Theme: Disruptive

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).

Chandler Downtown Library
22 S Delaware St
Chander, Arizona, 85225
United States

Aanand Mehta

Nonprofit Founder

Aanand is a junior at BASIS Phoenix in Phoenix, AZ. He has been playing the cello for the past 7 years and singing Indian classical music for the past 11 years, prompting his interest in the interplay between music, medicine, and volunteering. To explore the juxtaposition of music and volunteering, he formed a musical group, Musical Minds, that plays music at assisted living facilities across Arizona. Aanand most recently co-founded a nonprofit organization, Magical Motors, that creates assistive technologies for children with developmental disabilities. Also conducting research at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona School of Medicine, Aanand aspires to pursue opportunities in the field of healthcare.

Alex Kroumov

Researcher

Alex Kroumov is an Arizona College Prep High School senior with a passion for biomedical engineering. Particularly interested in projects related to neuroscience, he has worked with Arizona State University to investigate the effects of music on neuroelectric patterns. Additionally, he works with fellow students to develop technology that addresses issues ranging from heat stress to termites. Projects to which he has contributed have been presented in front of Chandler’s city council, featured on the news, and shown at Regeneron’s International Science and Engineering Fair. In the future, he seeks to use his experience with research and development to advance the connection between computers and the brain.

Jessica Burke

Food Writer

Jessica is a rising junior at Hamilton High School passionate about working at the interface of cooking and science. She is the founder of Otium, a blog dedicated to answering common questions about the food industry to over 3 million viewers monthly which also been recognized as one of the top 25 food science blogs of 2022. Jessica was named a Borlaug Scholar at the 2022 World Food Prize Global Youth Institute and is currently conducting research on edible coatings of fresh-cut fruits with a PhD student at Cornell University. Jessica was named one of Arizona’s 18 under 18 and serves as a food writer and recipe developer for global food magazines including Taste of Home, Food52, and Cherry Bombe. She is a board member of the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Advisory Council, treasurer of her National Charity League class, cofounder of her club Ecomed which supports greener healthcare in Arizona, and always finds time to shoot competitive archery, play ukulele, and of course cook.

Mars Kapadia

Coder

Mars Kapadia is a rising college Freshman at Carnegie Mellon University. He has a passion for developing innovative products that push technology toward the future. He has interned for the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce where he found exploits for large Financial Tech corporations. Besides cybersecurity, he is the founder of a company dedicated to selling IoT products to enable a seamless IoT integration towards any tangible task. His previous work such as Smart Glasses, and a Vanadium Redux Reflow Battery has been featured in magazines, local news stations, and presented at Regeneron’s International Science and Engineering Fair.

Sonya Colattur

Activist

Sonya Colattur is a competitive archer and rising high school junior interested in public policy analysis. She is a passionate changemaker and activist who was named one of Arizona’s 18 under 18 recipients. She is the Domestic Violence Workgroup Chair of the Arizona Governor’s Youth Commission and she is the founder of the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, GrandPaws Pantry, which provides pet supplies to senior citizens in assisted living on fixed incomes. Her most personal contribution to her community is the youth organization, The Color of Us, which she founded as a result of her own multiracial and multicultural heritage. Sonya is a content creator and podcast host for the organization which provides a platform for other multiracial youth. She has recently petitioned the Arizona Board of Education for multiracial inclusion in public school curriculums and she successfully advocated to Governor Doug Ducey to issue a proclamation naming June 7th-14th as Multiracial Heritage Week.

Sophia Lin

Activist

Sophia Lin is a rising high school sophomore who enjoys using her artwork and voice to bring awareness of social issues and advocate for underserved communities. Sophia is a co-founder, dance instructor and VP of Outreach for iReach, a youth service organization with the goal of improving Arizona youth education in art and STEM. Sophia is an ambassador for the nonprofit organization Free Arts for Abused Children of Arizona that delivers therapeutic arts programs and uses the healing power of the arts to transform and inspire lives. Sophia won 2nd Place in the State Speech Championship for Original Oratory, and she was awarded first runner-up in the Miss Arizona's Outstanding Teen Competition.