio-computational human interfaces and a multi-year investigation into speculative ambient robotic systems. She is a 2014 MacDowell Fellow and her work has been widely exhibited internationally with editorial coverage on Dezeen, Fast Company, the creator’s project, Architizer and other technology and design outlets.Sean O’Donnell
Professor of Biodiversity Earth & Environmental Science at Drexel University
Dr. Sean O'Donnell is a Professor of Biodiversity Earth & Environmental Science at Drexel University (Philadelphia, USA). His research focuses on how variation in climate, especially temperature variation, shapes the evolution and development of animal thermal tolerances. He focuses most on complex animal societies, and he is particularly fascinated by the army ants that roam tropical forests. He conducts field research and teaches field courses in Central and South America (Costa Rica, Ecuador and Peru), as well as in the Negev Desert in Israel.Yury Gogotsi
Director of the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute at Drexel University
Professor Yury Gogotsi is the Charles T. and Ruth M. Bach Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Drexel University. He also serves as Director of the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute. In Stanford’s list of top 2% researchers in the world across all scientific disciplines, Yury Gogotsi was ranked #53 in 2019 among all living and deceased scientists. Dr. Yury was a part of the team that discovered a new family of 2D carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides of transition metals (MXenes). His work on carbon and carbide nanomaterials with tunable structure and porosity had a major impact on the field of capacitive energy storage. Professor Gogotsi has received three honorary doctorates and numerous awards for his research. He has co-authored two books, more than 700 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and edited 14 books. He has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in Chemistry and Materials Science, and as a Citations Laureate by Clarivate Analytics.Organizing team
