Theme: RE:THINK

TEDx is once more happening at UWC Red Cross Nordic again. On April 6th, 2024, internal and external speakers will present phenomenal and laboured speeches with diverse topics.

TEDxUWCRCN will occur at United World College Red Cross Nordic in Flekke, Sogn og Fjordane, Norway. UWC Red Cross Nordic is one of the 18 UWC schools all around the world. Despite its small size, this school has a rich cultural landscape that reflects the whole world, thanks to our student body, which comprises 85 different nationalities. Each speaker has been meticulously chosen, embodying a passion and determination to drive meaningful change across multiple fields, including cultural, social, scientific, and more. This event celebrates the collaborative spirit and innovative thinking that are shaping a brighter tomorrow for us all.

In the context of societal polarisation, TEDxUWCRCN serves as a platform for fostering meaningful dialogue and intellectual exploration. Our theme, Re:Think, invites participants to challenge conventional wisdom and explore new perspectives on pressing issues facing our world today. By embracing diversity of thought and encouraging open-mindedness, we aim to create an environment where ideas can collide, evolve, and inspire change.

Auditorium at UWC Red Cross Nordic
UWC Red Cross Nordic
Flekke, Sogn og Fjordane, 6968
Norway

Dr Emma Mitchell

Academic Programme Leader

Dr Emma Mitchell is a physics teacher and the Academic Programme Leader at UWC Red Cross Nordic. While studying in Northern Ireland and at the University of Cambridge, England, Emma noticed that there were fewer females than males in her physics cohorts. After embarking on a career in secondary education, she explored the factors affecting subject and curriculum choices and has published her master's and doctorate research in Tes magazine, on the IB Research website (winning a Jeff Thompson Award) and through the Three-Minute Thesis competition (placing runner-up at University College London). Today, immersed in the International Baccalaureate philosophy that promotes conceptual understanding and interdisciplinary thinking, Emma aims to make physics ideas as accessible as possible in her lessons, textbook and website. Her talk will inspire the audience to notice the peculiarities of something we have all heard of - water - and appreciate the scientific reasons that lie behind them.

Elisabeth Eide

Professor Emerita in journalism

Elisabeth Eide is Professor Emerita in journalism studies at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University. Besides, she is an experienced journalist and author/co-author/editor/co-editor of approximately 30 books, among them five novels, and a large number of research articles and chapters. Her main research interest is Conflict and Peace Journalism and Journalism and the Climate Crisis. She has lived and worked in Afghanistan, India and Pakistan, and reported from several other countries. She has received the Ossietzky Award for freedom of expression, the Norwegian Media Researchers Association honorary award as well as the communication award.

Hannah Katelijne Hirson

Student at UWC Red Cross Nordic

Hannah is a 19 year old student at the United World College in Western Norway. She grew up in London, enjoying school and developing passions for music, rock climbing and environmentalism. She deeply values the process of building an increasingly healthy relationship with herself, having found her emotional spectrum to be a key factor in both cultivating personal purpose and motivating climate action. In her Tedx talk she will explain the idea that allowing the discomfort and imperfection of difficult emotions can help us live more meaningful lives, with greater courage and capacity to act for positive change.

Kristie Martins

Student at UWC Red Cross Nordic

Kristie is a student from UWCRCN from the UK and Nigeria. She brings forth a compelling narrative shaped by her experiences with sickle cell disease. As a representative of the diaspora, she endeavors to challenge prevailing notions surrounding black health, both within the UK and on a global scale.

Nyah Mandisa Francisco

Student at United World College Red Cross Nordic

Nyah Francisco, an 18-year-old social activist and feminist, is currently in her second year at United World College Red Cross Nordic. Coming from Maputo, Mozambique, she has always been deeply committed to advocating for women's rights, particularly within the context of Mozambique and Africa as a whole. Raised by a single mother, Nyah has firsthand experience with the challenges and blessings of womanhood, motivating her to champion the rights of African women and children. In addition to her activism, she envisions a future in the political arena, concentrated on human rights. Nyah also aspires to become a photojournalist focused on documenting conflict-ridden areas and locations where human rights abuses, such as Female Genital Mutilation, occur. Her upcoming talk will explore the intersection of tradition and abuse, questioning when the line is crossed, especially concerning African women.

Shahed Zahaykeh

Student at UWC Red Cross Nordic

Meet Shahd Zahayka, an 18-year-old Palestinian living in Jerusalem whose life has been defined by the challenges of living as a "stateless" individual within the Israeli border. Shahd's TEDx talk, titled "Rethinking Borders: My Stateless Journey," shares her awakening at the Red Cross Nordic United World College (RCN), where she discovered a parallel universe of rights and freedoms that challenged the norms she grew up with. Shahd explores the transformative power of questioning accepted beliefs, reshaping her understanding of peace as a universal concept, and challenging invisible borders and unspoken rules that once dictated her worth. Her narrative challenges preconceived notions, encouraging the audience to reflect on their understanding of normalcy and peace, and urging a collective reevaluation of the factors that contribute to a truly inclusive and rights-based society.