Theme: The Next Chapter

TEDxSMVDU aims to create a TED like environment in order to bring new ideas and innovations to action and nurture the flame of curiosity within people.

Matrika Auditorium
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University Campus
Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, 182320
India

Aakash Ranison

Founder- Golden Bird Foundation

He is a traveler holding certificates from EC Council & Red Hat. At the age of 15, he founded “The Golden Bird Foundation”, a ‘Non-Governmental Organization” along with some other volunteers from “IIM, IIT, Symbiosis, Nirma University & 8 different countries. The Golden Bird Foundation have reached and affected over 8,000 people in Indore District through their Projects, Campaigns & Events. He has traveled to Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Amravati, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and Bhopal Cycling over 18,000 kms in India and to Bhutan. He has Hitchhiked to more than 80 cities in India from North to South India over 48,000 kms. He is also working as a Lecturer of CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) at ICSI (Institute of Company Secretaries of India) and Guest Editor of The Hacker News Magazine.

Babar Afzal

Pashmina Activist

His journey is a one which is intertwine of several different threads. Of the community that has protected the Pashmina Goat from Centuries. Of a textile so pure that it rests atop everything the world calls luxury. Of a place that is being hit by the severe impact of Climate Change. Of a state that is known only for terrorism. It's about a man who quit his corporate career and took upon himself to guard the roots of the eco-system and gift the perfection that is Pashmina, to the world and became a shepherd. And in the process give back as much to the community that has selflessly given us the finest fabric known to man.

Bhuvnesh Kumar

Director- Defense Institute of High Altitude Research

He has assumed the charge of Director, Defence Institute of High Altitude Research (DIHAR), Leh, wef 1 March 2015. He joined DRDO as scientist 'B' in Feb 1985 at DARL, Almora now DIBER, Haldwani and served at various strategic locations viz., Pithoragarh, Kinnaur & Lahul Spiti bordering Indo-Tibet and Nepal for 21 years in various capacities to promote agro-animal technologies for augmenting fresh food availability to troops deployed in far flung remote mountain areas. Dr Bhuvnesh Kumar has been a member of G-FAST from Life Science cluster, Project Director of LIC Programme and Director, PM (LS) before taking over the present assignment. He has vast experience of working in mountainous regions covering western, central and north east Himalayas.

Kalpesh Gawali

Founder- Nutrino Energy Pvt. Ltd

He is a young entrepreneur, Co Founder of Nutrino Energy Pvt. Ltd and a global energy achiever.He is currently on board with various national and international organizations working in the field of Climate Change, Environment, Travel, Youth Opportunities & Empowerment. He co-founded ‘Nutrino Energy’ to work on the energy security challenges by empowering innovative ‘Renewable Energy Solutions’ for bottom of pyramid and urban sector. He has taken a unique initiative on ‘Renewable Energy Skill Development’ in line with the mission of ‘Government of India’. Bearing a strong passion for 'Climate Change, Energy and Sustainability', he has been recognized as '2nd youngest certified climate leader in India' trained by Mr. Al Gore. Later on, he joined an army of US senator Mr. Al Gore with a new role of ‘Mentor’ to guide 500+ future climate leaders across the world. Kalpesh is also a ‘Young Renewable Energy Ambassador’ for ‘India’ appointed by Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Group).

Navdeep Singh Gill

Founder- XenonStack and RayFarm

He is an Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO at XenonStack - A Stack Innovator and RayFarm - Farmer MarketPlace. He is having an experience of 13 years. Passionate about Design and Data, he is a Firm believer that Technology Will Help Human Race. He is working on healthcare and agriculture to enable people's lives with Technology. He loves to help young Professionals for working towards technologies like BigData ,IoT and DevOps.

Ritesh Garg

Founder- Yuva Prerna Yatra

He is a Social Entrepreneur working on Himalayas and Youth. He is an alumnus of Banaras Hindu University who founded I For Nation Foundation and Yuva Prerna Yatra. Ritesh has traveled all states in India and explored thousands of the villages in the search of grass route level issues. He has worked in various disasters reliefs. He worked on livelihood development in Kedarnath Valley after Uttarakhand Flood in 2013. He also worked on the relief work in Nepal after the century's biggest earthquake of Nepal. He built up houses for 2000 people with an innovative design and concept. The core philosophy of Ritesh is 'Empowerment through Enterprise' in connecting the Youth with Local Resources to create the sustainable enterprises. By doing so, he wants to create sustainable development and inclusive growth.

Sachin Kumar Jain

Director- Vikas Samvad

He is the Director of Vikas Samvad Human Development Resource and Advocacy Organisation. He has written 1500 articles on issues of social concerns - Poverty, Hunger, Democracy, Governance and Identity. Also he has written 41 booklets/ primers/manuals on Food, Hunger, Gender, Food Security, Entitlements, MGNREGA, Health and Nutrition, displacement, migration, climate change etc. He has published 13 fact-finding reports on social exclusion, displacement, migration, malnutrition etc. He has facilitated 190 training programs/dialogue sessions in 6 states. He is also associated with Right to Food Campaign and Advisor to the Supreme Court Commissioners on Right to Food.

Sawerkar Sharma

Researcher- Human Genetics

He is an active Researcher and Explorer, joined Department of Biotechnology, SMVDU Katra, J&K India after a Postdoctoral fellowship in Human Molecular Genetics from USA. His primary area of research is to understand Genetics and Biology of rare and common Human disorders. He has been recipient of various National and International research awards and has contributed in various outstanding scientific research projects as evident by his publication records. Recently, his research team has discovered mutations in a gene causing a very rare severe skeletal disorder. He has undertaken research challenges in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, targeting genetic disorders not yet characterized or with very less information. A much awaited quest, a social cause that may help in providing appropriate treatment methods and management of such disorders.

Suyogkumar Bhavare

COO- Jagriti Yatra

It is his relentless enthusiasm towards contributing in the social development sector makes him the master of time-management and delegation skills. An unremitting zeal towards contributing to the society is apparent in each of his activities. Apart from being the COO of Jagriti Yatra, he has a couple of thriving social enterprises and spearheads two NGO’s which works on improving health & education. His primary venture, chain of clinic named as Aarogyam Chikitsalaya (AYURVA), focuses on providing dedicated activities in creating awareness about child birth healthcare system. Furthermore, he is passionately involved with different projects on creating health awareness, improving quality of education and promoting youth development across Maharashtra.

Walter Peter

Theater Educationist

Peter has been working extensively with and for Children, Teachers, Youth and Staffs as a Facilitator, Actor, Writer, Director and Designer for last 20 years…and his tool of work is THEATRE-IN-EDUCATION. He is the Ex-TIE Co. member of National School of Drama, New Delhi. At present had a fellowship from CRY on Change through TIE Process under this fellowship he is working with Children and Adult in different state of country like M.P., Kashmir, Rajasthan , Uttar Pradesh and Delhi with CRY Partners.

Yuvraj Bhardwaj

Co Founder- Zenith Vipers

He is 16 right now and a Researcher, Ideator, Roboticist, Technologist, inventor and a full stack developer. Presently he is the CEO and Co-Founder at Zenith Vipers, researcher collaborate student at IIT Delhi and BITS Pilani and student of class XII at Indraprastha World School, Delhi. He has worked upon 22 Research projects till now till now along with his twin brother Yashraj Bhardwaj out of which 7 are being filed for patents. Their research projects include smart water purifiers, drones, portable Angiography machines, portable all in one medical assistance machine, etc. They are majorly known for their first project Bajra Purifier for Removal/ Extraction of heavy Metals From River Water Using Bajra. They have presented research papers at many conferences and science fairs till now and had qualified to represent India at various international science fairs.