Theme: Bridging Boundries

This year Nueva’s TEDx club is putting together our annual conference in April. In a world where sociopolitical issues are both divisive as ever and becoming increasingly ingrained in our lives, we want to learn from people like our speakers who can help bring some clarity to this complex world and turn us toward a brighter future. Our theme is “Bridging Boundaries” and we are featuring six incredible speakers ranging from members of our student body to pioneers in their fields. Our event is from 10am to 2pm and open to the public! If you have any questions you can contact us at anymotw@nuevaschool.org and noozarr@nuevaschool.org

The Nueva Upper School
131 East 28th Avenue
San Mateo, California, 94403
United States

Amrutha Rao

Student, Innovator, Entrepreneur, and Researcher

Amrutha Rao is an innovator, entrepreneur, and researcher dedicated to tackling climate change. Her projects include an environmental app, original science research, and an invention— all of which have garnered multiple international-level awards. Her climate action gamification app was recognized her district’s congresswoman, and her wastewater treatment research won an Excellence in Engineering Award from the US Army Corps of Engineers. Amrutha is also the leader and a co-founder of GreenSwing, a patent-pending invention that generates electricity from door swings. GreenSwing was featured by global sustainability organizations. Additionally, Amrutha was named August’s Young Planet Leader by Heal the Planet for her projects.

Kayte Chan

Student & Advocate

As a junior at Nueva, Kayte Chan is deeply passionate about the convergence of science and societal dynamics. Their love for scientific inquiry ignites a keen interest in understanding how feminism is perceived across various professions. Kayte is passionate about fostering dialogue and collaboration as catalysts for positive societal change. Through her presentation, Kayte is excited to explore the intersection between personal occupational choices and participation in the feminist movement. She hopes that the findings of her presentation will allow the community to gain deeper insights into the diverse perspectives of women in different fields and inspire meaningful conversations about gender equality and empowerment.

Kian Salimi

Student & Healthcare Advocate

Kian is a junior at The Nueva School interested in health disparities and precision medicine. His work has resulted in multiple applications and student-run initiatives, with the goal of reducing inequities in healthcare and education. His app PERCH, a tool for physicians to personalize their communication to their patient’s health literacy, has been researched and tested with over 30 individuals and is currently in beta testing. At the moment, Kian is launching an app providing caregivers and family members of palliative care patients with a glimpse into each other’s physical and mental states. Kian is also heavily involved with the Nueva Research Program, running Nueva’s journal club, Science Friday program, and Research at Nueva initiative. His passion for connecting with his community and culture has driven him to seek new stories from voices that aren’t found in mainstream media.

Misasha Suzuki Graham

Author

A graduate of Harvard College and Columbia Law School, Misasha Suzuki Graham is passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession as well as in her communities. She is a facilitator, writer, and speaker regarding issues of racial justice and children, the co-author of Dear White Women: Let’s Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism, and the co-host of Dear White Women, a social justice podcast. Misasha, who is biracial (Japanese and White), is the proud mom of two very active multiracial tween boys. They live in the Bay Area of California with their largely indifferent cat.

Talinn Hatti

Student & Co-Founder of iEmote

Talinn Hatti is a junior at the Nueva highschool in San Mateo, California. With familial ties to neurodiversity and passion for the field of neuroscience, he is motivated to contribute to research and find innovative ways to spread awareness around mental healthcare. During the summer of 2021, Talinn participated in Stanford University’s neuroscience immersion program, where he and a team of three other high school students founded iEmote, a K-12 application designed to teach social-emotional learning skills and cultivate a more inclusive generation for the future. His work has been showcased at a variety of platforms, including the South by Southwest Educators Conference in Austin, TX, Forbes magazine, and Stanford’s high school neuroscience forum. In addition, Talinn is actively engaged in community initiatives, collaborating with the Los Altos City Council to organize youth open mic events, promoting outlets for self-expression and inclusion.

Violet Saena

Founder and Executive Director of Climate Resilient Communities

Violet Saena is the founder and executive director of Climate Resilient Communities, an organization that supports under-resourced communities of color at the frontline of climate change and sea-level rise. Her dedication to elevating community voices and responding to environmental injustice is rooted in her lived experience in the South Pacific. She has served as an international climate change expert with the United Nations’ Least Developed Countries and Small Island States to protect communities from the impacts of climate change. She now works in the Bay Area partnering with governments, research institutions, and community-based organizations to build community capacity to respond to climate change and sea-level rise. Currently, Violet is a Distinguished Visitor at Stanford University and her residency is on Environmental Sustainability.