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).

Life Science Centre
2350 Health Sciences Mall
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4
Canada

Aaron Skinner

Biodiversity scientist

Aaron’s present-day passion for biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable development took root on service-learning trips to Central America as a teen. He found Latin culture fascinating and beautiful but was deeply troubled by the unfair hardships poverty, racism, and politically corrupt systems posed on ordinary people. He also fell in love with the natural world and saw firsthand the imminent threats to biodiversity and the communities this biodiversity supports. Aaron is currently doing a PhD in the zoology department at the University of British Columbia in the WoRCS lab, and ultimately hopes to work at the nexus of science, policy, and community activism.

Abeera Irfan

Food health advocate

Throughout her undergraduate degree, Abeera Irfan has been involved in various activities and social justice efforts on campus. She is passionate about holistic and equitable healthcare, food security, and food justice. As an immigrant, Abeera's personal experiences around food pushed her to pursue dietetics where she continuously advocates for culturally safe nutrition care. Abeera loves talking about food and how integral it can be in shaping identity, forming community and its contribution to wellbeing, especially amongst BIPOC communities. Her multiple interests have allowed her to connect with people from many different backgrounds and learn about the role food plays in their lives and their health. She hopes to pursue a career in public health and in her free time, Abeera can be found eating food :)

Becca and Davida Wang

Identical Dynamic Duo

Davida and Becca are identical twins embarking on a 22-year-long experiment to explore the nuances of individualism and collectivism. They grew up in two distinct cultures - the East and the West. Their unique experiment explores the impact of the environment on personal growth and identity, and how embracing individuality and collectivism can enhance their unbreakable bond as twins.

Daniel Shirvani

Since his first dive into computer programming at the age of eight, Daniel has held a profound interest in computers. This passion soon evolved into a commitment to advocating for digital literacy and access. By 12, he was a paid instructor, teaching computer game design to eager learners. A pivotal moment came at 14 when Daniel began his first research term at BC Cancer, kindling a deep interest in cancer research, drug discovery, and health technology. Years later, his impactful work with health technology and community work at the University of British Columbia (UBC) caught the attention of Google, which flew him to two conferences in the United States this past year. Now, at 19 years old, Daniel is preparing to start his journey as a Medical Student at UBC. Leveraging his technology background, he aims to incorporate innovative tools into actual patient care, bringing his early passion full circle.

Jayde Edgren

Mental Health Advocate

As someone who was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder at the age of eleven years old, Jayde has been dealing with OCD for much longer. At the age of five years old Jayde’s OCD was triggered when she was accused by her father for saying something inappropriate. This inciting incident led Jayde to develop Homosexual Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (HOCD), the fear of the possibility of being gay, and Pedophilic Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (POCD), the fear of the possibility of being a pedophile. Despite her challenges Jayde managed to become a competitive dancer for four years, ran small businesses, and got accepted into the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. Jayde is now pursuing to transfer into the Sauder School of Business in hopes of making her dream of owning a real estate development company, come true.

Ky Sargeant

EDI Consultant

Ky (she/they) is an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion consultant, passionate about building spaces that nurture people to grow and live authentically. With a deep appreciation for the structural roots of inequity, she combines her formal education in organizational design with a background in performing arts to inspire momentum for change in the clients she works with. She works to bridge the gap between grassroots initiatives for social progress, and the executive action needed to sustain it. She believes that learning to find yourself is the first step in creating a world where we can better support each other.

Lynda Li

Health Equity Activist

As the daughter of immigrants, Lynda came to understand the many hardships newcomers face. Her family's encounters with language barriers instilled a deep sense of social responsibility to advance language justice. She co-founded Volentia Healthcare Translation, a non-profit providing free healthcare translation for immigrants, newcomers, and refugees in Vancouver. Volentia currently partners with 40 clinics, 10 community centers, and the clinical research department at B.C Children's Hospital. Lynda's ambitions for advancing social justice are also reflected in academia. Whether it's examining the ethnicity-related diagnostic disparity of colorectal cancer or exploring the intersections of ageism and racism during COVID-19, her research has been awarded locally and internationally. As an aspiring clinician-researcher, Lynda seeks to bridge culturally safe care with health equity research to improve the health and well-being of underserved, marginalized, and minority groups in Canada.

Prishita Agarwal

Sustainability Activist + Social Entrepreneur

Prishita is a student entrepreneur on a mission to transform glass waste management across the globe. By focusing on upcycling glass products, she aims to offer sustainable solutions that are both eco-friendly— and aesthetically pleasing! Her efforts were recognized in 2022 when she received the BcBusiness Women of the Year award, for empowering individuals to take that crucial first step towards a circular economy and a greener future.

Theodore Yu

Transit Activist

Theodore's passion for transit started from a young age, evolving into a deep understanding of public transportation systems and a desire to educate others about their benefits. As Theodore grew up in Vancouver, he became acutely aware of a concerning gap in transit education, particularly for teenagers who realized how important it is as they go to university and become independent. Two years ago, he embarked on a content creation journey focused on TransLink's extensive transit network, which serves Vancouver's lower mainland. Recognizing these challenges, Theodore employed his passion and expertise to create compelling content about TransLink's transit network, speaking at this year's TEDxUBC conference, and educating commuters on transit.