Diversity intersects with creativity at TEDxUOregon

“Human life is inherently creative. It's why we all have different résumés. … It's why human culture is so interesting and diverse and dynamic,” Sir Ken Robinson said at an official TED Conference in April 2013.

Linking creativity and diversity with TED’s movement of “ideas worth spreading,” the University of Oregon will hold its own TEDxUOregon conference, “Intersections: Diversity is Critical to Creativity,” on April 19 in Beall Hall.

The Center on Diversity and Community and the Division of Student Affairs are co-sponsoring this event to celebrate the diverse nature of the UO campus and capture the innovation and creativity of the Pacific Northwest. Talks will range from the intersection of string theory and art, to dance and disability, and the first public showing of the trailer for the documentary, “Whitelandia.”

Among the speakers are :

  • Kevin Marbury, director of Physical Education and Recreation, “Yogi’s Forks and Co-Pilots”
  • Deb Morrison, Chambers Distinguished Professor of Advertising, “Creative Courage in the Age of Ideas”
  • Alaí (Irmary) Reyes-Santos, assistant professor of Ethnic Studies, “Building Intercultural Communities: Knowledge, Pedagogy, and Activism”
  • Wilson Smith, adjunct professor in Product Design and design director at Nike, “Designing for Diversity”
  • Richard Taylor, professor of physics, psychology and art and director of the Materials Science Institute, “Creativity Across the Arts and Sciences.”

UO students were also given the opportunity to compete to give presentations during the TEDx event. More than 40 students applied to present their “idea worth spreading." Eight students have been selected to give short TEDx talks:

  • Grace Aaraj, architecture graduate student 
  • Alexander Dang, English undergraduate student    
  • Sahil Diwan, computer and information science undergraduate student  
  • Liz Fetherston, undergraduate student
  • Carlyle Garrick, business administration undergraduate student
  • Sarah Nachbar, psychology undergraduate student
  • Christine Ngo, counseling psychology graduate student
  • Hillel Samlan, counseling psychology graduate student

Additional TEDx talks include:

  • Sabrina Parsons, CEO of Palo Alto Software, “Be Bossy and Proud: Why We Don't Want to Ban the Word "Bossy"
  • Oregon filmmakers Tracy MacDonald and Matt Zodrow, “The Whitelandia Documentary: Oregon’s Determination to Become a White Homeland”
  • Alito Alessi, artistic director of DanceAbility International in Eugene and co-founder of DanceAbility, “DanceAbility: All Bodies Speak”
  • Cornel Pewewardy, director of the Native American Studies program at Portland State, “Walk a Mile in My Redface: On Ending the Colonial Legacy in Schools, Sports Culture, Mass Media and Civic Life"

Tickets cost $40 each (including a box lunch) and are available through the EMU Ticket Office. Organizers will work to ensure that cost is not a barrier for anybody who wishes to attend. Requests should be made to tedxuoregon@gmail.com.

- by Melissa Foley, Office of Public Affairs Communications