The theme of our talk for this year was 'Sustainable Action,' where each of the speakers shared their unique experiences about engaging in sustainable action in their own communities. Anusha, a 10th grader at JBCN International School, Oshiwara, is a passionate advocate for climate action and a devoted animal lover. When she’s not championing social causes, you’ll find her soaring through the air with aerial silks, charging over hurdles in equestrian show jumping, or jamming away on her drum set. A true multitasker with boundless energy, Anusha balances her love for books with her talent for baking, often whipping up treats to support community initiatives and fundraisers. Her curiosity, creativity, and compassion drive her to make a difference- one leap, beat, and bake at a time.Rajnandini, a passionate advocate for sustainability and a force of creativity and compassion. As a professional dancer trained in jazz, ballet, and a Bharatnatyam Visharad, Rajnandini has mastered the art of rhythm and grace. When not dancing, you’ll find her making waves in community outreach—whether it’s her menstrual awareness or anti-drug campaigns. She’s also an equestrienne, a movie buff, a music lover, and a fashion enthusiast. Today, she’s here to blend her love for fashion with her commitment to the environment, talking about the pressing need for sustainability in the world of fast fashionAnubhav is a distinguished researcher and entrepreneur with affiliations to premier institutions such as IIT Bombay and IIT Madras. Currently interning at IIT Bombay’s Research Hub for Green Energy and Sustainability, he is engaged in innovative projects integrating AI and Data Science. Anubhav is also the founder of Project Anubhav and GreenGuard Alliance, focusing on community service and environmental sustainability. Additionally, he served as the Secretary General for the Podar Summit, further showcasing his leadership skills. With a published book, “Whispers of Anubhav,” and significant contributions to social forestry and sustainable practices, his work reflects a commitment to addressing global challenges through intellectual diversity, collaborative teamwork, and an entrepreneurial spirit. His talk is sure to leave you with new insights. 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 biggest lie told to young Africans is that success only happens somewhere else?In this inspiring talk, Comfort Ocran shares how a moment at a crossroads led her to start the Springboard Road Show Foundation, which has since reached hundreds of thousands of young people across Ghana and beyond.Through real stories of a street vendor who became an exporter, a teacher who built a thriving school, and a young woman with a disability who turned struggle into innovation. Lady Comfort shows what’s possible when young people believe in themselves and get the right support. Comfort Ocran is a renowned Ghanaian motivational speaker, author, and youth development advocate. She is CEO of Legacy & Legacy and Executive Director of the Springboard Road Show Foundation, one of Ghana’s top youth empowerment platforms. Comfort co-founded Combert Impressions and holds a Master’s in Linguistics from the University of Ghana. She has co-authored over 20 books with Albert Ocran, including The Lord, Madiba and the Eagle and Speak Like a Pro. A Fellow of the Aspen Institute and Africa Leadership Initiative, she is also an alum of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program. 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 does it really take to lead a nation or even a team, an organization, or a community?In this thought-provoking TEDx talk, Eldad Nutakor introduces the DCE Framework: Decide, Communicate, and Enable as the essence of effective leadership.Drawing on real-world consulting experiences and case studies of transformative leaders like Jesus Christ and Kwame Nkrumah, he shows how great leadership is less about authority and more about alignment.This talk challenges us to stop waiting for leadership from the “top” and instead embrace a leadership mindset wherever we are. Because when we Decide with clarity, Communicate with conviction, and Enable others to act, we unlock the true power of leadership to shape nations, organizations, and everyday lives. Eldad is a creative strategist, innovation leader, and curious cat on a mission to shape Africa's future through clarity, creativity, and commerce. He enables businesses and individuals to discover their true advantage and build context-aware solutions. As founder of Oxegene, a communication company, he helps organisations improve their reputation and grow through storytelling and communication design. He’s led cryptocurrency adoption efforts, shaped digital strategies for governments, and built Ghana's leading product design communities. He advises startups, helping technical founders build sustainable businesses. Eldad believes Africa has the talent and resources; what’s missing are bold, native visionaries. He intends to be one. 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

Too often, depression is used as a synonym for sadness. Unfortunately, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is anything but. Affecting over 300 million people, this psychiatric disease is the leading cause of disability, draining $925 billion from the world economy in lost productivity. Yet it remains as one of the most overlooked conditions in the world. This talk explores the problems of depression from several scientific angles, critiques current diagnostic tools and theories for the root cause of depression, and proposes new science-driven solutions to this mental health disorder. Specifically, this talk expands current investigations regarding the link between changes in gene expression to the development of depression by presenting the results of a new study that uses gene expression levels and machine learning to diagnose, identify a genetic biomarker of, and create the chemical composition of a drug against depression. Finally, the talk concludes by encouraging the audience to build a society that invites new ways of thinking about depression. Ananya Lakkaraju is a junior at Hamilton High School whose main interest is the intersection of biology and machine learning. She is heavily involved in Astralis, a research and innovation club at her school. She is also involved in her school’s Girls Who Code and Speech and Debate club, participating in Public Forum debate and Congress. Outside of school, Ananya volunteers at the Arizona Science Center, conducts research at ASU, and does research at home. She has participated in several science competitions, including AzSEF and ISEF. Her current research projects have focused on the use of machine learning for diagnosing and treating depression. In the future, she hopes to pursue a degree in CS/AI while applying these skills in the medical field. 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 world has changed greatly, and studying relationships between humans and our environment have become increasingly essential to solve modern problems. Yet Earth Science, the field that equips us to understand these problems, is undervalued and barely taught, especially in K-12. While biology, chemistry, and physics are widely required, very few states require ESS courses, leaving most students with little exposure to the subject. This neglect creates a cycle of fewer teachers, fewer students, and declining majors in one of the most critical disciplines. Increasing Earth Science literacy is essential, not only to train specialized geoscientists but also to empower the public to make responsible decisions and hold policymakers accountable. Just as cooperation solved the ozone crisis, strong ESS education prepares society to act and be part of the solution. Expanding requirements, training teachers, and building a culture that values ESS will ensure students appreciate and protect our planet. Varyan Jain is a rising junior from BASIS Chandler, and he's an Arizona MATHCOUNTS champion and an invitee to the 2025 USA Physics Olympiad. He has pursued the Earth and Space Sciences through the US Earth Science Olympiad, Science Olympiad, and Science Bowl and achieved national-level recognitions in each. Furthermore, he has also proposed, conducted, and presented earth science-related research projects, specifically focusing on risk mitigation of pollution or disasters in developing communities through environmental modeling. In the future, he hopes to develop his skills as a problem-solver by studying mathematics and computer science in pursuit of solutions for environmental problems. His current goal is to encourage earth science literacy through working with students, schools, and scientists in order to better solve the problems of today and tomorrow. 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 Permian extinction, also known as the Great Dying, was the single most devastating mass extinction event in Earth’s history. Its causes? Global warming, ocean acidification, acid rain, and the depletion of the ozone layer. Sound familiar? The Permian extinction and today’s climate crisis have a number of troubling parallels. But there is a key difference: we have the agency take action. This talk will begin by exploring how the Permian extinction proves that we are manufacturing the conditions for another mass extinction. Next, it will unpack how the Great Dying revealed the fragility of our ecosystem and what the warning signs are. Then, how Permian extinction highlights the importance of mitigating risks in destabilized regions and funding climate research. The talk concludes by discussing lesser-known climate innovations, and why every action matters. Tara is a high school junior at Hamilton High. She’s passionate about problem-solving and spreading science education. Outside of school, she’s involved in STEM tutoring, running youth workshops for science, web development, and volunteering for local science centers. Her recent climate research has opened her eyes to the field of geoengineering, as well as the critical significance of creating a shift in climate perception. She believes that climate innovations are among the most crucial of our time, and that the lack of funding for these solutions reflects a broader lack of urgency in addressing the climate crisis. Her goal is to contribute to problem-solving in this field, as well as the others that impact my community. In the future, she plans to pursue a career in engineering, where she hopes to continue making efforts to develop solutions that address real-world issues. 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