In this talk, Grade 9 student, Ayaan Mehta reflects on growing up as an extrovert who thrived on people and approval, only to experience the quiet disorientation of being left out. As friendships shifted and circles grew smaller, he began questioning not just his relationships, but his identity. Drawing on personal experience and psychological insight, Ayaan explores how the need for belonging can turn into dependence on external validation. His Eureka moment comes through a quiet shift in perspective: realizing that belonging does not come from being included by others, but from learning to stay centered within oneself. Ayaan Mehta is 15-year old Grade 9 student at BDSIS who is an avid traveler, a passionate and reflective learner, and someone deeply curious about the world around him. He often draws on what he learns to better understand the world and his own place and journey through it. With a keen interest in history and classical languages, Ayaan has studied both Latin and Greek to explore the roots of human thought, identity, and connection.
Ayaan is also a musician who plays both the piano and the tabla, finding comfort and expression in rhythm and melody. From wildlife safaris to witnessing the Northern Lights, and through summer internships at e-mobility organizations and music research centers, he continues to explore the intersections of technology, creativity, and culture. Thoughtful and inquisitive, Ayaan reflects honestly on the highs and lows of being a teenager today, using every experience as an opportunity to learn more about the world - and about himself. 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
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- 12:30What if AI can help us fight organized crime and corruption? | Gian Maria Campedelli | TEDxGenevaOrganized crime undermines democracy and economic development across the globe. According to a recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, 80% of the world’s population lives in countries with a high presence of criminal organizations. When these organizations grow through corruption, fighting them becomes even more difficult.In this talk, computational criminologist Gian Maria Campedelli introduces a new approach that uses open data and machine learning to predict where—and when—criminal organizations in Italy are likely to infiltrate local governments. By revealing both the promises and the pitfalls of applying AI to the fight against corruption and organized crime, he invites us to imagine how modern technologies can empower citizens and help build a safer, fairer society. Gian Maria Campedelli is a Research Scientist at Fondazione Bruno Kessler and an incoming Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Research at the University of Trento, Italy. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminology from Università Cattolica in Milan in 2020 and received the Early Career Award from the European Society of Criminology in 2023. His research focuses on developing computational methods to study complex criminal phenomena. His interests include organized crime, corruption, violence, urban crime, and the risks associated with the emerging collective behavior of AI agents. He has published extensively in high-profile journals, including Science, and his work has been featured in outlets such as the Financial Times, The Guardian, The Economist, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times. 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
- 14:22Considérations sur les peuples premiers des Antilles | Henry PETITJEAN ROGET | TEDxPointeaPitreIl avait réalisé que l'histoire des peuples indigènes des Antilles était en fait très mal connue du grand public et même des descendants avérés des Kalinagos des Petites Antilles et des Taïnos des Grandes Antilles. Pour cette raison, en accord avec l'organisation de l'évènement, nous avons opté pour un bref entretien basé sur une question et sa réponse. Notre but a consisté à structurer un bref discours pour transmettre des connaissances et réaliser l'importance de l'héritage culturel de ces peuples aux cultures traditionnelles antillaises. Son intérêt pour le passé indigène de la Martinique, puis plus tard, pour celui des Antilles, trouve ses origines dans la classe de Sciences naturelles du révérend Père Pinchon, l'un des fondateurs de l'archéologie des petites Antilles. Ses travaux ont particulièrement porté sur l'art céramique et l'art rupestre des peuples autochtones céramistes des petites et des grandes Antilles et leurs rapports avec ce que nous savons de leurs mythologies. Il travaille actuellement à une synthèse de ses travaux sur les Kalinagos, destinée à être publiée en anglais. Enfin, sa passion pour la transmission de savoirs l'a amené à écrire des contes pour enfants et adolescents. 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
