In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Teatro Dal Verme
via San Giovanni sul Muro 2
milano, Lombardia, 20121
Italy

Andrea Bariselli

As psychologist and neuroscientist, Andrea launched Thimus after years of work in the clinical research environment. He has embarked on this adventure to change his professional and personal life. Neuroscience has brought him closer to the central topic of the relationship between humans and nature and, ultimately, closer to his real passion: Mountains. Photo and video Credits: - Andrea Frazzetta, photographer - Byfarm

Barbara Caputo

Barbara Caputo is Full Professor at the Politecnico of Torino and Principal Investigator at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), where she leads the Visual Learning and Multimodal Applications Laboratory (VANDAL). Barbara received her PhD in computer science from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in 2005. Her main research interest is to develop algorithms for learning, recognition and categorization of visual and multimodal patterns for artificial autonomous systems. These features are crucial to enable robots to represent and understand their surroundings, to learn and reason about it, and ultimately to equip them with cognitive capabilities. Her research is sponsored by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), the Italian Ministry for Education, University and Research (MIUR), the European Commission (EC) and the European Research Council (ERC).

Benedetta Argentieri

Benedetta Argentieri is an independent journalist and director based in New York and I AM THE REVOLUTION is her second film. Since 2014 she has been covering the Iraqi and Syrian war, with several trips on the ground. Her work has appeared in several international publications, including Reuters, The Sunday Times, Quartz, and Corriere della Sera. In 2016 she co-directed with Bruno Chiaravalloti and Claudio Jampaglia, “Our War”, a documentary about foreigners joining the Kurds in Syria to fight the Islamic State. The film was selected at the 73rd Venice Film Festival, in the out of competition section, and shown in several other festivals. In 2013 she co-produced “Capulcu-Voices from Gezi”, a documentary about the revolt that occurred in Gezi Park in Istanbul, Turkey, which won several awards including the Amnesty International award. In 2014 she also obtained an MA in Journalism, with a concentration in politics, from Columbia University in New York. Before moving to the United States, Benedetta worked as a staff writer at Corriere della Sera, theItalian leading newspaper. She started her career at Mediaset, a television station in Italy.

Elena Dak

Elena Dak was born in Venice in 1970 and has been working for many years for Kel12 Tour Operator in Africa, Middle East and Central Asia and is currently working for 'Spazi d'avventura' and 'La Forma del Viaggio'. Elena graduated in Cultural Heritage Conservation from the University of Ca’ Foscari in Venice and has a profound interest in the study of nomadic people. She is studying for a Master's Degree in Cultural Anthropology at the renowned Bicocca University in Milan. She has written three books: ""Io Cammino con i Nomadi""; (Corbaccio editor 2016), “Sana’a e la Notte""; (Alpine Studio, 2012) and ""La Carovana del Sale""; (Corbaccio, 2007) , and currently writes for Africa magazine and Erodoto108.

Eric Ezechieli

Eric Ezechieli is a Purpose Driven Entrepreneur. Cofounder and Evolution Officer of Nativa, a purpose driven design company, first Certified B Corp® and Benefit Corporation in Europe. The Natural Step Italy President. Most Valuable Player 2016 of the global B Corp movement for introducing the legal form Società Benefit. Advisor to the G7. Eric leverages first principles design to create regenerative and resilient organisations. He advises and coaches leadership in corporations, NGOs, and the public sector to design economic activities that have a positive impact on people and biosphere. Lecturer and teacher in universities, keynote speaker in multiple leaders' forums. Stanford, Singularity University, and Bocconi Alumnus. Ski mountaineer & long distance triathlete.

Giovanna Belloni

Giovanna Belloni is an architect from Milan that since the 80’s has worked in theatre and television as an Acrobat and dancer of modern dance-jazz, alongside artists like Dario Fo, Enzo Jannacci, Stefano Benni and Ellen Stewart. The passion, and indeed the urgency of creating and expressing, in particular with body language, led her to delve into contemporary dance and dance theatre, working with choreographers like Alessandra Costa, Simone Magnani and Daniele Ziglioli in various projects and shows. Committed and involved personally in the activity of several charities that operate in support of those who have undergone major trauma, in March 2018 she decided to put on stage, as Director and choreographer, at Teatro dell'arte di Milano, the contemporary dance performance "Kintsugi", whose central theme is the inner reconstruction after trauma, and consequently the value and pride of showing scars and therefore weaknesses and failures, using them as a base to build one’s future. The proceeds of the initiative have been and will be donated to two charities, CAF Milan Onlus and the Cooperative Association La Meridiana di Monza, dealing respectively with children that have experienced violence and with Alzheimer patients and their families. Per TEDxMilano: coreografia in collaborazione con Matteo Marchesi e fotografie di Giovanna Marino. Giovanna è un’artista di teatro-danza. Dopo la formazione in architettura a Milano ha iniziato a lavorare in teatro e in televisione come acrobata e ballerina di danza modern- jazz, al fianco di artisti come Dario Fo e Enzo Jannacci. Impegnata nell’attività di associazioni che operano a sostegno di chi ha subito grandi traumi, nel marzo 2018 porta in scena come regista e coreografa lo spettacolo di danza contemporanea “Kintsugi”. Lo spettacolo ha come tema centrale la ricostruzione interiore dopo il trauma subito e l’orgoglio di mostrare le proprie cicatrici, le proprie debolezze e i propri insuccessi, costruendo su quelli la propria prospettiva futura. Il ricavato dell’iniziativa è stato donato a due associazioni benefiche.

Grammenos Mastrojeni

Diplomat, professor and writer – with 8 books, numerous articles, and reports published by official organizations - focusing for the last 20 years on societal, geo-strategic and economic impacts of environmental degradation. Currently he serves as Coordinator for Environment and Science at the Italian Development Cooperation; National Focal Point for Land Degradation, Mountains, and islands:, Chair of the United Nations Mountain Partnership and of the Global Islands Partnership; Head negotiator on water, ecosystem based approaches, and ocean sustainability for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Member of the Delegations on climate, biodiversity and other environment-related European and multilateral processes. He cooperates with the Climate Reality Project led by Former US Vice President and Nobel Prize Al Gore. Lecturer and Professor of Environment and Geo-strategy at various institutions, think-tanks and Universities in 2009 he was entrusted with the first ever course on this subject. Recently, together with climatologist Antonello Pasini, ha has published “Effetto serra – effetto Guerra”, a successful book focusing on the link between climate change, conflicts and migration. Diplomatico, docente e scrittore – con 8 libri e numerosi articoli e rapporti di organismi internazionali - dai primi anni '90 ha intrapreso ricerche sull'allora incompreso legame fra tutela dell’ambiente, sviluppo e pace. Coordinatore per l’Ambiente della Cooperazione allo Sviluppo, è focal point nazionale per la lotta al degrado delle terre, capo negoziatore per le terre e l’acqua, ed è membro delle squadre negoziali sul clima, la biodiversità, e gli oceani. Presidente del Partenariato Mondiale delle Montagne e dell’Alleanza Globale delle Isole, collabora con il Climate Reality Project, lanciato dal Premio Nobel Al Gore. Insegna da oltre vent’anni in Italia e all’estero e, nel 2009, la Ottawa University in Canada gli ha affidato il primo insegnamento attivato da un'università sulla questione Ambiente, risorse e conflitti, materia che continua a insegnare in diversi atenei. Fra le sue numerose pubblicazioni, di recente uscita per Chiarelettere con il climatologo Antonello Pasini, Effetto serra – effetto guerra: clima, conflitti, migrazioni, con l’Italia in prima linea.

Luca Malaspina Pedro Gonçalves

Eco-entrepreneur, educator and head chef, Luca Malaspina is the beating heart of the association Kolon Kandya Italia Onlus. His work is a bridge between Italy and Burkina Faso, where he manages business and social inclusion's projects, which foster growth and development. Since 2012 he has coordinated a project in which capoeira is used as an educational tool for the growth of the young in the 21st district of Bobo-Dioulasso. Pedro Gonçalves works on Luca's side on this projects. In 2005 Pedro opened the first Capoeira academy in Europe in Milan and was supervisor of the project of capoeira of the association in Burkina Faso, with the task of examining the boys of the school and deciding the change of graduation.

Mario Cucinella

Mario Cucinella is the founder of Mario Cucinella Architects. With more of 20 years of professional practice, he developed a great experience in sustainable practices ranging from individual residences to urban master plans. In 2017 the American Institute of Architects (AIA) confers Mario Cucinella the Honorary Fellowship Award. In 2016 the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) bestowed upon him their prestigious International Fellowship (2016). For the 2018 Venice Biennale, Mario Cucinella is the curator of the Italian Pavilion. In 2012, he founded Building Green Futures (BGF), a non-profit organisation that promotes sustainable development through green architecture and urban regeneration. In 2015, Cucinella founded SOS – the School of Sustainability – a multi- disciplinary post-graduate programme in Bologna. SOS serves as a nexus for the exchange of knowledge for the building industry, the community and the profession.

Michele Maio

Michele Maio is among the pioneers of cancer immunotherapy, the branch of oncology aimed at treating cancer through the stimulation of the immune system. Since October 2017 he has been in charge of the CIO, Centre for Immuno-Oncology at the University Hospital of Siena and since 2018, he has been appointed as Full Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Siena. From 1983 to 1989 he worked at the New York Medical College. Back in Italy, at the age of 31 he became head of the Cancer Bio-immunotherapy Unit of the Cancer Center of Aviano (CRO). In 2004 is the Director of the Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy of the University Hospital of Siena where he is presently the Director of the Centre for Immuno-Oncology. Prof. Maio is President of the NIBIT Foundation. In 2017 he published, with Agnese Codignola, “Il Corpo Anticancro” (The anticancer body).

Pietro Pensa

Pietro Pensa is an Italian civil engineer, Volunteer Major of Esino Lario, professor at the Faculty of Architecture of the Milan Politecnico. Pietro has developed and followed civil and industrial projects in Italy and abroad, including: Urban Recovery Plans for Rubattino and Portello in Milan. Project Manager for Aerimpianti at the Bucharest Airport, Head of Works for the construction of the new Hospitals of Vimercate and Garbagnate. He was in charge of works and General Coordinator for the construction works and various structures for the EXPO exhibition site. In all these sites he obtained the qualification of "Quality Construction Site". Pietro Pensa è sindaco volontario di Esino Lario dal 2015. Ingegnere civile strutturista e professore presso il Politecnico di Milano. In 30 anni di attività professionale ha sviluppato e seguito progetti in Italia e all’estero. E’ stato project manager per Aerimpianti SpA (Aeroporto di Otopeni Bucarest) e responsabile dei lavori per la costruzione dei nuovi Ospedali di Vimercate e Garbagnate e coordinatore generale per la realizzazione delle opere di urbanizzazione e parco di Cascina Merlata, Villaggio Expo, Parcheggi bus e Passerella di collegamento al sito espositivo EXPO. In tutti questi cantieri ha ottenuto la qualifica di “Cantiere Qualità”.

Roberto Dillon

Dr. Roberto Dillon is the author of several well received game related books published by AKPeters, CRC Press and Springer and he is active both as an indie developer and as an academic in the field of game design and development. His games have been showcased at events like Sense of Wonder Night in Tokyo, FILE Games in Rio de Janeiro and the Indie Prize Showcase at Casual Connect Asia besides reaching top positions on Apple's App Store across several countries and categories. He is currently an Associate Professor at James Cook University lecturing game design and project management classes. Over there in 2013 he founded, and directed since then, the very first Museum of Video and Computer Games in South East Asia. Roberto and his works have been extensively featured by the international media, including the documentary “Inside the Storm: Nintendo”, aired on Channel News Asia in 2017.

Stefano Laffi

Da anni svolge attività di ricerca, consulenza e formazione nel campo del welfare. Ha insegnato presso l’Università Bicocca di Milano, il Politecnico e l’Università Cattolica. È socio fondatore di Codici Ricerca e Intervento. Di recente si è occupato della condizione di bambini, adolescenti e giovani attraverso progetti di partecipazione e protagonismo giovanile nei quartieri, nelle scuole, nelle biblioteche e nei centri di aggregazione giovanile. È consulente del Ministero del Lavoro per i progetti rivolti agli adolescenti. Ha pubblicato per Feltrinelli “La congiura contro i giovani” (2014), “Quello che dovete sapere di me. La parola ai ragazzi” (2016) e collabora stabilmente con la rivista Gli Asini. Stefano Laffi has does research, consultancy and training in the field of welfare. He has taught at the Bicocca University of Milan, the Politecnico and the Cattolica University. He is one of the founding members of 'Codici Ricerca e Intervento'. Recently his research is focused on the condition of children, teenagers and young people in our society through projects of participation in neighbourhoods, schools, libraries and youth centers. He is consultant for the Ministry of Labour on projects addressed to teenagers. He published for Feltrinelli "La congiura contro i giovani" (2014), "Quello che dovete sapere di me. La parola ai ragazzi"(2016) and collaborates with the magazine 'Gli Asini'.