Peter Donnelly is an expert in probability theory who applies statistical methods to genetic data -- spurring advances in disease treatment and insight on our evolution. He's also an expert on DNA analysis, and an advocate for sensible statistical analysis in the courtroom.

Rebecca Henderson is obsessed with finding solutions to climate change.

Mandë Holford investigates the power of venom to transform organisms (and lives) when it is adapted to create new therapeutics that treat human diseases and disorders.

Through the Global Citizen platform, humanitarian Hugh Evans has created an online community of millions of people -- all driven to eradicate extreme poverty by the year 2030.

France Villarta, a communications consultant for Wells Fargo, is passionate about exploring the intersectionality of gender, politics and culture.

With scholarship and incisive commentary that exposes the marginalized narratives hidden within "mainstream" history, Brittney Cooper writes at the vanguard of cultural criticism.

Dwandalyn R. Reece is Curator of Music and Performing Arts at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

With his show 99% Invisible, Roman Mars discovered new ways to jolt public radio out of its old paradigms, while at the same time spinning riveting tales of design.

Kate Bowler is reexamining her perspective on the "prosperity gospel": the belief that good things happen to good people.

Danielle N. Lee examines the ecology and natural history of nuisance rodents, using hip-hop to share science with broader audiences.

Drawing on a rich cultural and personal history, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò studies philosophy of law, social and political philosophy, Marxism, and African and Africana philosophy.

Vik Muniz delights in subverting a viewer's expectations. He uses unexpected materials to create portraits, landscapes and still lifes, which he then photographs.

Caroline Weaver owns CW Pencil Enterprise, a wood-cased pencil specialty shop in New York City.

The author of "The Warmth of Other Suns," the story of the Great Migration, Isabel Wilkerson is a Pulitzer-winning journalist who uses narrative history to bring to light our shared humanity.

JK Rowling penned the bestselling Harry Potter page-turners -- a spellbinding, seven-installment fantasy of wizards, warlocks and decidedly British texture that brought her from rags to riches.

Canku One Star promotes living a healthier lifestyle via song and dance.

Mike O'Sullivan postulates that the 30-year era of globalization is now over and that we are entering a new, uncertain -- but increasingly values-driven -- world order.

Robert Waldinger is the Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the most comprehensive longitudinal studies in history.

Hank Willis Thomas is a conceptual artist working primarily with themes related to identity, history and popular culture.

Joi Ito is the former director of the MIT Media Lab.

When he’s not ferreting out the links between stem cells and malignant blood disease, Siddhartha Mukherjee writes and lectures on the history (and future) of medicine.

From wedding invitations to Utopian newspapers, Kelli Anderson re-designs commonplace objects to go beyond their ordinary functions and create surprising experiences.

Eric Hirshberg leads Activision, one of the world's largest interactive entertainment companies.

Bernie Dunlap is a true polymath, whose talents span poetry, opera, ballet, literature and administration. He is the president of South Carolina’s Wofford College.

Geoff Mulgan is director of the Young Foundation, a center for social innovation, social enterprise and public policy that pioneers ideas in fields such as aging, education and poverty reduction. He’s the founder of the think-tank Demos, and the author of "The Art of Public Strategy."

Andrew Stanton has made you laugh and cry. The writer behind the three "Toy Story" movies and the writer/director of "WALL-E," he releases his new film, "John Carter," in March.

Kaustav Dey leads marketing for Tommy Hilfiger in India.

Opening minds and showcasing new voices -- it's all part of the job description for Studio Museum in Harlem director and chief curator Thelma Golden.

The best-selling author of "Nonzero," "The Moral Animal" and "The Evolution of God," Robert Wright draws on his wide-ranging knowledge of science, religion, psychology, history and politics to figure out what makes humanity tick -- and what makes us moral.

Farish Ahmad-Noor believes that we can never truly escape history but we need not be victims of it either.