How do we confront deeply ingrained myths that hold society back? In this powerful talk, Ramon Magsaysay awardee Shantha Sinha draws on three decades of work with the MV Foundation, which has enabled over a million children across India to leave labour and reclaim their right to education. She challenges the belief that poverty alone drives child labour, showing instead how communities can dismantle systemic barriers. Aligned with the theme Fail Forward, her talk highlights how confronting misconceptions—and failing them—opens pathways to equality, justice, and lasting change. Shantha Sinha headed the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Govt of India, from 2007-2013. She was the Founder Secretary Trustee of M V Foundation from (1981 to 2007) removed over one million children from work and mainstreamed them into schools. She spearheaded the bridge course program in India for older children. She is the recipient of the Albert Shanker International Educational Award presented by Educational International in 1998, Padma Shri by the Government of India in 1998 Ramon Magsaysay Award, 2003 for community leadership in 2003. She also served as a Professor, Department of Political Science, University of Hyderabad. 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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- 11:01A lesson in resilience from ants | Alan Andersen | TEDxCharles Darwin UniversityAnts are more like humans than we might think, and there are a few lessons we can learn from them about resilience, particularly in the face of climate change.In his talk, the real life ‘Ant Man’ Professor Alan Andersen showcases the resilience of savannah ants, and what the natural world's little rulers can teach us about perseverance.TEDxCharles Darwin University was held by @charlesdarwinunint on August 9, 2025.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 CDU’s Professor Alan Anderson is a world- leading researcher with an interest in the ecology of ant communities. With six species of ant named after him, Professor Anderson has authored five books and more than 250 scientific publications on the topics of ant ecology, invertebrate bio-indicators, fire management, and biogeography. 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
- 17:33How the US can build better cyber security | Kathleen Kennedy Townsend | TEDxPacific AvenueDrawing from her unique perspective as RFK's eldest child and President JFK's niece, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend parallels the dangers she witnessed firsthand—Senate Rackets Committee hearings, Mob threats, and the Cuban Missile Crisis—with today's critical software vulnerabilities.Our enemies can disable power grids, telecommunications, banking, hospitals, water systems, and breach military secrets through unsafe software. Yet unlike every other consumer product, software lacks safety requirements. We blame victims, forcing them to buy extra security while leaving Americans vulnerable to hackers, scammers, and foreign adversaries.With minimal regulation and weak consumer protections, our digital infrastructure remains dangerously exposed. Kathleen illuminates these hidden threats and champions the urgent need for secure software standards to protect "We The People" from 21st-century dangers that echo the threats her father fought 60 years ago. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend: KKT was Maryland's first woman's Lt Governor, and has served as Managing Director of Rock Creek, one of the largest women owned asset management firms in the country. She founded a Center on Retirement Security at Georgetown University and just recently served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy where she focused on shipyard and shipbuilding, particularly submarines and aircraft carriers. 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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- 12:54From Ordinary Codes to Extraordinary Trust | Ayush Jhawar | TEDxMoulsari AvenueWhat makes something ordinary turn extraordinary? In this talk, he explores how a simple QR code evolved beyond menus and payments into a powerful tool for trust, traceability, and consumer protection, reshaping how we engage with brands globally. Ayush Jhawar is the visionary leader in the realm of enterprise SaaS, known for driving traceability and loyality technology for consumer brands. As the Founder and CEO of Genefied, he has successfully integrated cuttiing edge supply chain tracebility, loyality management, and anti counterfeiting technology for over 85 large enterprise brands. His expertise spans across various industries including FMCG, white goods, cosmetics, and more. 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
