Archives for April 2014

TEDxYouth@MileHigh Speaker Q&A with Alex Jeffery

April 15, 2014 by influexwp

At age 19, Alex Jeffery has already accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime. An entrepreneur, a small business owner, a visionary, and a social innovator, his journey to realizing his passions in life has landed him as one of Australia’s most respected young leaders. We spoke with this dynamic and passionate teenager and are now even more excited to see him speak at TEDxYouth@MileHigh tomorrow.

Tell us a little about your background.

I grew up in Melbourne, Australia and went through kindergarten, primary school and secondary school all in my local area, Upwey! My journey as an entrepreneur and visionary started at age 11 when I was shocked to see a World Vision ad to “sponsor a child” while I was watching Jumanji with my older brother. This sparked my journey to work out how I could make as a bigger difference as I possibly could.

Since the age of 12, I’ve been starting up mini ventures, making many mistakes and slowly making the ventures more and more complex. One of my biggest values and guiding principles is “impact,” and so there has always been a sense of social and/or environmental impact embedded in each idea.

Along the way I have pursued my training as a Martial Artist and as a keen guitarist. Music to me is an amazing tool that can be used to bring people together in a very unique way.

I have graduated from High School in 2012 and since have not studied at a tertiary level institute.

Wow, that’s quite the story! What specific experiences growing up in Australia have shaped your life now?

I would say that my experiences in pursuing Martial Arts since 8 years old have had a dramatic effect on who I am and what I do today. This is where I believe a lot of my focus, self-discipline and perseverance stems from. Without these fundamental leadership and character skills I don’t believe I would be where I am today.

Another very general aspect of my last 19 years in Australia is the lifestyle that we lead in Australia being very active, grounded and community-driven. I value community and groups of people helping each other very much and aim to build this wherever I go.

In Australia and very much so from where in Australia I am from (in the mountains surrounding Melbourne), we are very connected to the environment around us and are taught to respect nature and our planet. I guess this has meant that I value nature a lot and really do as much as possible to connect with our planet, align myself with it and truly respect it. I believe this is possibly one of the major aspects of the culture in Australia that has shaped me today.

What does “emergence” mean to you?

To me “emergence” means the coming of ideas, projects and solutions as a result of the space, environment and conditions being in the right alignment to allow it. It is when things aren’t forced and yet results and outcomes (usually better then expected) emerge when it is not expected.

The word “emerge” seems to be used most often when it is almost a “surprise” … when there is no solid expectation in place. To me this emphasizes the fact that to allow emergence we can’t build linear systems…they need to be enabling systems built on the principles behind nature, ecology and biology.

What does the “Social-Era” of Business mean to you?

We are now in a time where our generation cares more than ever about the impact we as individuals and as a collective, create! We are more connected to the world around us and so are more aware of how our actions create global ripple effects and what this has meant in terms of the conditions we are in today.

Our generation thinks and behaves completely differently from previous generations because of this and we are more “social” in that we care about our impact and connection/relationship with those around us. We are demanding businesses to act more socially and become clean in the way they operate as an organisation.

At the same time as we mean “social” as in impact, we are also much more social in that we are connected in the way we are and we rely on our peer’s opinions and what the “crowd” believes about certain topics more than we do about a company’s marketing messages.

We are buying more and more based on what our friends are saying on social media, than what the companies themselves are saying about the products. This represents a shift to a global community that is coming together, sharing knowledge and insights, and ultimately making sure that we protect each other in making the right decisions.

Tell us about Onely:

Onely stemmed out of the first ONEWorld Summit we ran in Melbourne in August 2013. I’ve always been intrigued with the opportunity we have to leverage the potential within ourselves as one world in order to design and co-create the future we actually want to experience. I suppose I could never understand why we weren’t working collaboratively when we are truly all connected and effected by the very same issues.

I believe that if we all truly allow ourselves to follow our gifts and do what really makes us excited, we can work together in collaboration to awaken, heal and create an abundant and sustainable future.

We see Onely more as a lifestyle, a culture and a set of principles and values. For us it is a way of thinking, acting and relating. Our vision is that we are a branded impact investment fund creating an eco-system of high-impact ventures working in collaboration and sharing resources in pursuit of shared visions. This eco-system will be designed around permaculture and natural laws.

Right now we have a couple of projects growing, such as:

global experience, the ONEWorld Summit Series, taking place in 5 countries and 7 cities around the world
a series of communities and spaces offline in around the world fostering, nurturing and growing visionary, progressive and supportive communities
a new-age culture-shift consulting group helping large corporations shift to a more nature driven business structure and a culture of purpose, collaboration and innovation

For us this is the beginning of a larger eco-system of organisations and people all playing their unique role in “change” as a whole and working collaboratively.

What can and should small businesses do differently?

I believe small businesses have incredible potential to make a HUGE impact on a local level. They all have the opportunity to to create a strong community in their local area in order to enable small groups of people around the world to grow, share, shine and contribute together.

I also believe this is incredibly valuable for small businesses to build a community around their business and really serve them. As well as community building, integrating technology into their business is also going to be key for them to be able to really grow their impact.

Why is entrepreneurship important?

Entrepreneurship is so important for the growth and progress of humanity as a whole for so many reasons. The first is that it takes entrepreneurial thinking to see our “problems” not as negative situations but as pockets of opportunity for growth and innovation. It takes entrepreneurial and creative thinking to tap into the abundant resources we truly have in order to move forward in the direction we desire. We don’t have limited resources, we have unlimited resources but seemingly limited creativity. Entrepreneurship has us capture these opportunities and turn problems into meaningful solutions!!

Entrepreneurship is also a way to enable people to truly live and give their unique gifts to the world. In a job landscape where it is becoming harder and harder to find work, creating our own work based on our strengths and gifts is going to be the best way for us as individuals and as a whole to survive and thrive. When people are empowered to create as well as simply participate, the outcomes and options are truly endless.

Do you have any entrepreneurs or small businesses you admire in particular?

For a very long time (and to this day, for sure!), I admire Richard Branson and Elon Musk a great deal! To me Richard Branson is not only making a significant difference in so many different ways, but he is also doing it so authentically. You see how much fun he has doing the work he does and to me this shows the authenticity coming through in his work. He has truly been able to let his message of “doing good and doing well” shine and inspire millions of people around the world.

Elon Musk is also someone I look up to very much for his relentless innovation and game-changing! Even though he is obviously very financially comfortable and could easily sit back and enjoy having the wealth he does, he has chosen to take HUGE risks, push big boundaries and challenge the status-quo in ways that have turned so many heads! I really admire this attitude and his commitment to really doing things differently in order to make a difference.

If you weren’t pursuing entrepreneurship, what would you be doing?

This is a very hard question to answer as I really don’t feel there is anything in the world that would allow me to be truly in my “bliss” and sharing my natural gift with the world, other than the freedom entrepreneurship gives me to do this. Sitting in an office is really not something I could thrive in and be truly satisfied with.

However, if there was one thing I would be doing if not entrepreneurship, I would say it would be organizing experiential events that bring people together and have them connect with their true authentic gifts through yoga, meditation, music and workshops.

As you may know, my personal mission is to bring our generation ALIVE and TOGETHER and I believe events that involved certain elements and experiences have the power to truly have people connect deeply with themselves and the world around them in order to work synergistically to shared goals instead of individual ideals.

What is something few people know about you?

This is something that I have only recently opened up to people about, but I struggled for years sharing this with people. It was one of my most vulnerable topics.

As I started this journey at 12 years old and am extremely passionate about it I found it very hard during my teenage years to make friends and connect with people properly. Every time my friends would ask to go out with them or go to a party, I would always make up an excuse about having to “work” or something else that meant I could just keep working.

This led to me honestly being very lonely and not having many strong relationships. This really did effect my teenage experience and is something I only recently was able to overcome by opening up and allowing myself to connect with people.

If there is one lesson I took away from this and would like to share it would be to never EVER prioritize anything over your relationships with the people around you. They are your most valuable asset and need to be placed above other things as much as possible.

TEDxYouth@MileHigh Speaker Q&A with Rachel Rossi

April 14, 2014 by influexwp

Water is the essence of life. It helps us grow and sustain ourselves through change, and it keeps the planet running. Few people make it their entire lives, but Rachel Rossi of Durango, Colorado wants to help create sustainable approaches to water remediation in order to prevent environmental degradation. With six years of experience under her belt already, Rachel is sure to change the way we interact with water. Learn more about her in this Q&A.

Tell us a little about your background.

I have had the privilege to grow up in two very diverse environments: the beach and the mountains. From an early age, I was able to experience the beauty of the outdoors, kayaking and surfing in the ocean and backpacking, skiing, rock-climbing, and biking through the mountains. I am passionate about research and academic pursuits, but am equally passionate about spending time outdoors.

The outdoors clearly means a lot to you. When did you first develop an interest in water and water remediation?

Spending so much of my time outdoors, I grew to appreciate the regenerative potential of nature, just as I understood the destructive behaviors of mankind. I learned to be careful choosing drinking water sources while backpacking, as many back country rivers, which were once a safe source of drinking water, are contaminated.

What other environmental processes are you interested in and passionate about?

My primary interest in chemical engineering, and how to shift the current paradigm from one which degrades the environment to one which supports the environment.

What else can be done in Durango and the rest of Colorado to help treat water more efficiently?

Simply disposing of household water contaminants, such as pharmaceutical drugs and motor oil, in a proper method can make a significant impact on the quality of our water.

What are some discoveries you have made recently regarding your work?

Most recently, I have been researching remediation of fracking chemicals, which are used to acquire natural gas. Fracking chemicals are especially problematic to human and environmental health as water contaminants.

What made you choose Stanford for next year? What do you plan to do there?

Stanford combines academic rigor, research opportunities, and fertile ground for innovative ideas. I am not looking to simply gain an education, but to equip myself to find innovative solutions to challenges our society faces and to work collaboratively with others who seek to use their intellect to improve the life experience of everyone in our world.

Why is water remediation important?

Water is the foundation of all life. Each water source is connected through the water cycle. If we continue to pollute our water, ultimately, we will not be able to sustain life.

What is something few people know about you?

I can use a Mass Spectrometer and prepare chemical derivatives, but the only things I can cook are kale and omelets.

TEDxYouth@MileHigh Speaker Q+A with Joshua Baptist

April 13, 2014 by influexwp

What many people do not realize or understand is that science is a process, a complex set of processes that shapes the world around us. Joshua Baptist is a small business owner, a researcher, and technologist, but considers himself first and foremost a scientist. We caught up with him about his passion and how he plans to change nanotechnology.

Tell us a little about your background.

This is a hard question! I think the first thing I can say is I have always loved and maintained a strong passion for science. I have lived my life around the concept of better understanding it and applying what I learn. I have been involved in research inside and outside of universities since I was 16. My first job was in the Physics Department at UCCS and have hands on experience in many fields of physics, chemistry and engineering.

So you’ve always loved science! When did you first develop an interest in science as a process and the scientific method?

I was quite young when when science enthralled me. I remember my Dad and I playing with an old Gilbert chemistry set when I was still probably 3. Really ever since then I have done everything I could to learn more and do science myself!

What scientific fields are you most passionate about?

That is a difficult question, as I am interested in more fields than I can really say! But in short I believe in nuclear engineering and micro/nano science as a whole are my passions.

Tell us about your experience at UCCS. What did your research focus on?

I started working at UCCS in the Center for Magnetism as an intern during my the summer of my Junior year of high school, and was asked to stay. Over the years I was there, I worked on nearly every project in the Physics department in someway or another. I got so involved in research that school was put on the back burner. In 2013 I was allowed to pursue nanoscience research of my own on a volunteer basis under the supervision of the Center for Nano-optics and Photonics. I personally funded my lab and had better equipped and stocked labs than the university owned labs. During this time I researched novel methods for fabricating and separating nanostructures, plasmonic biosensors, new types of solar cells using employing quantum dots among several other things. During my holding of these labs, I would work during the day in the Center for Magnetism, and by night in my labs. My whole experience at UCCS revolved around research and building things!

What are you doing now at UT-Arlington?

There is a lot currently happening at UTA, and am working in quite diverse fields. I am working primarily in Electrical Engineering were some of my work I do is heading design and fabrication of devices for acoustic control of microrobots, lab on chip devices, MEMS and prototyping new types of weapon attachments for a local company. I am also working with the physics department to build proton detectors for testing at Fermilab to be eventually employed at LHC.

What is Minerva Enterprises?

Minerva Enterprises is a company I founded dedicated to research and industrial nanomaterial manufacture, applied micro and nanotechnologies and prototyping.

If you weren’t pursuing science, what would you be doing?

Kind of a trick question, I don’t think I would ever see myself doing anything but science! No matter where it is, who its with, or in what field, I always see more to learn and explore and that is what drives me from within.

Why is science important?

Science is important because simply it is what builds the future and betters our understanding of how the universe works.

What is something few people know about you?

I have never placed in a science fair. The judges thought my projects were too advanced for me to have accomplished myself..

TEDxYouth@MileHigh Speaker Q+A with Nicole Garneau

April 11, 2014 by influexwp

Human beings are driven by curiosity and a desire to understand our lives and our world more thoroughly. Nicole Garneau, a geneticist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, has taken that thirst for knowledge and has made it her life. “Science changes,” she believes “because the technologies and the methods we use to study science get better.” We caught up with her about her research and work at DMNS and are now even more excited for her talk on April 16th at TEDxYouth@MileHigh.

Tell us a little about your background.

I grew up in Maine and my first job was on my grandfather’s lobster boat. When I was a sophomore in high school, I had a teacher who told me about the human genome project and it blew my mind that we didn’t know everything. After that, it was then about how I could make discoveries and I was sold on science. I really wanted to be a geneticist because that’s where I knew the discoveries were. That’s how I decided on Rutgers because they had a Genetics Major option. My love for it continued to grow and afterwards, I was a little tired. I did other things before I went to grad school including working on my best friend’s dry bean farm and a motorcycle shop. These really taught me work ethic and administrative skills. Then I got bored and looked at programs involving genetics and I decided upon CSU. When I graduated, I knew I didn’t want to be an academic scientist, and a friend showed me the posting for the position that I am in now.

That’s quite the story! So then what sparked your interest in taste, food choices, and diet?

We decided to study taste so that we could teach people about genetics. Genetics is not tangible, but taste is something you experience every day. Through taste, we can make genetics fun, personable, and accessible to your life. Our educational goal is that you learn about genetics and at first I didn’t know anything about taste. Now, I love talking about taste and learning about it.

Could you tell me a little more about the Genetics of Taste Lab?

It is a community-based lab. The idea is that 364 days a year can see what a lab looks like. The fishbowl setting allows people to see a space they might never have access to and that you can be a part of this research. People can participate and learn a lot about themselves while giving us really good data we can use.

Are there other body processes you are interested in besides taste?

I’ve got a seed of an idea percolating about what the human experience looks like in the environment. That could be micro-based or out in nature. I want to make the whole human physiological experience accessible and fun. Nothing should be locked behind any elite doors.

How can we make better food choices based on what we find most enjoyable to eat?

If we make it personal and we make it fun so that we are inciting your curiosity, you’re going to take that knowledge with you. I give you that perspective so that you can use it yourself in whatever way you want. If we can understand the genetics behind how taste works then we can open up an entire field of personalized nutritional choices.

Tell us more about Yo Pearl the Science Girl.

I realized I wanted to have the voice of someone who was fun in science. It’s not about making science cool; it’s about cool-ifying science. Science IS cool and now we’re just going to show how cool it is. Science is totally fun and there’s a scientist in everyone. Making her a woman was a way to inspire more women and girls to pursue STEM. It was all about making a fun, community voice coming from a woman.

And what about Skirts in Science?

Skirts in Science was myself and at the time the only other female curator here and our conservator Jude Southward. We were at an event that was celebrating women in scientific careers and we wanted to make a community for those women.

So, how can we get even more women involved in STEM professions?

I do think that the stats show that there needs to be more visibility for women who are already in STEM. A lot of the reason why students pick certain careers is whom they can see as their role models. Million Women Mentors is a new campaign for women where they can pledge to mentor and I’ve pledged to volunteer and I now teach about 20-30 women and girls a year about science specifically. I started a peer sponsorship group where we meet once a month over dinner to keep each other on track.

If you weren’t a geneticist, what would you be?

I would be doing something where I can camp three months a year, whatever that is.

What’s something few people know about you?

Before I give a talk, I do one of two things. I either listen to a playlist I created called “Nicki Get Psyched Up,” or I google “Eddie Izzard Lego.”

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Archives for April 2014

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