Speaker Update: Chris Castro

Posted on May 18, 2013 by TEDxOrlando

clintonucfChris Castro’s organization, IDEAS for Us, was recently recognized by former President Bill Clinton for its collective impacts since inception in 2008,  and its engagement with the Clinton Global Initiative University  in 2010.

Clinton cited the organization at the University of Central Florida’s 2013 graduation ceremony for its role as a change agent.

Chris co-founded Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions, a club at UCF, in 2008.  After graduation, the organization became IDEAS for Us, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that has grown into a United Nations Accredited NGO with a presence around the World in Africa, South America and Asia. IDEAS for Us has 10,000 followers, 25 chapters, and a presence in 15 countries.

Clinton’s words underlined the wisdom and efficacy of the philosophy of collective action, and change at the local level, held by IDEAS for Us.  He spoke about the opportunity and responsibility all young people have before them in the 21st Century. He also said, “No matter how smart we are, how righteous we are, how close to the truth we are, we all do better when we work together, when we share prosperity, when we share responsibilities, when we share membership in the community.”

The video below is footage of his speech. At 22:40 seconds,  Clinton  introduces the movement by speaking about IDEAS UCF President and leader, DJ Chill Will, for his efforts at CGI U this past year, raising awareness about solar power and its creative capabilities. And we’ve also included a link to Chris’ 2012 TEDxOrlando presentation.

President Bill Clinton’s UCF Graduation Speech
IDEAS For Biomimicry: Chris Castro at TEDxOrlando

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Learn about LEAD

Posted on January 14, 2013 by TEDxOrlando

Occasionally we are approached by a group that we feel has merit and deserves recognition.  LEAD (Legislative Education & Action Delivers), a small group organized by UCF grad students Allison Berkowitz, Asteria Moore-Belghazi and Priscilla Quinonez Garcia, fits the bill.

LEAD’s mission is to explain politics in a non-traditional, relaxed and approachable way, and to facilitate involvement for people who want to have impact on issues they care about.  Meetings take place in informal, comfortable venues – homes or coffee shops – and emphasize the importance of working together to learn about and understand issues in a spirit of bipartisanship. If this sounds intriguing, you can connect on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LEAD.Orlando),  or contact them by email at  LegislationEducation@gmail.com.

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Speaker Profile: Ian Cole

Posted on September 7, 2012 by TEDxOrlando

The Scientific Method

Ian Cole, who will be speaking at TEDxOrlando in October, has a passion for finding the science in all areas of his life, and in using technology and engineering to improve the world around him.

You can see this passion in his work at Starwood Vacation Ownership, where he uses data and technology to improve the vacations, and the lives, of over 220,000 owner families.

When not working at Starwood, his passion carries him to FamiLAB, a group that strives to be “a community that fosters learning and creativity through hands-on projects, collaboration, and the sharing of skills & tools to improve ourselves and enrich the world around us.”

FamiLAB members have access to a collaborative space that includes a variety of tools such as: 3D printers, laser cutters, and woodworking tools. FamiLAB offers classes in topics such as soldering, basic electronics, programming, and Arduino, a popular open-source microcontroller for controlling electronic and mechanical devices.

This year, Ian also co-organized the inaugural Orlando Mini Maker Faire, a community event designed to “Celebrate Innovation and Invention in Central Florida.” This event, which featured over 100 local “makers” and their DIY science, rockets, robots, arts, crafts, and music attracted almost 3,000 people and was featured in both the Orlando Weekly and the Orlando Sentinel.

He writes a blog called Raising Geeks which details his adventures making things with his two boys, and in teaching the Electronics and Inventing merit badges with his son’s Boy Scout troop. Longtime fans and members of the Orlando Science Center, Ian and his boys are also featured in the September issue of the Orlando Science Center’s Scope Magazine.

familab.org

orlandominimakerfaire.com

raisinggeeks.com

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Speaker Profile: Jonathon Gosier

Posted on August 12, 2012 by TEDxOrlando
Jon Gosier

As we move further into the digital age, data is snowballing. We generate plenty of it, but rarely are we able to access large data sets, much less use them to our advantage.

TEDFellow Jonothan Gosier, who will be speaking at TEDxOrlando’s annual conference in October, wants to change that.  Products being developed at MetaLayer, the company he founded a little over a year ago, allow ordinary people to understand and interpret large data sets of any kind in one easy-to-use environment.

Gosier was recently interviewed by Kathryn Buford at Silicon Angle; check out her article to find out why making technology accessible motivates him, and what inspires him most about Apps4Africa, the annual competition he helped found, where over $100,000 in cash has been given to fund projects that use technology to solve societal problems in Africa.

His book THE CHEETAH CODE (http://cheetahcode.com) explores this growing population of African technology entrepreneurs and business savvy youth in depth.

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This TEDxManhattan talk: completely, totally, 100% awesome

Posted on August 4, 2012 by TEDxOrlando

Missing your vitamin H for the day, week, month, or decade?  This talk offers a nutritious serving of deep leafy greens that will get your motor running.  Stephen Ritz, South Bronx teacher extraordinaire, inspires at-risk teens to learn a host of skills that position them in a forward-facing direction, toward a better life for themselves and better world for all of us.

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A Tribute to TEDxOrlando speaker Bert E. Roper

Posted on July 28, 2012 by TEDxOrlando
Bert E. Roper leading the Birthday Parade, TEDxOrlando 2011

Bert E. Roper leading the Birthday Parade, TEDxOrlando 2011

TED’s tagline is, “Ideas worth spreading” and as we all know, those ideas come in all shapes and sizes.   There have been TED speakers worldwide that have ranged in age from 6 (yes, 6!) to 113 years old.  Last year at TEDxOrlando, we had the honor of having 87-year-old Bert E. Roper share his unique idea about “Managing One.”  He had just celebrated his 62nd wedding anniversary, yet spoke about how each of us can only manage ourselves throughout our lives.   He applied this concept scientifically, and created a unique methodology that he called, “Cosmic Management.”  He said that giving his TEDx presentation was like being reborn, and that it went on his Top Five list of events in his life. That says a lot coming from someone who has accomplished as much as he did in his lifetime!

The day after TEDxOrlando 2011, he celebrated his 88th birthday.

Bert passed away this month, leaving behind a legacy that describes him as an icon in his hometown of Winter Garden, and a citrus giant in central Florida.  His inventions and contributions to science and technology will keep his name alive for years to come.  As an esteemed philanthropist, Bert and his wife are known for their generosity in giving to causes and organizations that fed the vibrant community where they lived.

Those who saw him speak at TEDxOrlando, will remember him for being a role model of active aging as he led the Rainbow Parade in honor of his birthday, wearing his signature bow tie and a colorful top hat.

As a tribute to his contribution, TEDxOrlando will launch a Bert E. Roper Scholarship fund to support and nurture young people committed to science, technology, and philanthropy.

We’ve lost an incredible genius who inspired everyone he met to be their best self, as he was right to the end.

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Go Cesar!

Posted on July 15, 2012 by TEDxOrlando

Last year at TEDxOrlando, TED Senior Fellow Cesar Harada described his highly maneuverable, flexible sailing drone, which is capable of cleaning oil from the surface of the ocean cheaply and efficiently.  A version of that talk is was recorded at TEDxSummit in Qatar, and is now available on TED.com.

In April, on the anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Tim Maly of Wired Design blogged about Cesar’s project, which is open source and, if successful, could make feasible cleanup of the  several hundreds of millions of tons of plastic in the ocean — among other tasks important to the health of the oceans.

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Congratulations, Hakeem!

Posted on June 15, 2012 by TEDxOrlando
Hakeem Oluseyi at TEDxOrlando in 2010

Hakeem Oluseyi at TEDxOrlando in 2010

Astrophysicist Hakeem Oluseyi, who spoke at TEDxOrlando in 2010, has been invited to TEDGlobal as a Fellow this year.  TEDGlobal Fellows are chosen for their track record as “world-changers and trailblazers who have shown unusual accomplishment and exceptional courage,”  and receive training and support designed to enhance the impact of their projects and activities.  This year, Professor Oluseyi spoke on the TED Fellows stage at TEDGlobal about his desire to make professional-grade telescopes more available to astronomers across Africa.

Applications for the TEDGlobal 2013 Fellowships will open September 10, 2012; information is available here.

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