You Are What You Perceive: TEDxNSU 2015 Videos, Photos Now Posted Online

The Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences recently hosted its fourth annual TEDxNSU, an independently organized TED event. The theme of this year’s event was “Perception,” and the event’s engaging lectures, videos, and hands-on activities—all created and presented by NSU members—focused on this theme.

TEDxNSU 2015 was managed by co-organizers Leanne Boucher, Ph.D., and Matt Collins, Ph.D., associate professors at the college; as well as committee members Jason Gershman, Ph.D., associate professor and coordinator of mathematics, and James Munoz, Ph.D., assistant professor. The event opened with engaging sensory perception exhibits led by students in Boucher’s Sensation and Perception class. Topics covered included the phenomenon of phantom limb pain, schizophrenia and its perceptual effects, and the viral sensation commonly known as #ThatDress.

Student presenter Harold Rodriguez, psychology major, said, “Knowledge is not to keep to oneself, but to pass it on, so that we continue to create the foundations of an educated, creative, and prosperous society. TEDxNSU was my moment for doing so.”

Psychology major Emily Schlaefer, another student presenter, said that “I enjoyed learning about all the different ways that perception can influence the world.”

The seven TEDxNSU keynote presenters were comprised of NSU faculty and undergraduate and graduate students who shared their distinct perspectives and ideas that we can use to question the lens through which we view the world. Click here to watch videos of these TEDxNSU lectures.

Kate Waites, professor, gave a talk on the history of feminism and said of the experience, “As a college professor for more than 30 years, I am grateful and humbled by the experience of participating in our university’s TEDxNSU. It gave me a newfound appreciation for the talent and wisdom of students and colleagues on our campus and for the generous dedication of its organizers.”

In her presentation, graduate student Sarah Bramblette talked about her personal experience with weight bias in the medical profession. “I combined my idea worth sharing with my personal story,” Bramblette said of her experience.

The event also included screenings of the following TED Talks: “The Art of Misdirection” by Apollo Robbins, “Why Some People Find Exercise Harder Than Others” by Emily Balcetis, and “I Am the Son of a Terrorist. Here’s How I Chose Peace” By Zak Ebrahim.

The event co-organizers noted that this was the biggest TEDxNSU yet—garnering significantly more interest from students, faculty, staff, and local community members seeking a seat. While seating at TEDxNSU is limited, “We had almost 200 people apply to attend the event this year,” Boucher said, “almost doubling applications from the previous year.” The organizing committee aims to continue to expand the event’s participation, attendance, and innovation each year.

Click here to flip through the event’s photo album, which was captured by NSU alumna Dana Kromke.

The event’s social media coverage is summarized here.

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About TEDx, x=independently organized event

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)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place in Long Beach, California, with simulcast in Palm Springs; TEDGlobal is held each year in Oxford, UK. TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TEDFellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.