Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences to Host Fourth TEDxNSU, March 28

In the spirit of “ideas worth spreading,” TED has created TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. The Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences will host its fourth annual TEDxNSU event—an engaging day of live lectures, TED videos, photo exhibits, music, and discussion.

TEDxNSU 2015
Saturday, March 28
Noon–5:00 p.m.
Performance Theatre | Don Taft University Center

This year’s TEDxNSU theme is “Perception.” Everyone interprets the world in their own way, through a unique lens. Our perception impacts how we color incoming information. Our world view is constructed with satirical, scientific, religious, political, and/or personal thoughts and experiences.

At this year’s TEDxNSU, speakers with a distinct perspective will share ideas that we can use to question the lens through which we view the world and perhaps change our way of thinking.

The schedule of talks by NSU faculty members, students, and alumni includes:

“Breaking Bias” by Sarah Bramblette, a student in NSU’s M.S. in Health Law program: The obesity epidemic affects one-third of American adults, yet research shows that weight bias in the healthcare industry actually hinders patients’ ability to receive quality care, which creates a cycle that leads to poor overall health.

 “Rising Above the Magazine Covers” by Brittany Calaluca, an exercise and sport science major at the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences: As a fitness professional, Calaluca has adopted a mission to air the industry’s “dirty laundry” of unhealthy diets and food, and body-part obsessions that include a reliance on Photoshop to create the ideal images of a fitness model. This talk will include statistical data and examples of the power and influence of digital photo editing.

 “The Ride of Your Life” by Robert W. Kelley, J.D., trial lawyer, writer, astronomer, mathematician, lecturer, and visiting adjunct instructor at NSU: Kelley graduated from NSU’s Shepard Broad Law Center and received NSU’s Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award in 2014. Life is a journey, not a destination, and this talk will focus on the modern cosmology behind the “ride of your life.” The Universe is omnicentric, with no beginning, no end, and no center to hold onto. So what does this tell us about the search for permanency in our lives? Can we find meaning in change?

 “Uncovering Truth with Faith and Reason”by Joshua S. Loomis, Ph.D., associate professor at NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences: Few topics have raised as much debate as the apparent incompatibility between faith and science. This talk will attempt to dispel the myth that faith and science are contradictory and instead show that they actually complement each other as they both seek to find truth.

“Systematic Bias in Understanding Ourselves and Others” by Weylin Sternglanz, Ph.D., associate professor at NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences: This talk will explore how people are not only irrational––but systematically so––in their interpersonal perceptions. This includes the inability to determine whether other people are being truthful or deceptive and the inability to discern what others are feeling and thinking.

“Trick Your Mind into Being Creative” by Aadil Vora, a 2014 alumnus and former Honors student at NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences: Vora is a first-year medical student at NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. He cites his experience in theatre as a major influence in his decision to study medicine. This talk will explore how to spark the mind and ignite the creative process by demonstrating how we can “trick ourselves” into thinking more creatively while filtering out the cliché.

“An ‘F’ Word Revival in the New Millennium” by Kathleen Waites, Ph.D., a professor at NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, who focuses on English and gender studies in her teaching: This talk will explore how a feminist revival may be riding the gay rights and same-sex marriage movement as millennials recognize that women’s rights are human rights, that men have a place in the movement, and that much collective work remains to realize the goal of sex and gender equality.

 “Sharks Like Bubbles, Too” by Matthew Ware, a graduate student at NSU’s Oceanographic Center and an instructor and dive master at NSU’s Academic Dive Program: This talk will explore the myths and human fear surrounding the shark, which have resulted in bad legislation and heinous fishing practices. Today, however, more people are beginning to understand the sharks’ ecological value as top predators of the seas––whether through aquarium education or SCUBA that allows divers to witness sharks in their natural environment. These powerful tools will help combat the misunderstanding surrounding the shark.

 Tickets

Attendance at TEDxNSU is limited to 100 to encourage interaction between speakers and attendees. Visit the TEDxNSU webpage to apply for a seat, February 13–March 9. If selected to attend, an admission fee to secure a seat at this event is $5 for NSU students and $25 for non-NSU students.