TEDxUSF brings together unique voices from the USF community with insights from a wide range of disciplines that reflect our theme “A World Beyond Ourselves.” Our goal is to bring together bright minds to give talks that are idea-focused, and on a wide range of subjects, to foster learning, inspiration and wonder – and provoke conversations that matter.

Our Theme: “A World Beyond Ourselves:
We become so familiar with what’s around us and what we see on a daily basis. This theme pushes us to go beyond the known to examine those worlds that lie within our own world as well as the worlds that go beyond the borders of our geographic location. Step outside of yourself and discover something new. You’ll never know what you can find.

Marshall Student Center, 4200 (The Chamber)
4202 E Fowler Avenue
MSC 4200
Tampa, Florida, 33620
United States

La Lucha

An artistic USF alumni team (Gloria Muñoz, MFA, Creative Writing, 2013; Mark Feinman, MM, Jazz Performance, 2012; Alejandro Arenas, BA, Jazz Performance, 2008; John O’Leary, PhD, Biomedical Science/Neuroscience, 2013) works on collaborative projects for a cause. Their most recent collaboration, SEE. HEAR. FEEL. A Multi-Sensory Arts Experience, Focusing on Alzheimer’s disease premiered at The Studio@620 in St. Petersburg this November and was funded in part by The Doris Duke Foundation. With support from The USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Institute, the project will tour galleries, clinics and conventions throughout the US

Carissa Caricato

Carissa's passion is to give a voice to women oppressed by violence and bring smiles and laughter into dark places. She hopes her life serves as an example that anything is possible through simple people, simple tools and an extra dose of faith and boldness. She is the Founder of an international dance NGO called Hoola for Happiness, which has taken her all over the world spreading joy through hoops.

Daniel Yeh

Dr. Daniel Yeh is an Assoc. Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at USF, with interests in global water and sanitation, renewable bioenergy, urban water infrastructure, green buildings and climate change. He was a recipient of the 2014 Excellence in Innovation Award at USF. His research team received the 2014 Cade Museum Prize for innovation and was one of the winning teams of the Reinvent The Toilet Challenge: India sponsored by the government of India and the Gates Foundation.

Deby Cassill

This self-proclaimed "ant whisperer" shares amazing stories about the rich, emotional lives of fire ants. Hear from USF Associate Professor Deby Cassill what we can learn from the inner lives of ants.

Parmvir Bahia

Parmvir Bahia is a neuroscientist, runner, expat and science advocate. A native Londoner who now lives in Tampa, FL; she works as a research associate at the University of South Florida and spends any free time directing the US chapter of the organization Pint of Science. She gratefully leads a team of volunteers all working to make that gap between science and non-scientists a little bit smaller.

Rhondel Whyte

An international student from Trinidad & Tobago, Whyte journeyed to the US to pursue college and chase the American dream. During his life he always believed in creating a world for himself through industriousness and an augmented view of reality. When he uprooted his life and came to this foreign land where no one knew his name, reality set in that he could be anyone he wanted to be.

Robert Bishop

Bishop is the Dean of Engineering at USF and holds a faculty position in Electrical Engineering. His father was a jazz musician, so as a child he was surrounded by music and lived a creative childhood. His favorite high school class was art. He is a rocket scientist and an avid space exploration supporter. He is a specialist in the area of systems theory, guidance and control of spacecraft, and navigation and estimation theory with applications across a broad range of aerospace challenges.

Ryan Swanson

A 27 year old graduate from the University of South Florida School of Architecture and the founder/executive director of The Urban Conga--a non-profit promoting community activity and social interaction through play. Ryan cultivates play in community by providing underutilized spaces with different interactive installations that spark creativity, exploration, and inspiration.