Have you ever dreamed of speaking at a TED Talk, or do you have an unhealthy addiction of binge watching them online?
Well, mark your calendars because the Campus Activities Board is bringing TEDx to UCF on Saturday, April 11 at 1:15 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Business Administration room 119.
According to Ryan Rasmussen, the Speakers director with CAB, speaker applications are available online at www.tedxucf.org, on the UCF CAB website, or on the UCF CAB mobile app and the deadline to apply is March 23 at 11:59 p.m. A selection committee will be in charge of choosing the 2015 speakers on March 25. Due to limited seating, attendees will need to apply for a guaranteed seat by March 30 at 11:59 p.m., or be chosen by lottery on April 1. There is no cost of speaking or attending.
Rasmussen said that the goal of TEDxUCF is to give students a space to share revolutionary ideas, unique experiences, and burning passions in a conversational environment. The only criteria to be a speaker are to be a UCF student and to have a great idea.
Last year’s TEDxUCF hosted four student speakers covering a variety of topics from farming to cancer detection research. One was Afif Abu-Hanna, a premed student from Israel who had been researching a cancer detection device that would track chemicals in the human breath and confirm whether or not a cancer was present. This device is already functional in labs in Israel, detecting lung cancer specifically, but it has yet to be used in doctors’ offices. According to Abu-Hanna and his partner Professor Hossam Haick, it has a 92% chance of detecting lung cancer and accurately reporting it.
“It’s not hopeless, we are making progress and it may be slow but we’re getting there, we’re going to win the fight eventually against cancer and against other diseases,” Abu-Hanna said.
According to Abu-Hanna, his biggest challenge was putting his speech into terms that non-science majors would relate to, but with the help of his speech professor and mentor, Gino Perrotte, he was able to effectively tell his story.
“Everyone who steps up on the podium is trying to tell their story. I think that’s the power behind TED Talks, it’s that it’s personal it’s not just statistics,” Abu-Hanna said.
Another was sophomore Alfredo Salkeld who spoke on the benefits of learning more about the food we consume, and his experience working on a local blueberry farm for a week.
Bitten by the travel bug, Salkeld said he googled “how to travel for cheap” and found a directory for farming opportunities called Woofing. Although the advertising major had never farmed before in his life, he emailed local farmers assuring them of his work ethic and eagerness to jump into a new challenge.
“I think the idea of wanderlust is there no matter what age you are,” Salkeld said. “Sharing ideas makes people want to do more with their lives. It can be something really small. Even if just one person looks [Woofing] up, I made a difference.”
The travel theme continued with Hugo Cardona, a senior majoring in finance, centered his speech on the power of traveling and experiencing other cultures. He said that by putting himself in circumstances that push him out of his comfort zone, he’s able to grow as a person. Cardona who’s lived in six different countries said, “When it comes to TED talks you truly have to be passionate about what you’re talking about otherwise people won’t get the message.”
Last year’s speakers director, Catherine Samarista said that all the speakers brought a lot of energy and passion to the table throughout the coaching sessions that they held.
“You could almost feel the intensity in the room,” she said.
Samarista, who won the 2013-2014 CAB speakers committee award, said she hopes to see the same intensity with this year’s speakers.
