The Butterfly Effect: Talks from the TEDinArabic Summit

Gastro-diplomat Nasser Jaber's love for food and commitment to humanity motivated him to improve access to food for those facing food insecurity around the world -- without the help of large nonprofits or government aid. He shares his experience with gastro-diplomacy and how small local restaurants can fight food insecurity every day.

How can we unlock human potential? Physicist and poet Mahdi Mansour believes that the key is merging physics and poetry. He details how discipline-based education that teaches subjects in silos may actually hinder students' learning and development -- and shares a better way.

Climate justice advocate Amr Ramdan's hometown of Alexandria, Egypt, is in grave danger of disappearing due to rising sea levels unless concrete steps are taken to counter climate change. What could save cities like Alexandria that are at risk of drowning? Ramadan's solution: a carbon tax imposed by the government on big corporations that contribute most to global CO2 emissions.

Physician and entrepreneur Ahmad Nabeel has always wondered what constitutes the difference in users' opinions in reality versus in the virtual world. Based on the theory of conformity, Ahmad makes the case that social media platforms may have a moral responsibility to democratize data.

The Barakat building in Beirut holds a special place in the city's collective memory, especially after the civil war. Architect Mona El Hallak discusses how she fought against investors determined to demolish and rebuild the building -- and explains how she was able to revive it to serve as a witness to the memories of its inhabitants and city before it was destroyed by the flames of war and destruction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, dental researcher Hend Alqaderi began to explore how salivary biomarkers might help us predict and prevent systemic diseases. Her study led to interesting revelations about how our bodies deal differently with the same symptoms -- and the information that saliva can provide about our health and medical history. Join her as she explores the untapped potential of this discovery and its implications for personalized medicine.

Content creator Adnan Barq believes that we not only inherit our traits and characteristics from our ancestors but we also inherit their trauma, which passes down psychological wounds. He shares how the idea of the "butterfly effect" can be used to teach us how to acknowledge trauma and catalyze our future. To illustrate, Barq tells the story of an accident that almost took his life, and how it became a pivotal point in understanding and overcoming his generational trauma.

Space engineer Imane El Khantouti explores the vast potential of data and technology obtained from satellites to achieve sustainability on Earth. Her insights are an inspiration to think creatively about how we can harness the power of space technology to increase the quality of life for all people on the planet.