When he was a child, George Takei and his family were forced into an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, as a “security” measure during World War II. 70 years later, Takei looks back at how the camp shaped his surprising, personal definition of patriotism and democracy.
http://www.ted.com/talks/george_takei_why_i_love_a_country_that_once_betrayed_me
Recommended for you by Elyse Wyatt
In 1993, Bill and Melinda Gates took a walk on the beach and made a big decision: to give their Microsoft wealth back to society. In conversation with Chris Anderson, the couple talks about their work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as their marriage, their children, their failures and the satisfaction of giving most of their money away.
Recommended for you by Elyse Wyatt
What is jealousy? What drives it, and why do we secretly love it? No study has ever been able to capture its “loneliness, longevity, grim thrill” — that is, says Parul Sehgal, except for fiction. In an eloquent meditation she scours pages from literature to show how jealousy is not so different from a quest for knowledge.
http://www.ted.com/talks/parul_sehgal_an_ode_to_envy
Recommended for you by Elyse Wyatt
Our energy future depends on nuclear fusion, says Michel Laberge. The plasma physicist runs a small company with a big idea for a new type of nuclear reactor that could produce clean, cheap energy. His secret recipe? High speeds, scorching temperatures and crushing pressure. In this hopeful talk, he explains how nuclear fusion might be just around the corner.
Recommended for you by Elyse Wyatt
Designer Bastian Schaefer shows off a speculative design for the future of jet planes, with a skeleton inspired by strong, flexible, natural forms and by the needs of the world’s, ahem, growing population. Imagine an airplane that’s full of light and space — and built up from generative parts in a 3D printer.
http://www.ted.com/talks/bastian_schaefer_a_3d_printed_jumbo_jet
Recommended for you by Elyse Wyatt
Sampling isn’t about “hijacking nostalgia wholesale,” says Mark Ronson. It’s about inserting yourself into the narrative of a song while also pushing that story forward. In this mind-blowingly original talk, watch the DJ scramble 15 TED Talks into an audio-visual omelette, and trace the evolution of “La Di Da Di,” Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick’s 1984 hit that has been reimagined for every generation since.
http://www.ted.com/talks/mark_ronson_how_sampling_transformed_music
Recommended for you by Elyse Wyatt
Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers … (Filmed at TEDxPugetSound.)
http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action
Recommended for you by Saraniyaa Sukumaar
Perhaps you’ve punched out a paper doll or folded an origami swan? TED Fellow Manu Prakash and his team have created a microscope made of paper that’s just as easy to fold and use. A sparkling demo that shows how this invention could revolutionize healthcare in developing countries … and turn almost anything into a fun, hands-on science experiment.
http://www.ted.com/talks/manu_prakash_a_50_cent_microscope_that_folds_like_origami
Recommended for you by Elyse Wyatt
At TEDxCambridge, Michael Norton shares fascinating research on how money can, indeed buy happiness — when you don’t spend it on yourself. Listen for surprising data on the many ways pro-social spending can benefit you, your work, and (of course) other people. (Filmed at TEDxCambridge.)
http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_norton_how_to_buy_happiness
Recommended for you by Ellyn Geismann-Brunskill
We believe that we should work to be happy, but could that be backwards? In this fast-moving and entertaining talk, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that actually happiness inspires productivity. (Filmed at TEDxBloomington.)
http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work
Recommended for you by Charlotte Yates
Don’t make people pay for music, says Amanda Palmer: Let them. In a passionate talk that begins in her days as a street performer (drop a dollar in the hat for the Eight-Foot Bride!), she examines the new relationship between artist and fan.
https://www.ted.com/talks/amanda_palmer_the_art_of_asking
Recommended for you by Ana Lucia Dias Vieira-Gall
Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice — and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
Recommended for you by Ana Lucia Dias Vieira-Gall
For the past two years, photographer Lisa Kristine has traveled the world, documenting the unbearably harsh realities of modern-day slavery. She shares hauntingly beautiful images — miners in the Congo, brick layers in Nepal — illuminating the plight of the 27 million souls enslaved worldwide. (Filmed at TEDxMaui)
https://www.ted.com/talks/lisa_kristine_glimpses_of_modern_day_slavery
Recommended for you by Sachiko Kodaira
Appearing by telepresence robot, Edward Snowden speaks at TED2014 about surveillance and Internet freedom. The right to data privacy, he suggests, is not a partisan issue, but requires a fundamental rethink of the role of the internet in our lives — and the laws that protect it. “Your rights matter,” he says, “because you never know when you’re going to need them.” Chris Anderson interviews, with special guest Tim Berners-Lee.
http://www.ted.com/talks/edward_snowden_here_s_how_we_take_back_the_internet
Recommended for you by Elyse Wyatt
Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.
http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are
Recommended for you by Elyse Wyatt
In this delightful talk, philosopher Yann Dall’Aglio explores the universal search for tenderness and connection in a world that’s ever more focused on the individual. As it turns out, it’s easier than you think. A wise and witty reflection on the state of love in the modern age. (Filmed at TEDxParis.)
http://www.ted.com/talks/yann_dall_aglio_love_you_re_doing_it_wrong
Recommended for you by Sheldon Nesdale
In this charming talk, artist Aparna Rao shows us her latest work: cool, cartoony sculptures (with neat robotic tricks underneath them) that play with your perception — and crave your attention. Take a few minutes to simply be delighted.
http://www.ted.com/talks/aparna_rao_art_that_craves_your_attention
Recommended for you by Sheldon Nesdale
McKenna Pope’s younger brother loved to cook, but he worried about using an Easy-Bake Oven — because it was a toy for girls. So at age 13, Pope started an online petition for the American toy company Hasbro to change the pink-and-purple color scheme on the classic toy and incorporate boys into its TV marketing. In a heartening talk, Pope makes the case for gender-neutral toys and gives a rousing call to action to all kids who feel powerless.
http://www.ted.com/talks/mckenna_pope_want_to_be_an_activist_start_with_your_toys
Recommended for you by Sheldon Nesdale
2013 was a year of hype for MOOCs (massive open online courses). Great big numbers and great big hopes were followed by some disappointing first results. But the head of edX, Anant Agarwal, makes the case that MOOCs still matter — as a way to share high-level learning widely and supplement (but perhaps not replace) traditional classrooms. Agarwal shares his vision of blended learning, where teachers create the ideal learning experience for 21st century students.
http://on.ted.com/AnantAgarwal
Suggested by Sheldon Nesdale
I just came across this old (Mar 2007) TED talk by the “scary-smart” Steve Jurvetson.
It’s amazing how much wow-factor he got across in just 3 minutes:
Suggested by Kimberley Cleland
Suggested by Paramjeet Kaur Mundae
Suggested by Tina Jennen
Suggested by Tina Jennen
Suggested by Tina Jennen
Suggested by Tina Jennen
Suggested by Sachiko Kodaira Kawakami
Suggested by Sharon Sutherland
Suggested by Sheldon Nesdale
Suggested by Sheldon Nesdale