TED Talk Series

Making women in science visible
New York Times Best Selling author and illustrator, Rachel Ignotofsky rewrites the history of women in science to be more honest and inclusive. Through eye-catching illustrations, Rachel makes her message as inspiring as it is accessible, for young women and PhD’s alike.
The future of STEM Education – Professor Roni Ellington has served on the faculty at Morgan State University since 2006. Her work focuses on mathematics education. Research interests include understanding the experiences of high achieving mathematics students, STEM education, and teacher professional development. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

The Hidden Women of STEM | Alexis Scott | TEDxMountainViewCollege – Did you know some extraordinary women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math feel invisible in their fields? This Talk explores what it means to be a female hidden figure in STEM and what one can do to change it. Alexis M. Scott is a Triple E: Educator, Entrepreneur and Engineer. She founded AMS Academic Solutions to share her gift of numbers and education that she has possessed since an early age. Alexis has been teaching mathematics for over 20 years, including 18 years as a college professor. She published one book in 2017 called “Embracing STEM Smarts: An Encouraging Guide for Young Ladies to be Bold in Their Intelligence.” Alexis will have two books coming out later this year involving her work in STEM. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

The Power of Women in STEM – Jin Yan is a postdoctoral scholar in FSU and a product development engineer in General Capacitor Int. LLC. She is also a recipient of the Amelia Earhart Fellowship from Zonta International, a fellowship that gives financial aid to women studying aerospace science. She knows the value of studying science and the importance of women being involved in the STEM field. Jin Yan is a postdoctoral scholar in FSU and a product development engineer in General Capacitor Int. LLC. She is also a recipient of the Amelia Earhart Fellowship from Zonta International, a fellowship that gives financial aid to women studying aerospace science. She knows the value of studying science and the importance of women being involved in the STEM field. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
REIMAGINING The STEM Revolution for EVERY Girl – In this talk, Nikole lays down an amazing pathway on how to revolutionize the STEM education for every girl. More about her work https://techbridgegirls.org/index.php… Nikole Collins-Puri is a social justice visionary, strategist, advocate and mentor who has committed her life to unleashing the potential of untapped communities. She’s the CEO of Techbridge Girls, a nonprofit organization that excites, educates and equips girls from low-income communities through STEM, empowering them to pursue STEM careers and achieve economic mobility and financial security as adults. Nikole is a master collaborator who is able to leverage her rich professional experiences in tech, philanthropy and education to bring diverse groups of stakeholders together to urge social change in our communities. She’s committed to removing barriers and increasing access and opportunities for all those who are often left behind but essential to the success and growth of our society. Prior to Techbridge Girls, Nikole worked at AT&T where she spearheaded their diversity and inclusion efforts, at the College Board where she advised states on their college completion strategy for Black and Latinx students, and at the Women’s Foundation of California where she advanced women’s economic security by supporting and awarding grants to visionary grassroots organizations. Nikole holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of South Florida and MPA from City University of New York. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
Young Women in STEM – Women have faced discrimination in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math) for centuries. What does this mean for teenage girls aspiring to become scientists? This talk looks at what causes the discrepancies in the workplace and what this means personally to the speaker, a young girl interested in STEM. Linnea Hummer is a high school student currently attending Frankfurt International School, living in Frankfurt, Germany. She was born in Bethesda Maryland, USA where she lived the first 12 years of her life. She is an America, Austrian, and Italian citizen and is bilingual, speaking German at home. Ever since she was little she has been fascinated with STEM (science, technology, math, engineering) fields. Even in elementary school she participated in every science fair and was a proud member of the math competition team. As she became a teenager she kept her love for science but also started to become very active with service programs, taking a particularly strong interest in women’s rights and their representation in STEM fields. In the future, she hopes to be an awesome engineer! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
What it takes to be a Woman in STEM – Fatima will be taking us through the promising field of STEM from a woman’s POV. Speaking from experience, she will be sharing some insights on the challenges that women face in STEM and how they can be supported. Recognized as the Youngest Emirati Inventor in 2015, Fatima has had a passion for creativity and innovation since she was seven years old. With the support of her government, she was able to create 12 inventions that focus on solving issues found around her community. For more than four years, Fatima has been making positive contributions to the community of the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East by creating social platforms around innovation and creativity. Through volunteer tutoring and workshops, she has shared her passion for and knowledge of the sciences to more than 3000 students across her region. In 2016, Fatima obtained an internationally accredited certification for peer-to-peer training and counseling. Fatima is currently a rising senior college student majoring in computer engineering at Virginia Tech in the United States of America. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
How to Win Girls’ Hearts with STEM Education – Middle school can be social hell because it’s when kids start caring about what other kids think. So why did Melanie Flores stick with STEM despite hearing taunts like “You’re such a nerd” and “No one likes you”? Learn three ways you can help a girl’s interest in STEM to survive the rocky middle school years. Melanie Flores leverages what a mentor calls “an extremely rare combination – an MIT brain and a teacher’s heart” to empower children and build human connection. She has started up Corning’s optical fiber factory in the Charlotte, NC area, founded a popular kindergarten engineering design workshop, and led the STEM coaching team serving Easter Seals teachers across metro Atlanta. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
Why do so many women leave their careers in STEM?  – Getting women in STEM isn’t the real problem. This is – Prasha Sarwate Dutra is an engineer, podcaster and a career coach, on a mission to help women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) believe in their brilliance. Less than a decade ago, Prasha moved to the US to live her American dream and now works full time at a Manufacturing company in Rhode Island. She has a M.Sc in Mechanical Engineering and B.Sc in Chemical Engineering. Prasha is the host of Her STEM Story, a weekly podcast that helps women in STEM excel in their STEM careers and beyond. In the last 2 years, she has interviewed over 125 women in STEM from around the world, organized two online conferences and built a community of over 12,000+ on social media. She started Her STEM Consulting, LLC to provide customized coaching and consulting for women to help them take their careers to the next level. She loves podcasting, public speaking and cooking Indian food! Check out her podcast at www.herstemstory.com. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
The Issues Women in Science Face  – Demilade explores the challenges of women in science. Dr Demilade is an engineer and consultant. She holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Johannesburg, an MSc in Environmental Engineering from the University of Pretoria, and a BSc in Biotechnology from the University of Stellenbosch. She is a recipient of the 2017 L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science fellowship and winner of University of Johannesburg’s 2018 three-minute thesis competition. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
A guide to believing in yourself (but for real this time) – TV star, Catherine Reitman, shares her lessons learned in seeing ideas thru to their completion, not allowing others to reshape your vision and a little bit about family dynamics. Catherine Reitman is the creator, executive producer, writer, and star of CBC’s acclaimed original comedy series, Workin’ Moms. Known for her roles in Blackish and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Reitman was a member of Sunday Company at the influential Groundlings improv theatre and school in Los Angeles. Reitman’s writing and producing credits include VH1’s Miss You Much and the web series, Breakin’ it Down with Catherine Reitman. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community
The Superpowers of STEM – We can’t afford any more accidental engineers, explains Stephanie Hill, who has been recognized for her career achievements and community outreach, especially in the advancement of STEM education. Diversity drives innovation, and we need more voices at the table to make the impossible possible. Stephanie C. Hill is the Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Development at Lockheed Martin. In this role, Ms. Hill is responsible for global strategies and new business capture, and leads the Lockheed Martin business development organization. She also serves as chair of the Greater Baltimore Committee and sits on the Board of Directors for Project Lead the Way, the nation’s leading provider of K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs, and also serves on the Board of Visitors for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Since joining Lockheed Martin in 1987 as a software engineer, Ms. Hill has held positions of increasing responsibility including: Vice President & General Manager of Information Systems & Global Solutions Civil business; Vice President of Corporate Internal Audit; and Vice President & General Manager of the Electronic Systems Mission Systems & Sensors business. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
Women in STEM: Embrace Exploration, Innovation & Discovery  – Jennifer W. Lopez is the Commercial Innovation Technology Development Lead at the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS). As the Founding Member of NASA’s Datanaut Corps in the Technology and Open Innovation Division of the Office of the Chief Information Officer, Ms. Lopez is shaping the direction of the program inspiring future engineers, data scientists, and entrepreneurs to engage with NASA’s Open Data Portal. Ms. Lopez serves on the Advisory Council for the Physics and Astronomy Department at Johns Hopkins University; she is an Innovation Fellow of the Disruptive Foundation, and a Key Influencer for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Tomorrow Lab. From an early age, Jennifer Lopez was passionate about science in all its forms. After being discriminated against and discouraged from pursuing a career in STEM, Lopez found her place working for the International Space Station, a symbol for the potential to overcome challenges and affect human kind in a positive way. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.