TEDx Davis - Event Recap - Imaginary Zebra™

“TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds: Technology, Entertainment, Design.” It used to be a closed event, and wasn’t until recently when TED started streaming the talks online and make them available to the public.

Not only does TED provide an outlet for most inpsired thinkers around the world to share their visions, it encourages everyone to start spreading ideas and having conversations on innovation. Thus, “TEDx”- an independent TED events, where local communities host their own Ideas Worth Spreading events.

I’ve been an avid TED viewer since 2006. When I heard Davis was hosting a TEDx event, I almost jumped out of my seat. It was Davis’ very first TED event (hope many more to come) and I was pretty darn excited to be part of it – I didn’t host, nor speak; I was just in a room full of thinkers and had to the chance to actually speak to a couple of them. Here’s what went down:

↑Where it took place and there were around 100 of us. Ticket was $15, but we had to go through an application process.

Max [co-founder of Mapiz] came with:

↑One of their game’s very well designed and very challenging – I couldn’t get pass level 99. – it’s called [Get me Out.]

Theme for the TEDxDavis: Lots of thinking.

Aggie TV holding it down – event coverage as well as live streaming the whole thing.

I’ll just briefly touch up on the speakers and their talks because I’m sure “Google” can provide you the in depth info.

Here goes:

↑The theme works both literally and metaphorically.

Travis Lybbert – Earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied Economics from Cornell University, where he also taught engineering economics in the Operations Research Department. Dr. Lybbert conducts research in four interrelated areas of applied economics: risk, poverty dynamics, technology, and environment.

↑Dr. Lybbert believes the best way to pull people out of poverty isn’t by plain aids, but with tools, such as bikes that would empower them to create business and make the process self-sustain.

David Oslerger – Lecturer SOE in the Department of Geology at UC Davis where he teaches classes on the geology of national parks, the geology of California and planetary geology.

↑Dr. Oslerger explained the limited energy resources we have and thus, we’re in need of exploring and optimizing energy sources from different outlets.

Lloyd Knox – Professor Lloyd Knox joined the faculty at UCD in 2001. His research activities are in the area of cosmology and include development of data analysis methods, analysis and interpretation of data, calculation of observable consequences of models, and motivation of future observations.

↑ Professor Knox shared his experience of the way he got into cosmology and the learning process. There were two ways that motivated him – playfulness from curiosity and fear.

Bob Ostertag – Composer, performer, instrument builder, journalist, activist, historian, kayak instructor — Bob Ostertag‘s work cannot easily be summarized or pigeon-holed. As a composer and musician, he has released 21 CDs of music.

Bob Ostertag told us his thoughts on technology – it may be a problem just in itself.

Time flied – I wasn’t sure if I was able to grasp all the concepts the speakers shared, but I know for sure about one thing, my stomach can definitely grasp some of these burgers:

↑It’s making me hungry as I write this entry. darn.

The back of the Alumni Center:

↑I can dine here everyday.

Our table: caught up with a couple of old friends and met some new ones, too.

Say hello to Johnson:

↑Known Emily since high school, she helped out for one of TIZ’s fashion show in the past with [the epic Lion Dance Club.] Always nice to see her around.

Chyea, new friends:

↑ Engineers in the house – aside from compiling codes and working with hardware, Jay told me about a terrific event idea he plan on executing – Stay tune. It’s going to blow your mind.

Time for part.2:

Brennan Bird – A UCD Alumnus, with a B.A. in Nature and Culture, former resident of the Domes on-campus community, and currently an ecological educator in the Bay Area.

↑Brennan Bird showcasing his waste coffee table, made out of the trash he used for 1 single year. He encouraged us to make “bottle bricks” and use them for constructions. Sustainability and keeping things green.

Klause van Bethem – An assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Material Science in UCD. He is interested in the investigation of the functionalities of novel nano-materials. He uses electron microscopy tools to image nano-materials with atomic resolution and correlate their morphologies and atomic structures with nano-scale and macro-scale physical properties.

↑ Dr. van Benthem shared his research in nano-structured materials and its potential for the future.

Keith Baar – Dr Baar’s research is focused on determining the molecular mechanisms underlying the physiological and functional adaptations of muscle to exercise. Recently joined the UC Davis faculty after 5 years leading a laboratory in Scotland.

↑ Dr. Baar was holding his kelpie while explaining daily exercise, with the help of a kelpie, can make one live longer, healthier, and happier.

Gergley Zimanyi – Gergely Zimanyi joined the UC Davis Physics Department in 1989. Over the years he studied high temperature superconductors, vortices, glasses and strongly interacting systems. In the last decade his interests evolved towards problems in basic science that also impact our lives more directly.

↑ He was also one of the most entertaining speakers of the event, not only because talked about the spectacular nano-technology, he also dressed up as a Matrix character- You gotta respect any cosplay professors.

After he made his entrance, he asked us to reach down underneath our seats for a personal envelope:

Just like Morpheus from the movie, within the envelope, there were two pills (jelly beans), pick the red to follow him on his journey and the blue one…you get the point.

Quick break: 30 minutes window for us to meet/talk to the other attendees.

Rachel! She came by to help out with Aggie TV as well.

Eden and Christine seem to have enjoyed the event so far.

↑Now you know what to ask her to the break the ice. (She’s particularly good at the “YouTube smile” – ask her about it.)

We had to.

Part.3: My favorite portion of the event.

Keith Merrom – Dr. Keith Merron is one of the country’s leading experts in the area of leadership, organizational culture, and change. As a doctoral student at Harvard University 30 years ago, he was on the ground floor of some of the seminal research upon which our current knowledge of organizational culture is based. In addition, his research on the relationship between ego maturity, leadership, and organizational effectiveness helped form the basis of a new theory of organizational and societal change called Spiral Dynamics, elucidated in Ken Wilber’s ground breaking treatise, A Theory of Everything.

↑Complemented with the stories during his research, Dr. Merron believes remarkable leadership is characterized by 3 main traits – Clarity in their vision, anchor in their values, and comfortable in their skin.

Vikram Amar – Vikram Amar rejoined the UC Davis Law School in 2007, after teaching at UC Hastings for a decade. Professor Amar writes, teaches and consults in the public law fields, especially constitutional law, civil procedure, and remedies.

↑ Professor Amar explained how to direct national election of the president without the electoral college and how amendments can help shape a better system.

and last but not least,

Andy Jones – Andy Jones has taught for the English Department and the University Writing Program since 1990. Originally trained as a poet and interpreter of poetry, Andy has taught classes at UC Davis on TS Eliot, the Poetry of the Beat Generation, and Close Reading of Poetry, as well as the Advanced Poetry Writing Workshop.

↑ I’ve met professor Jones once in the past, he was the first professor I know that taught his class with an iPad. He was also the first professor I know that encourages his students to start their own blog. However, his talk wasn’t about filling your time with more things to learn, but taking a step back every once in awhile like him through his son Loki.