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).

Kennedy Hall
215 Garden Ave
Ithaca, New York, 14850
United States

Carson Taylor

Student Advocate

Carson transferred to Cornell University as a sophomore after a year at a military college, and was diagnosed with autism shortly after. Since then, he has been an advocate for neurodiversity on campus, serving as Co-President of the Disability Awareness Union, Cornell’s undergraduate association for students with disabilities and their allies. His TEDxCornell talk “How I Learned to Accept My Autism Diagnosis” focuses on the journey to accepting neurodiversity as a part of our identities.

David Shmoys

Professor of Operations Research and Computer Science

David Shmoys is a professor of operations research and computer science at Cornell, who is passionate about teaching the fundamentals of optimization modeling and algorithms to his students. In his research, he uses optimization models to help the world run better, in settings that range from improving the operations of Citibike, to long-term forestry planning to protect the red-cockaded woodpecker, an endangered species. In his TEDxCornell talk “Fairness Through Algorithmic Thinking: Designing Better Congressional Districts and Elections,” he will discuss optimization tools to create fairer congressional districts, as well as designing rules for this that are more resilient to partisan manipulation.

Dydine Umunyana

Author, Non-Profit Co-Founder, Rwandan Genocide Survivor

Dydine Umunyana Anderson is the author of Embracing Survival and survivor of the Rwanda genocide against the Tutsis. Dydine co-founded Umuco Love, a non-profit that provides educational programs to raise awareness and understanding of the connections between all people through cultural storytelling. Her TEDxCornell talk “The Power of Cultural Storytelling” will explore how cultural storytelling facilitates trauma healing, both for the storyteller and the listener.

Karin Sternberg

Professor, Researcher, Entrepreneur

Dr. Karin Sternberg is a researcher and entrepreneur based in Ithaca, NY. She has a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Heidelberg, Germany, as well as an MBA from the University of Cooperative Education in Karlsruhe, Germany. She completed some of her doctoral research at Yale University and her postdoctoral work at the University of Connecticut. Afterward, she worked as a research associate at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and School of Public Health. She has held a grant from the National Institutes of Health for the development of a cognitive training program for seniors. Dr. Sternberg’s interest focuses on the application of psychological/behavioral research with the purpose of improving people’s lives. She is also the owner of a company that applies psychological principles to real life, focusing on relationship improvement (https://lovemultiverse.com).

Matthew Dicks

Best-Selling Author, Elementary School Teacher

Matthew Dicks is an elementary school teacher and the internationally bestselling author of several books including Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend and Storyworthy: Engage Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life Through the Power of Storytelling. He’s the founder and artistic director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization that produces shows and a weekly podcast, and teaches storytelling to corporations, nonprofits, universities, and more. He loves eating ice cream cake, playing golf poorly, tickling his children, staring at his wife, and not sleeping. Matthew’s TEDxCornell talk will talk about the hidden powers of storytelling.

Nathan Laurenz

Student, Entomological Consultant

Nathan is a senior at Cornell concentrating in entomophagy, the practice of edible insects. He has worked for insect production companies in Europe and Asia and held a lifelong passion for insects. His TEDxCornell talk titled “Save the world: Eat a Bug” will focus on his journey through entomophagy and why he believes insects are the future of food.

Raj Suchak

Author and Entrepreneur

Raj Suchak is an author and entrepreneur who started 2 companies with zero funding and sold his first startup to a large publicly-traded consulting company. For his start-ups, Raj has hired people based on grit from companies like Wegmans, Subway, and others, and mentored them to become technical experts. In his TEDxCornell talk titled "You are more than your resume," Raj hopes to inspire those looking for job opportunities to show their grit rather than just relying on resumes and cover letters.