We have an exciting lineup of speakers this year! Join us to learn about ideas worth spreading.
A Drug-Free Alternative Treatment for IBD by Nicholas Tran
Today, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is rapidly spreading with the Westernization of our diets, causing an influx of unhealthy processed foods which cause catastrophic and irreversible damage to our gut. IBD is lifelong and unpredictable in nature, casting a heavy toll on a patient’s mental health, especially those diagnosed with early onset IBD. Nicholas discusses the gaps within IBD treatment and offers his own solution, an app focused on improving patient quality of life through positive nutrition.
At 14, Nicholas was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. He fundraises to find a cure and organizes events to bring his community together. Nicholas also enjoys playing golf with his dad, and with his free time, he explores ingredients and creates new and friendly recipes that spice up the culinary delights of IBD patients.
Spice, Medicine, or Both?: Turmeric & Health by Neha Surendar
Ayurveda, a 5,000 year old holistic healing system, focuses on balancing bodily systems to maintain health. A critical ingredient in Indian cooking and medicine, turmeric has a long tradition as a versatile spice. As Western healthcare becomes more focused on pharmaceuticals, Neha Surendar believes turmeric and its antioxidative properties should be part of the conversation about treating a variety of conditions. Her talk challenges the audience to consider how turmeric can impact their health.
Neha Surendar is a high school senior who lives in Texas. She competes in Speech & Debate, ranking among the top 25 students in Texas. Neha embraces her Desi culture and recently took an interest in learning about its culinary traditions. Upon graduation, Neha intends to study neuroscience and pursue a career in healthcare.
Using Technology to Address Homelessness by Aidan Levan
In 2022, San Jose spent $116 million on homelessness. As the homeless population rises, action must be taken. Aidan Levan created an app called Loved Ones Are Found to help connect the homeless with their loved ones. Through crowdsourcing, this app can locate the homeless and reconnect them with their families while also getting them off the streets. Whether families are looking for their lost homeless loved one or a homeless person is looking for their family, people can reunite through the app.
Aidan Levan is the creator of the app, Loved Ones Are Found. He is fascinated by mechanical engineering, guitars, and cars. He plays lead guitar in his band, and he enjoys to play rock music. Aidan just came back from South Africa and Vietnam. He loves to travel with his family and play with his two poodles. He hopes to become a mechanical engineer and design cars.
Track a Gun: A Crowdsourcing Solution to Active-Shooter Violence by Kiran Sunil
Over the past 9 months, there have been over 25,000 deaths by gun violence. Kiran created Track A Gun, an app that empowers communities to prevent gun violence. Through crowdsourcing, this app can help people share what they see and hear in real time so victims can decide to run for shelter, hide from the shooter, or protect loved ones during an active-shooter incident. Join Kiran to learn how innovation and the power of collective action can foster safer, more connected communities.
Kiran Sunil is a high school senior from San Jose. He enjoys playing tennis and basketball, as well as participating in programming and robotics competitions. He aspires to continue studying computer science, and pursue a career in software development. He is determined to leverage technology to reduce gun violence.
How Vaping is Affecting More Than Just Your Lungs by Mehtaab Dhillon
Vaping is this generation’s new medium to consume nicotine and weed, and like cigarettes, users are getting more than just nicotine and weed. A concerning portion of the youth is falling victim to the propaganda of Big Tobacco who has framed vaping as a healthy alternative to smoking cigarettes. New research shows that this is the case. With the recent global pandemic, it is important to understand vaping’s effects of vaping on our immune system and with the help of controlled research, expose Big Tobacco’s lies.
Mehtaab Dhillon is a high school senior from the Central Valley. He aspires to become a physician and master communication to become the most effective physician possible. Along with effective communication, Mehtaab wishes to create a healthier society fueled by his passion for Biology and Chemistry. For fun, Mehtaab enjoys distance running and spending time with family.
Trauma on the brain by Daisy Payton
The neurobiological effects of PTSD can vary based on personal touch. PTSD is caused by extreme trauma and is seen most in women and people of color. Research shows that long term experience of traumatic stress has drastic impacts on specific structures of the brain, like the prefrontal cortex. These disruptions can affect the ability to regulate emotion, learn, and form new memories and it looks different in every gender, demographic and stage of development. It is treatable.
Daisy attended the University of San Francisco and received her degree in Psychology and minor in Neuroscience. Currently, she runs her family’s ranch and cares for her hoard of animals. She’s applying to Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience PhD programs this fall and plans to research genetics, neural basis of emotion, and psychopathology.
We have an exciting lineup of speakers this year! Join us to learn about ideas worth spreading.
A Drug-Free Alternative Treatment for IBD by Nicholas Tran
Today, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is rapidly spreading with the Westernization of our diets, causing an influx of unhealthy processed foods which cause catastrophic and irreversible damage to our gut. IBD is lifelong and unpredictable in nature, casting a heavy toll on a patient’s mental health, especially those diagnosed with early onset IBD. Nicholas discusses the gaps within IBD treatment and offers his own solution, an app focused on improving patient quality of life through positive nutrition.
At 14, Nicholas was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. He fundraises to find a cure and organizes events to bring his community together. Nicholas also enjoys playing golf with his dad, and with his free time, he explores ingredients and creates new and friendly recipes that spice up the culinary delights of IBD patients.
Spice, Medicine, or Both?: Turmeric & Health by Neha Surendar
Ayurveda, a 5,000 year old holistic healing system, focuses on balancing bodily systems to maintain health. A critical ingredient in Indian cooking and medicine, turmeric has a long tradition as a versatile spice. As Western healthcare becomes more focused on pharmaceuticals, Neha Surendar believes turmeric and its antioxidative properties should be part of the conversation about treating a variety of conditions. Her talk challenges the audience to consider how turmeric can impact their health.
Neha Surendar is a high school senior who lives in Texas. She competes in Speech & Debate, ranking among the top 25 students in Texas. Neha embraces her Desi culture and recently took an interest in learning about its culinary traditions. Upon graduation, Neha intends to study neuroscience and pursue a career in healthcare.
Using Technology to Address Homelessness by Aidan Levan
In 2022, San Jose spent $116 million on homelessness. As the homeless population rises, action must be taken. Aidan Levan created an app called Loved Ones Are Found to help connect the homeless with their loved ones. Through crowdsourcing, this app can locate the homeless and reconnect them with their families while also getting them off the streets. Whether families are looking for their lost homeless loved one or a homeless person is looking for their family, people can reunite through the app.
Aidan Levan is the creator of the app, Loved Ones Are Found. He is fascinated by mechanical engineering, guitars, and cars. He plays lead guitar in his band, and he enjoys to play rock music. Aidan just came back from South Africa and Vietnam. He loves to travel with his family and play with his two poodles. He hopes to become a mechanical engineer and design cars.
Track a Gun: A Crowdsourcing Solution to Active-Shooter Violence by Kiran Sunil
Over the past 9 months, there have been over 25,000 deaths by gun violence. Kiran created Track A Gun, an app that empowers communities to prevent gun violence. Through crowdsourcing, this app can help people share what they see and hear in real time so victims can decide to run for shelter, hide from the shooter, or protect loved ones during an active-shooter incident. Join Kiran to learn how innovation and the power of collective action can foster safer, more connected communities.
Kiran Sunil is a high school senior from San Jose. He enjoys playing tennis and basketball, as well as participating in programming and robotics competitions. He aspires to continue studying computer science, and pursue a career in software development. He is determined to leverage technology to reduce gun violence.
How Vaping is Affecting More Than Just Your Lungs by Mehtaab Dhillon
Vaping is this generation’s new medium to consume nicotine and weed, and like cigarettes, users are getting more than just nicotine and weed. A concerning portion of the youth is falling victim to the propaganda of Big Tobacco who has framed vaping as a healthy alternative to smoking cigarettes. New research shows that this is the case. With the recent global pandemic, it is important to understand vaping’s effects of vaping on our immune system and with the help of controlled research, expose Big Tobacco’s lies.
Mehtaab Dhillon is a high school senior from the Central Valley. He aspires to become a physician and master communication to become the most effective physician possible. Along with effective communication, Mehtaab wishes to create a healthier society fueled by his passion for Biology and Chemistry. For fun, Mehtaab enjoys distance running and spending time with family.
Trauma on the brain by Daisy Payton
The neurobiological effects of PTSD can vary based on personal touch. PTSD is caused by extreme trauma and is seen most in women and people of color. Research shows that long term experience of traumatic stress has drastic impacts on specific structures of the brain, like the prefrontal cortex. These disruptions can affect the ability to regulate emotion, learn, and form new memories and it looks different in every gender, demographic and stage of development. It is treatable.
Daisy attended the University of San Francisco and received her degree in Psychology and minor in Neuroscience. Currently, she runs her family’s ranch and cares for her hoard of animals. She’s applying to Psychology and Behavioral Neuroscience PhD programs this fall and plans to research genetics, neural basis of emotion, and psychopathology.
Proud of these speakers for sharing their ideas about solving our climate crisis and improving healthcare here in the US and around the world. We’ll post their TEDx videos as soon as they’re approved by TED.
Diabetes killed 1.5 million people in 2019, and it is completely preventable. The World Health Organization currently lists diabetes as the 9th leading cause of death in the world. When a pre-diabetic person’s fasting blood sugar elevates to 126 mg/dL, they pass a threshold that means that they will be diabetic for life. After that point, there is absolutely nothing that can be done to reverse it. But, if pre-diabetic people monitor their blood sugar so they don’t pass 126, they can avoid diabetes completely. Aurchana Manickavasagan talks about the dangers that lie in the permanence of diabetes, and how checking your numbers consistently is the key to long, diabetes-free life.
About Aurchana Manickavasagan:
Aurchana Manickavasagan is a senior in high school and the founder of Daily Dose of Sugar. She wants to attend medical school to become a surgeon. She enjoys reading, playing badminton, and trying new kinds of food.
Come see Aurchana Manickavasagan at TEDxMeritAcademy at the Rio Theatre on Nov 7th at 1:00-3:00 pm in Santa Cruz, CA.
Our population is rapidly increasing, and our food supply can barely keep up. Pests relentlessly attack crops, threatening the stability of our food supply. Pesticides are necessary to stop these pests, but the use of these only harm us and the environment around us. It seems as if it’s an inescapable dilemma — do we protect our environment or our food supply? But do we really need to answer this question at all? In his speech, Ishan discusses the application of the mushroom Cordyceps militaris as a highly effective pesticide that poses no threat to the environment, as well as the health problems that pesticides pose to us as humans.
About Ishan Bhatia:
Ishan Bhatia is a junior in high school and is interested in researching a variety of scientific ideas and topics, as well as specific fields such as biochemistry and neuroscience. He also plays the French Horn and in his free time, he likes to hang out with friends, sing, and play video games.
Come see Ishan Bhatia at TEDxMeritAcademy’s COUNTDOWN at the Rio Theatre on Nov 7th at 1:00-3:00 pm in Santa Cruz, CA.
Tim Niemier asks if we can come up with a universal way of measuring what we do as individuals, what our governments do, and what our corporations do or don’t do. Do we want to depend on our government or corporations to act and regulate or can we do it ourselves?
About Tim Niemier:
Tim Niemier grew up in Malibu and designed the first sit-on-top kayak, which became a multi-million dollar business, Ocean Kayaks. Tim lives in Bellingham, WA, where he is launching his most recent creation: the Origami Paddler — a paddleboard that folds into thirds for easy transportation. A true environmentalist, Tim has ideas worth spreading.
Come see Tim Niemier at TEDxMeritAcademy’s COUNTDOWN at the Rio Theatre on Nov 7th at 1:00-3:00 pm in Santa Cruz, CA.
Many premature babies die each year because they do not have access to basic care and technology. Nishi created a low-cost neonatal incubator that can maintain a temperature of 34-35 degrees Celsius for up to four hours without the use of technology. So far, her Impact Incubators has distributed 100 incubators in rural areas of India.
About Nishi Dharia:
Nishi Dharia is a senior in high school from Milpitas, CA. Next year in college, she plans to major in Biochemistry and hopes to become a gynecologist after medical school. She also loves fashion designing and plans to explore this industry in her spare time.
Come see Nishi Dharia at TEDxMeritAcademy at the Rio Theatre on Nov 7th at 1:00-3:00 pm in Santa Cruz, CA.
Come hear our brilliant and innovative speakers share their ideas worth spreading at our COUNTDOWN hosted by TEDxMeritAcademy. This year we’re focusing on climate crisis and healthcare solutions.
Rio Theatre
Santa Cruz, CA
Sunday, Nov 7th
1:00-3:00 pm
Get your tickets at tedxmeritacademy.com/tickets