Through stories of “cocido,” barbecue, and culture shock, Atlanta-based Spaniard Ana Tardio explores how food evokes powerful life memories, defines identity and could serve as a doorway to cultural empathy. For anyone who has ever felt out of place, or just really miss your grandma’s cooking, this talk will feed your soul. Ana believes that in an increasingly interconnected world, understanding cultural differences isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential for building a more inclusive and compassionate future.As a Spaniard born in a small town near the Portuguese border, Ana has been immersed in cultural diversity since childhood. But her true passion for understanding, navigating, and thriving in different cultures took root when she left her hometown in 2000 to chase her dreams.For over 20 years, Ana has experienced firsthand the challenges and joys of cultural adaptation. Through her journey, Ana discovered that food serves as an emotional time machine and a bridge between cultures. From her mother’s cocido in Spain to unexpected dining habits in the U.S., she has learned that the flavors we cherish aren’t just about taste—they hold the stories of who we are. 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 answer to climate change, rising seas, and dwindling resources… isn’t just on Earth?Materials scientist and Georgia Tech researcher Christos Athanasiou invites us to imagine a future where innovations for building on Mars can unlock sustainable solutions here at home.From modular architecture made of Martian soil to AI-optimized structures and microbial bioreactors, Christos offers new perspectives on the climate crisis, and why our next great leap may begin 140 million miles away. Christos Athanasiou is redefining how we build for Earth and space.A mechanician, physicist, educator and inventor, he envisions a future where sustainable materials drive construction, reducing carbon emissions and supporting net-zero goals. His research focuses on designing structures using renewably sourced and recycled materials, advancing both sustainable communities and space exploration.His work has been featured in Forbes and MIT News, and he served as a guest editor for the Journal of Mechanics of Materials on machine learning applications.Born in Athens, Greece, Christos believes education and innovation are catalysts for social change. He holds a doctorate in photonics from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and a master’s in applied physics from the National Technical University of Athens. 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

Think maths and literature don’t mix? Think again. This mind-expanding talk reveals how mathematical beauty underpins poetic rhythm, narrative structure, and even the page-turning suspense of your favourite novels. Sarah Hart is a mathematician and author. She is Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Birkbeck College (University of London), and a Fellow of Gresham College, London, where she recently served a four-year term as Professor of Geometry, the first woman to hold this chair since its creation in 1597. Sarah is particularly interested in the cultural, historical and creative impact of mathematics, and the links between mathematics and the arts. Her first book, Once Upon a Prime: The Wondrous Connections Between Mathematics and Literature, published in 2023, was a New York Times Book review Editor’s Choice, and won the Mathematical Association of America’s Euler Book Prize in 2024. 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

Could your office be quietly holding you back? This talk breaks down the science of design—showing how aesthetics, layout, and lighting shape not just productivity, but power. It’s time to rethink the rooms we work in. Dr. Bukky Akinsanmi Oyedeji is a strategy scholar who studies the relationship between human capital, workplace design, and firm performance. Her research focuses on how complementary firm resources – including physical work environments – affect the value created by a worker, in both established firms and start-ups. Dr. Oyedeji’s work combines architectural and urban design methodologies with econometric approaches to understand how human assets, workflow processes and spatial layouts affect human interaction and firm performance. Her research has been supported by the Strategy Research Foundation, the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development population dynamics program as well as other research grants. Her findings are published in academic journals including Academy of Management Journal and Journal of Management as well as practitioner outlets in management and architecture. 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 mean to truly reconnect with yourself? Through powerful vocals and heartfelt lyrics, Milli-Rose Rubin takes you on a musical journey through self-reflection, resilience, and healing. Milli-Rose is a musician and writer, who combines both singing and spoken word in her music. Using her personal experiences, Milli-Rose writes and performs material around the topics of mental health, the housing crisis in the UK, and how creativity has sustained a form of therapy throughout uncertain chapters.Through writing and music, Milli-Rose explores these topical issues, which has led to creative facilitation work with young people as well as the creation of music and poetry platform Crossword Lyric, that aims to encourage unfinished work to get rid of perfection in the arts, and build confidence. 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