What if uncertainty isn’t something to fear, but something to embrace? Amrit Kallar weaves together history, personal struggle, and the unexpected power of fiction to explore how living in the unknown can lead to clarity and purpose. From the battlefield of Austerlitz to the tech offices of San Francisco, Amrit challenges us to see uncertainty not as chaos, but as a creative force. Amrit is a Business Operations professional who has worked with global technology companies, driving strategic projects and large growth initiatives. A chemical engineer from Indian Institute of Technology and an MBA from UCI Paul Merage School of Business with a stellar academic record, she has always loved reading and writing fiction. When she’s not driving her daughters to golf on busy freeways, and sometimes even while doing so, Amrit contemplates deeply, and often restlessly, about the world we live in and about the next book she will read. Her debut novel, Gilded Spirits, will be released in Fall 2025. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and twin daughters. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What if the greatest strength in medicine, and in life, is learning to live with uncertainty? In this talk, Aneri Patel shares her journey from a hospital bed in Ahmedabad to a research fellowship in oncology, revealing how uncertainty shaped her purpose, her career, and her humanity. Blending science, personal experience, and the metaphor of Schrödinger’s Cat, she invites us to embrace the unknown not as a void, but as the birthplace of healing, presence, and transformation. Aneri Bhargav Patel is a fourth-year medical student at the UC Davis School of Medicine, currently completing a research fellowship in Oncodermatology at UC Irvine. She has developed learning resources for the medical curriculum relating to microbiology and mentored several students navigating the path from community college to medical school. Aneri was elected to the Gold Humanism Honor Society for her commitment to compassionate care and humanism in medicine. Her research interests include cancer immunotherapy, dermatologic toxicities, and AI in medicine, with work presented at medical conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Outside the clinic and lab, she finds joy in glass painting, photographing nature, and using improv to make medical education more engaging. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Most people are roundtrip travelers, but a select few of us are not. In this talk, Resham Parikh shares lessons from a life led by one-way plane tickets, where uncertainty is the only constant. Through her travels, she explores how even when we return to the same places, we arrive as different people, seeing a world that has changed along with us. Resham Parikh is a UC Irvine alumna (class of 2011) and a Communications Manager in New York, where she helps scientific researchers share their discoveries with the world. She has a BA in international studies and a master's degree in gender studies from the London School of Economics. When Resham isn’t traveling, she’s usually at home in Brooklyn drinking more matcha tea than she should admit. She believes life is short, and we should live it completely, courageously, and authentically. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Tessa Parker explores the beauty and frustration of the unknown, from the mystery of consciousness to the vastness of infinity. She reflects on how questions without answers can cause anxiety, but also fuel endless curiosity. Drawing from science, philosophy, and personal experience, Tessa makes a case for embracing uncertainty as a catalyst for growth. In a world full of unknowables, the pursuit of knowledge itself is what keeps us moving forward. Currently studying neurobiology at UCI (on exchange) as a recipient of the Fulbright Killam fellowship, she's interested in all things to do with the brain and health policy. Back home in Toronto, she is the president of her school's Pre-Medical society and in 2023, revived a non-profit in her hometown of Edmonton, which serves and connects with the homeless community on Sunday evenings every week. She hopes to pursue an MD-PhD, advocating for free and accessible healthcare along the way. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

A choir formed by children of various ages who are supported by the social project Casa Mãe, founded by Mrs. Renata and Mrs. Bilinha. The children began by singing the anthem of the municipality, followed by a song about a local delicacy known as "pão de arroz"—a type of couscous made with rice flour and peanuts. Finally, they performed the song Bem-te-vi by Renato Terra. The choir is conducted by Maestro Diego and teacher Sâmia. A choir formed by children of various ages who are supported by the social project Casa Mãe, founded by Mrs. Renata and Mrs. Bilinha. The children began by singing the anthem of the municipality, followed by a song about a local delicacy known as "pão de arroz"—a type of couscous made with rice flour and peanuts. Finally, they performed the song Bem-te-vi by Renato Terra. The choir is conducted by Maestro Diego and teacher Sâmia. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

What if your best decisions don’t come from overthinking, but from letting go? In this talk, Marcos J. Perez explores how intuition, like improvisation in jazz or a flowing conversation, is a powerful skill we all carry, but rarely trust. By sharing personal stories and practical strategies, he shows how embracing intuition can unlock creativity, clarity, and confidence in every part of our lives. Marcos J. Perez is a second-year aerospace engineering student at UC Irvine, passionate about understanding the mind as much as the mechanics of flight. When he’s not designing rocket propulsion systems, he’s diving deep into topics like consciousness, intuition, and how we learn. Outside of engineering, Marcos enjoys playing piano, soccer, and basketball—always exploring new ways to challenge the mind and body. His TEDx Talk reflects on the quiet intelligence of intuition, and how reconnecting with it can lead us to deeper understanding, more authentic learning, and a richer experience of being human. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx