In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

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Catherine Hill

Attorney

Catherine Hill, an attorney with more than 25 years of experience in creating and advising businesses, has been appointed the eighth F. William Harder Chair of Business at Skidmore College. Hill owns and manages CooperHill, a strategic consulting practice. CooperHill advises progressive, visionary businesses and institutions on economic development, sustainability, energy efficiency and renewable energy. The firm’s clients include colleges, universities, national laboratories and start-up businesses.

Chad Orzel

Physicist

I’m an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Union College, and I write books about science for non-scientists. I also blog about physics and other things at Forbes.com and ScienceBlogs.com. I have a BA in physics from Williams College and a Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from the University of Maryland, College Park (studying laser cooling at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the lab of Bill Phillips, who shared the 1997 Nobel in Physics). I was a post-doc at Yale, and have been at Union since 2001. My books _How to Teach Physics to Your Dog_ and _How to Teach Relativity to Your Dog_ explain modern physics through imaginary conversations with my German Shepherd, Emmy, and my most recent book, _Eureka: Discovering Your Inner Scientist_ (Basic, 2014), explains how we use the process of science in everyday activities. I live in Niskayuna, NY with my wife, Kate Nepveu, our two kids, and Emmy, the Queen of Niskayuna.

Colleen Costello

Founder

Colleen’s career spans clinical & healthcare research, engineering, biochemistry, product development, management practices and opportunity analysis. She has held positions as a researcher on master thesis projects at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Weill Cornell Medical College, NYC, in surgical device design and pre-clinical studies at Covidien Surgical Devices, and tissue engineering research at RPI. Colleen has several patents pending and holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Technological Entrepreneurship from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY. She has additionally been featured on CNBC, and Bloomberg News, was named a 50 Emerging Global Entrepreneur to Watch by Inc. Magazine, Albany Business Review 40 Under 40 and is a selected member of the Kairos Society.

David Haight

Director

Since joining American Farmland Trust in 2001, David Haight has worked with more than 20 local governments to establish agricultural economic development and farmland protection plans. He aids state and federal legislators as they work on agricultural and land conservation legislation and has helped coordinate projects that have permanently protected more than 4,000 acres of New York farmland. Haight helped to author AFT’s Guide to Local Planning for Agriculture in New York and New York Agricultural Landowner Guide to Tax, Conservation, and Management Programs. His previous work experience includes evaluating the fiscal impact of land conservation for the Vermont Land Trust and work as an outdoor educator in New York’s Catskill Mountains.

Dr. Valerie Rapson

STEM

Dr. Valerie Rapson recently obtained her Ph.D. in Astrophysical Sciences and Technology at the Rochester Institute of Technology, and is now working as the Outreach Astronomer at the Dudley Observatory at miSci. Throughout her graduate career, Valerie spent much of her free time educating the general public about astronomy. She taught science summer camps for kids, presented star shows at the Strasenburgh Planetarium, and developed an astronomy lifelong learning program for senior citizens. Her passion for teaching was recognized when she became a national Astronomy Ambassador in 2014, and subsequently had her work with senior citizens published in Astronomy Magazine in October 2015. Valerie is really excited to be spearheading the astronomy education programs at the Dudley Observatory at miSci. She plans to reach out to all members of the public, both young and young-at-heart, and teach them the wonders of our Universe.

Emad Rahim

Educator

Dr. Emad Rahim is an award-winning author, educator and entrepreneur. He currently serve as the Kotouc Endowed Chair at Bellevue University and JWMI Fellow at the Jack Welch Management Institute. He co-authored the book ‘Leading through Diversity: Transforming Managers into Effective Leaders’ and wrote the article ‘The Growing Epidemic of Islamophobia in America: Social Change through Appreciative Inquiry.’ His story was turned into a short documentary and incorporated into a theater production titled ‘Tales from the Salt City,’ which is an extension of the acclaimed Undesirable Elements series written by celebrated playwright, Ping Chong. He lives in Syracuse NY, loves coffee, foodie fanatic and is passionate with this thing called entrepreneurship. He has been featured in the Huffington Post, Forbes Magazine, IntelligentHQ, The Humanist and CEO Magazine.

Heather Jacobsen

Founder

Heather Jacobsen is a researcher, writer and founder of the online wellness magazine, Stuffed Pepper. Heather is interested in how our modern diet is affecting chronic disease. She considers herself an “accidental nutritionist,” having learned more about nutrition than she ever set out to do, after delving into the medical literature regarding gluten, grains, celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Heather has an MSc from the University of Kent in Canterbury (UK) and a BA from the University of Virginia. She was also once ordained as a Buddhist nun.

Jaye McBride

Comedian

Jaye McBride has performed stand-up all over the country, sharing the stage with stars like Aziz Ansari & Jim Norton. In addition to stand-up, Jaye has written, produced and acted in a variety of short films. When not performing on-stage or on-screen Jaye hosts “Planet Funny Radio” on iHeart radio and writes “The Comedy Blog” for the Albany’s Times Union. Having transitioned in 2007, Jaye is uniquely qualified to talk about awkward first dates, strained family relationships and self- acceptance. Make no mistake though, Jaye McBride is not a gimmick or one-trick pony. She is one genuinely funny lady!

Sandhyaa Iyengar

Doctor

Sandhyaa Iyengar, M.D. received her undergraduate degree at Stony Brook University and then attended St. George’s University School of Medicine. She is currently a senior resident at Albany Medical Center in Pediatrics. After she completes residency this year she will enter sub-speciality training in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Her past experiences include teaching adaptive aquatics to special needs children and working in a home for girls with autism. She has enjoyed volunteering with the Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity and has been involved in international medical missions to Tanzania and the Philippines. In Albany she has pursued community advocacy through partnering with local organizations, and has been a part of a local farmer’s market for an underserved area of Albany, and she has founded a community-based initiative to teach families about the importance of reading with their children called Story Time Stars.

Ty Allan Jackson

Author

Children’s book author and publisher Ty Allan Jackson’s books have been used by Google for Entrepreneurs, The United Way, YMCA’s, Boys and Girls Clubs, many other youth organizations and countless schools across the country as tools to enhance literacy. He is a literacy advocate who travels from coast to coast promoting the joy of reading to children and adults alike. He has received citations from the Massachusetts governor, senator and House of Representatives for his efforts in promoting literacy. Ty is also the 2013 winner and 2015 finalist for Trendsetter of the Year by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. He was recently named co-chair of Pittsfield Promise, an initiative aimed to have at least 90% of Pittsfield's students reading at or above grade level by the third grade.