Theme: Cultivating Curiosity

We believe in people. It is through the cultivation of community and curiosity that gives each of us an opportunity to share what we know and grow. Much like the 14 million year old Palouse, rich with geography and life that can only be read about, we seek to bring that same feeling of mystery and wonder to our Moscow community through the act of speakers sharing their life's work and wisdom they have gained along the way. We are grateful to have every corner of Idaho and beyond represented to add to this discussion of cultivating curiosity through talks on technology, education, and design. Join us on April 9 2016 at the historic University of Idaho Administration Auditorium as we host TEDxUIdaho: Cultivating Curiosity. Come with your mind wide open ready to engage in intellectual dialogue. Who knows, you might leave curious enough to create your own change!

Administration Auditorium
Campus Drive
University of Idaho
Moscow, Idaho, 83843
United States

Anthony Curcio

Author+Former Criminal

Asmaa A.

Refugee+Syrian-American

Bryce Blankenship

Philosopher+Wine Officionado

Frank Cheng

Professor+Chemist

Jacob Bialk

Relationship Expert+4th Grader

Jadd Davis

Theatre Artistic Director

Jadd Davis serves as the Artistic Director for Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, as well as a member of the board of directors for the Coeur d’Alene Arts and Culture Alliance. Jadd spent ten years as an actor/singer based out of Seattle where he appeared at The 5th Avenue Theatre, Village Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre, and other major theatres. Jadd is committed to education in all forms and has spent time working with students from kindergarten to grad school. As an administrator, Jadd follows an intentional leadership philosophy of kindness and empathy.

Jamie Derrick

Psychologist+Assistant Professor

Jeremy Hansen

Chef

Julia Rendall

Educator

Noah Kroese

Illustrator+Author

Noah Kroese is an illustrator, cartoonist, and author. Since graduating with a B.F.A. from the University of Idaho in 2004, Noah has worked for a wide variety of national and international clients and has drawn everything from cartoons for sports magazines to technical illustrations for NASA. His illustrated book, “Saturday”, was published in late 2015. Recent work can be seen at www.illustrationNK.com.

Rachel Dolezal

Civil Rights Activist

Rachel Dolezal holds an MFA from Howard University. Her scholarly research focus is the intersection of race, gender, and class in the contemporary Black diaspora with an emphasis on Black women in visual culture. Dolezal began her activism in Mississippi, where she advocated for equal rights and partnered with community developers, tutoring grade-school children in Black history and art. She is the former Director of Education at the Human Rights Education Institute in Coeur d’Alene.

Sadie Wagoner

Musician

Sadie Wagoner is a singer/songwriter who lives in Sandpoint, Idaho. Sadie writes her own music and some genres that can be used to describe it are acoustic folk, acoustic pop, pop, and sometimes even a little jazz. She writes about real instances in her life, and they often relay back to her own struggles with anxiety and depression.

Samantha Ramsay

Assistant Professor+Child Nutrition Expert

Samantha Ramsay is an Assistant Professor of Foods & Nutrition at U of I. She teaches nutrition and diet in areas of life cycle nutrition, child nutrition, and research methods. She has worked as a nutrition consultant, sports nutritionist, and educator for the past 15 years. Her expertise is in child feeding and nutrition, and she researches parental feeding practices, nutrients for children, child eating behaviors, and international mealtimes.

Sean Prentiss

Author

Sean Prentiss is the author of the memoir, Finding Abbey: A Search for Edward Abbey and His Hidden Desert Grave, which won the 2015 National Outdoor Book Award for History/Biography. Prentiss is the co-author of the forthcoming environmental writing textbook, Environmental and Nature Writing: A Craft Guide and Anthology. He is a 2005 graduate of the University of Idaho’s MFA program in creative writing.

Shawn Kingsbury

Addiction+ Recovery Expert

Stephanie Vigil

Journalist

Steven Amstrup

Polar Bear + Conservation Scientist

Steven is Chief scientist of Polar Bears International, as well as an adjunct professor at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Prior to joining PBI, he led polar bear ecology research in Alaska for 30 years. He is a past chairman of the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group and an active member of 32 years. In an issue of Nature, he and his coauthors concluded that preserving polar bears is about controlling man-made temperature rise. He is the recipient of the Indianapolis Prize and Bambi Award for efforts in animal conservation.

Vandal Nation

Native American Musician

The Vandal Nation Singers were founded in the Fall of 2009 with the help of drum keeper Rudy Shebala, and the former Native American Student Center Director Steven Martin. The group aims to promote cultural awareness and aid in Native American retention rates. They sing both traditional and contemporary powwow songs learned from different tribes across North America.

Wesley Loftie-Eaton

Antibiotic Resistance Scientist

As a molecular microbiologist, much of Wesley’s research has focused on a simple DNA molecule that exists in either a parasitic or symbiotic relationship with its bacterial host. How that relationship evolves at the molecular level drives his research focus pertaining to one of the biggest threats to human health – the evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance. Wesley thinks we can stop the situation from becoming worse and is intent on educating people on the why’s and how’s of antibiotic resistance.

World Beats

Traditional Music Ensemble

The University of Idaho World Beat Ensemble is a cultural performing group and class made up of students, faculty, and community members. The primary focus of the University of Idaho World Beat Ensemble is the drumming and dance traditions of Ghana. “World Beat” has performed for the UI World Music Celebration, Africa Nights (UI and WSU), and many other campus-wide and community-based events and activities.

Yousef Bayomy

Stand-up Comic

Zachary Lien

Religious + International Studies