Theme: The Big Picture

To view the 2021 event page go to https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/43431

Virtual
Arches Point at Parkside
Irving, Texas, 75063
United States

Dia Atluri

High School Student

As a high schooler, she aims to help her community by volunteering in after-school clubs and starting passion projects. She is extremely interested in current events and expresses that interest through avid participation in speech and debate. She also runs cross country and has enjoyed running alongside both the varsity and JV teams. In her free time, she likes to watch foreign films and eat as much food as possible.

John Nielsen-Gammon

Texas A&M Atmospheric Sciences Professor

John Nielsen-Gammon is currently a Regents Professor of Atmospheric Sciences and also serves as the Texas State Climatologist. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, receiving a Ph.D. He does research on various types of extreme weather from droughts to floods, as well as air pollution and computer modeling. As Texas State Climatologist, he helps the State of Texas make the best possible use of weather and climate information, through applied research, outreach, and service on state-level committees. He is also a fellow of the American Meteorological Society.

Kapil Apshankar

Life Bliss Coach

Kapil is an internationally certified Heal Your Life teacher, workshop leader and coach. He holds a doctorate in counselling and is a Clinical Hypnotherapist and Master Hypnotic Coach certified by American Council of Hypnotist Examiners. Kapil is a co-founder of Blissvana, a boutique self growth and personal transformation studio. He, along with his wife Rupali, helps business leaders, conscious entrepreneurs, empaths and emotionally sensitive high-achievers achieve their biggest goals easily and effortlessly using the power of their whole-brain and mind-body connection. Kapil is an avid fountain pen user, and spends all his free time journaling with different fountain pens and inks from his collection.

Natasha Banga

High School Student

Natasha is a junior at Coppell High School. She has had a passion for mental health advocacy since an early age, and she expresses her interest in this field through participation in forensics. Her World Schools Debate team ranked 9th in the nation in 2020. Natasha also leads the Coppell High School speech and debate program as its Vice President and Congress/Extemporaneous Speaking Captain. She also serves as co-president of the Coppell Red Cross Club. In her free time, she enjoys Indian classical dance (Kathak) and has also completed her Level 8 certification in piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Pranav Krishnan

Middle School Student

He loves speech and debate. Apart from doing speech and debate he has is an avid speedcuber. He is also interested in democracy and how the government works. He loves spending time with his family and going out with them. He is also very interested in sports.

Sara Seager

Astrophysicist & Professor of Physics and Planetary Science at MIT

Dr. Sarah Seager has pioneered many research areas of characterizing exoplanets with concepts and methods that now form the foundation of the field of exoplanet atmospheres. Her present research focuses on the search for life by way of exoplanet atmospheric “biosignature” gases has also led to research in the evolution of life through chemical space. She works on space missions for planetary discovery and exploration. She is most recently is leading a mission concept study to find signs of life or life itself on Venus. Among other accolades, Professor Seager is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, a MacArthur Fellow, a recipient of the Sackler Prize in the Physical Sciences, and has Asteroid 9729 named in her honor.

SunHee Simon

Debate Coach at Coppell Highschool

SunHee Simon is Debate Coach at Coppell High School. Prior to Coppell, she attended and graduated from Stanford University. She holds a B.A. in African & African American Studies (2020) and a M.A. in Sociology (2020). She earned her teacher certification through Texas Teachers of Tomorrow (2020). During her time as a debate coach, Ms. Simon worked as an assistant debate coach at schools (Newark Science; St. Francis) as well as an independent tutor for individual Lincoln Douglas debaters. She coached the champions and strong contenders on the national debate circuit between 2015 and 2020. She enjoys working with her students and finding time to appreciate the opportunities and joys that come her way.

Zachary Li

High School School

He is a 10th grader at Coppell High School. He plays the piano, the trombone, as well as is a Lincoln Douglas debater at Coppell High School. He is also an instructor and a 2nd Degree Black Belt at Coppell Taekwondo Academy. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games and having fun with his friends, usually at the same time.