Monika Bulaj’s stunning, painting-like photographs blur religious and cultural divisions, exploding stereotypes. In your photography and writing, one of your main themes is to explore the “borders of monotheism.” What does that mean? I often focus on Judaism, Christianity (mainly Eastern Christianity) and Islam, to explore areas where the sacred crosses borders. I show the […]
James Patten creates physical interfaces for technology — producing rich, captivating experiences for the user. Your studio explores new ways physical objects relate to digital information. Why is that mission important to you? The way the human body and human mind are set up, we’re incredibly good at using physical objects and interacting with them. […]
Lars Jan, a TED Fellow, creates multimedia performances that probe the ubiquity of screens and propaganda in our culture. Today, his show ABACUS—billed as “a multimedia talking tour of our hyper-networked world to come”—opens at BAM’s Fisher Fishman Space in Brooklyn, New York. It’s a show delivered by his invented persona, Paul Abacus, about the future […]
Kaustuv De Biswas knows that diverse perspectives create better designs, so he passionately creates collaborative platforms for all. Join the conversation by answering Fellows’ weekly questions via TED Conversations. This week, Kaustuv asks: Despite the controversy over patents, what is a progressive take on authorship in the collaborative world? Respond here! In your TEDtalk, you […]
Founder of Malaysia’s most popular independent online news source, Premesh Chandran continues to connect and empower citizens despite the personal risks. Join the conversation by answering Fellows’ weekly questions via TED Conversations. This week, Prem asks: We’re coming up with easy tools to build exciting online maps — what stuff would you like to see […]
Anab Jain’s design studio Superflux envisions a future where the blind are given ultraviolet vision and invasive species are engineered to combat the effects of climate change. She shares her perspective on our not-too-distant future. How would you describe the work that you do at your revolutionary design studio Superflux? We are living in extremely uncertain […]
Lope Gutiérrez-Ruiz’s eye-popping magazines and celebrated festivals are creating “pathways to coexistence and tolerance.” Interactive Fellows Friday Feature: Join the conversation by answering Fellows’ weekly questions via Facebook. This week, Lope asks: What do organized communities achieve more efficiently than government? What could they achieve? Click here to respond! What made you decide to move your Gopher Illustrated Magazine operations from […]
Using electrical signals to grow cells, TED Fellow Nina Tandon hopes to one day grow whole organs for transplant use. Interactive Fellows Friday Feature: Join the conversation by answering Fellows’ weekly questions via Facebook. This week, Nina asks: If your cells were used to grow an organ in the lab, is it still “your” organ? […]
With Microclinic International, Daniel Zoughbie is making health contagious, and believes that it’s critical to peace and stability in the Middle East. Microclinic International has a unique philosophy of “contagious health.” What does that mean? Common sense tells us that negative things like violence, smoking behaviors and unhealthy eating habits are socially contagious: they spread […]
Positive feedback loops can be found in even the messiest conflicts, ecosystems and corporations, according to Eric Berlow. The trick, he tells TED, is to not confuse the means with the ends. Interactive Fellows Friday Feature: Join the conversation by answering Fellows’ weekly questions via Facebook. This week, Eric asks: Instead of narrow specialization, how […]
LA Philharmonic violinist Robert Gupta performs for the homeless and mentally ill. In this interview, he discusses his experiences with the awesome healing power of music. Interactive Fellows Friday Feature: Join the conversation by answering Fellows’ weekly questions via Facebook. This week, Robert asks: With the advent of amazing online videos, why are we still […]
Walid Al-Saqaf developed alkasir, software to circumvent Internet censorship. In this interview, Walid tells us why he’s vowed never to succumb to authoritarian regimes. >>> Walid asks: Can Internet censorship of any particular content be justified under certain circumstances? Explain. Click here to respond on Facebook now! Or join Walid’s live Q&A on TED Conversations August 5, 1pm to […]
In her public art pieces, Candy Chang uses low-tech tools such as chalk, Post-it notes, and stickers to help people make their cities more user-friendly. We sat down with Candy to ask her more … Candy asks: If you could ask one question to all of your neighbors, what would you ask? Click here to respond on […]
Creator of CellBazaar, a virtual marketplace that can be accessed via mobile phone, Kamal Quadir is on to his next mobile phone-based venture, bKash. This new company provides access to financial services through the mobile phone. Kamal divides his time between homes in America and Bangladesh, yet this nationally-recognized artist still squeezes in time to […]
Genevieve von Petzinger’s database of prehistoric geometric shapes in cave art reveals some startling insights. More than mere doodles, the signs used across geological boundaries suggest there may have been a common iconography before people first moved out of Africa. When did people begin graphic communication, and what was its purpose? Genevieve studies these questions […]
Meklit Hadero’s soulful songs have launched her explosive rise in the music world. Her sound draws from jazz, West Coast folk, and her Ethiopian roots. Meklit’s performances and community outreach projects — in North America, Africa, or where the winds take her — continue to enrich her music and be an integral part of its […]