Cultured meat is meat made from cells, instead of animals. To make cultured meat, a tiny sample of cells is taken from an animal and multiplied exponentially outside of the animal to make (theoretically) infinite amounts of meat. You can make chicken by culturing chicken skeletal muscle cells, pork fat from pig adipocytes, foie gras from duck liver cells. Meat made without animals but composed of the same stuff. It is a weird yet fascinating concept, and a feat easier said than done. In college, Natalie Rubio, a Chemical & Biological Engineering student at CU Boulder, was largely unenthused with her post-grad job prospects – until she read an article about cultured meat, fell in love with the idea, and chased it desperately. In 2016, Natalie started her PhD on cultured meat at Tufts University – one of the first universities in the world to support research on the topic. In this TEDxTufts talk, Natalie reflects on the ups and downs of her career in cultured meat - an industry wrought with technical challenges and controversy. Dr. Natalie Rubio is the Co-Founder & CEO of Deco Labs, a Tufts spin-out company focused on commercializing enabling technologies for the cellular agriculture industry. Natalie has a B.S. in Chemical & Biological Engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder (2015) and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Tufts University (2021). Her career is dedicated to replacing the role of animals in our food systems via innovations in biotechnology. 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

Every second, tiny particles from outer space pass through your body - harmless, and completely unnoticed. These tiny particles, called muons, are now revolutionizing science in ways we never imagined. In this talk, you’ll discover how these invisible messengers from space can see through walls, predict earthquakes, and help keep our cities safe. They are invisible, but their impact is real. Dr. Noemi Zabari is an astrophysicist, entrepreneur, and R&D leader specializing in dense nuclear matter and cosmic radiation with practical applications in emerging technologies. She is the CEO and co-founder of Muotech.io, COO and co-founder of Astroteq.ai, and co-leads the space-seismic research group within the CREDO project at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Her work bridges scientific innovation and business strategy, with a focus on space technologies and their terrestrial applications. Dr. Zabari holds a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the Polish Academy of Sciences, and has academic backgrounds in Applied Mathematics and Technical Physics. She previously contributed to the development of nanosatellite constellations and research on the effects of space weather on satellite electronics. 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 creativity wasn’t reserved for artists, but something we could all tap into every day? In this heartwarming and visually rich talk, abstract artist Emily Eisenhart invites us to rediscover the world through the eyes of a child. Drawing from her upbringing in a home that valued curiosity, her deep connection to nature, and her background in anthropology and design, Eisenhart shows how wonder, observation, and play can reawaken our creativity. From shadow patterns to city sidewalks, she reveals how beauty and inspiration are everywhere—if we just take the time to look. This talk is a reminder that creativity isn’t something we grow out of, it's something we can reignite. Emily Eisenhart turns the world into her canvas. From kinetic sculptures to sky-high murals, she is dedicated to infusing cities with art and creativity.With a formal background in Cultural Anthropology, Emily approaches her projects as an ethnographer, exploring the culture of a place to create story-driven artwork that is reflective of people and place. Her multidisciplinary work explores the dynamic interplay between our natural and built environments. By creatively transforming these spaces into places for exploration and expression, her vibrant and experiential artwork connects people with each other and with nature, sparking their curiosity, imagination, and stewardship of our natural ecosystem.She has collaborated with prominent national brands, real estate developers, architects, interior designers, and private collectors. Notable clients include Gensler, HOK, Whole Foods, Warby Parker, Rivian, YETI, SXSW, and Austin FC, among others. Her work has been featured in The New York Times and her partnership with Community First! Village has been recognized by ULI as 2024’s Best Project Innovation.Prior to opening her own studio, she honed her skills at the global design and innovation firm IDEO. As part of her commitment to design and art, Emily serves as a Founding Board Member of Design Austin, the foundational arm of AIA Austin committed to celebrating and amplifying design excellence in Austin and beyond. 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

The human need to question why fuels our imagination and inspires innovation and creativity. From asking “Why can birds fly?” to “Why do bad things happen to good people?” the critical interrogation of the world around us leads to understanding and resolution. Tracing his journey as a Texas-born Mexican to becoming a professor of Russian and an advocate for social justice in education, Dr. Thomas Jesús Garza discusses the crucial role of the humanities and the transformative power of learning to ask “Why?” - the H-Factor - as an essential part of one’s education and personal development. From growing up in the small town of Refugio to negotiating the political and cultural complexities of Soviet-era Russia, Garza shows how the “H-Factor” and serendipity can change our lives. Dr. Thomas Jesús Garza is Associate Professor and UT Regents’ and University Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also the founding Director of the College of Liberal Arts Texas Language Center (2009-present), and past director of the UT Arabic Flagship Program (2015-2018). From 2004 to 2009 he served as Chair of the Slavic Department and Director of the Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies from 2002 to 2009. He teaches, conducts research, and publishes on Russian language and cultures, world language pedagogies, comparative cultures, and critical pedagogies in world languages education. His research has been published in scholarly journals including Foreign Language Annals, Russian Language Journal, Modern Language Journal, Slavic and East European Journal, and Current History, and has authored several Russian and ESL textbooks, including Breakthrough! American English for Speakers of Russian (1995), the first Russian-American collaborative textbook project on American English, and has contributed chapters to numerous volumes language and culture. He also recently coedited with Rachel Stauffer a volume of essays, Diversity and Decolonization in Russian Studies (2025).During his nearly 35-year tenure at the University of Texas at Austin, he received numerous prizes for undergraduate and graduate teaching, including the Harry Ransom Teaching Award, the President’s Award for Teaching Excellence, and the Liberal Arts Student Council Endowed Teaching Award. In 2003, he was inducted into the University Academy of Distinguished Teachers, selected for a U Texas Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award in 2009, and chosen a “Texas Top Ten” instructor by the Texas Exes in 2018. He led study abroad programs for UT undergraduate students to Russia from 1981 to 2020 under the auspices of the American Council of Teachers of Russian, of which he is also past president. In 2024, Dr. Garza was selected as one of “50 Alumni for 50 Years” by the American Councils for International Education for his work in promoting the study of Russian in the U.S. Dr. Garza earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Haverford College, Masters of Arts degrees from Bryn Mawr College and Harvard University, and his doctoral degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education. His current research is on critical pedagogy in world languages instruction, masculinity in contemporary Russian and Latino cultures, and Russian singer/songwriter/actor Vladimir Vysotsky’s travels to the Americas in the 1970s. 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

This is the story of a completely ordinary person building a community of hope. The most important lesson that Chris Baker, Founder of The Other Ones Foundation, learned on his journey was the importance of having his ideas challenged and listening to those society has pushed to the fringes. From a chance encounter with a benevolent stranger, to an unexpected partnership with the state of Texas, Chris learned to set aside his preconceived notions and got to work changing his little corner of the world. Chris Baker is the founder and Executive Director of The Other Ones Foundation, a nonprofit on a mission to transition Austin's unhoused neighbors into an engaged community through shelter, opportunity, and support. Since graduating from the State University of New York at Oneonta in 2007, Chris has worked many different jobs in the field of homeless services and activism, but also as a musician, writer, and even paralegal. He started The Other Ones Foundation in the summer of 2017 to bring his innovative ideas for addressing homelessness to life via a client centered, people first approach. 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

Innovation is often perceived as a race to disrupt. But what if the real challenge lies not just in the act of innovating, but also in our own development through the process? Drawing from history and my experience in engineering design and startups, I’ll share key tensions innovators must navigate to create sustainable progress. Advanced tools are ineffective if users lack the readiness or context to utilize them; therefore, we need a new paradigm of innovation that considers both what to build and who we—as creators and users—must become. Brannon is a Senior Hardware Engineer with over 15 years of experience across several companies within the technology industry. He is passionate about using engineering to address societal challenges, and has dedicated his career to harnessing technological advancements to create meaningful change.As the first electrical engineer hire at ICON 3D, an Austin-based startup revolutionizing housing with 3D-printed technology, Brannon played a pivotal role in developing groundbreaking solutions. His contributions in this space earned him a patent for 3D-printed housing technology. Brannon also collaborated with the City of Austin on homelessness initiatives, leveraging his engineering expertise to tackle critical community issues.Throughout his journey, from developing cutting-edge housing solutions to his current work in industrial automation, Brannon has seen the transformative potential of technology. However, he recognizes that true innovation must prioritize the human element, ensuring that progress addresses the needs of individuals and communities. Brannon remains deeply committed to applying his skills and knowledge to solve complex problems while ultimately driving sustainable change. 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