Theme: Moonshot Thinking

“Aim for the moon. Even if you miss, you will still land among the stars.” With this TEDx-event, we bring you the stories of people who are not afraid to face enormous challenges on an individual or a global level. We aim to show you how everyone, young and old, can take on their own moonshot projects. Let TEDxUHasselt 2018: Moonshot Thinking inspire you.

Hasselt University
Agoralaan Gebouw D
Diepenbeek, Limburg (nl)
Belgium

Abigail Carson

Abigail Carson is a Mechanical Engineering student at Lancaster University.

Arthur Jeffes

Arthur Jeffes is a musician, composer, and producer working out of London. He is the founder and frontman of the iconic band Penguin Cafe and is one half of the band Sundog (with Oli Langford) and Aparat (with Mark Springer). Other work includes composing film scores and most recently producing Sam Lee’s highly acclaimed album 'The Fade in time', released in 2015.

Carine Lucas

Carine Lucas, PhD in Computer Science, recognises the potential of software like no other. Having extended experience in ICT research, she carried out an advising role for numerous tech-inspired projects. Her mission is to help companies understand how to capture value and grow building on software-based innovations.

Didier Snoeck

Postdoctoral Researcher at Ghent University

Jan Van den Bergh

Dr. Jan Van Den Bergh is an informatician at Hasselt University. His research interests include model-driven and user-centered design of user interactive applications, as well as the design and configuration of collaborative and social interactive software.

Julia Cramer

Dr. Julia Cramer works at QuTech, the quantum institute of the TU Delft (The Netherlands). As postdoctoral researcher, she is currently studying the interesting field of Science Communication.

Karolien Notebaert

This cognitive neuroscientist believes that humans are not taking advantage of their full cognitive potential. Her solution? Mindful self-regulation! As a consultant and author, she tries to make cutting-edge neuroscience applicable to individuals and companies.

Kathleen Gabriels

Everyday, billions of people use various kinds of information and communication technologies. Think for example of the massive amounts of apps that completely changed the way we communicate, order food, shop, date and so on. The hard impact is hardly to be overseen. Katleen, however, believes people still don’t realise the soft impact of these technologies, shaping our thoughts, actions, norms and values.

Katleen Gabriëls

Everyday, billions of people use various kinds of information and communication technologies. Think for example of the massive amounts of apps that completely changed the way we communicate, order food, shop, date and so on. The hard impact is hardly to be overseen. Katleen, however, believes people still don’t realise the soft impact of these technologies, shaping our thoughts, actions, norms and values.

Michiel Vandeweert

Belgian Michiel Vandeweert, 19, suffers from progeria. Despite the limitations and the negative effects of the disease, Michiel tries to enjoy his life to the fullest, even though he realises that most people with his condition die around the age of 14. His condition forms no barrier between him and his dreams: being a dj, getting his drivers’ license or getting a job. With this attitude, Michiel hopes to be a source of inspiration to everyone around him. His life is an immense challenge with an unknown outcome, but despite all the inconveniences, Michiel’s positive attitude in life is remarkable.

Peter Verstrate

Peter Verstrate is a food technician at Maastricht University. His expertise lies in identifying, structuring and implementing sustainable improvements in primary processes (sourcing, production, logistics). Peter is also a board member of the InVitromeat Foundation, which was created to raise funds for the development of the process to grow meat tissue from stem cells.

Peter Wadhams

Peter Wadhams is a professor of Ocean Physics, and Head of the Polar Ocean Physics Group at the University of Cambridge. As an oceanographer and glaciologist, he is best known for his work on sea ice, for which he has received the W. S. Bruce Medal and the Polar Medal. Wadhams has been the leader of over 40 polar field expeditions.

Pieter Mestdagh

Professor

Pieter Mestdagh is an associate professor at Ghent University and is group leader at the Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG).

Robin Marx

Researching computer communication and human-computer interaction at the University of Hasselt as a Ph.D. student.

Steven Latré

Prof. Steven Latré is leading the IDLab Antwerp research group, which is performing applied and fundamental research in the area of communication networks and distributed systems. Latré is a Belgian authority on Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence.

Tom Sauer

A former research fellow at Harvard University's International Security Program, Tom Sauer is an associate professor in international politics at the Universiteit Antwerpen in Belgium. He teaches courses on international relations, security, and arms control, and he is the spokesman of the university’s Research Group of International Politics. Tom also is the author of the books like “De strijd voor vrede” (‘The battle for peace’), “Eliminating nuclear weapons: the role of missile defence” and “Nuclear Inertia”.

Wim Smets

Wim Smets is Belgian record holder in climbing mountains higher than 8000 metres. As one of the three Belgians ever to complete the glorious “Seven Summits”, he enjoys engaging in the unknown while accepting difficult challenges. For him it is all about pushing your boundaries to the limit, both on a physical and metal level. Holding an MBA from the Vlerick Business School, Wim is also an experienced IT project manager who knows what it takes to lead the tough reorganization of IT departments within multinationals and governments worldwide.