Theme: Innovating for a better tomorrow

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).

Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate
Thorpe Underwood Estate
Thorpe Green Lane
York, York, YO269SS
United Kingdom

Anne Vergette-Hollingworth

Principal Environmental Consultant, Arcadis -Principal Environmental

Annie Vergette-Hollingworth is a Principal Environmental Consultant in Leeds who works for a global design and consultancy firm for natural and built assets. Since gaining her Master’s degree in Geology at age 22, Annie has been working in the contaminated land industry for over 12 years, and in that time has gained Chartered Environmentalist status with the Institution of Environmental Sciences. Annie has worked for a large range of clients in many different sectors, such as local government, education, oil and gas, chemical manufacturing and most recently nuclear. Talk Synopsis: “Dead Body Problem – the importance of geology in protecting the environment from new cemeteries” Using a real life project example, Annie will discuss the important role local geology plays when deciding where a new cemetery site is allowed to be built, that offers maximum protection to the environment from the inevitable accumulation of ‘body juice’.

Dr Ghazanfar Khan

Interim Executive Director Digital Health and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Our Future Health Faculty Affiliate, Harvard Medical School, NHS Doctor

Dr Khan works at the intersection of digital innovation and population health. A practicing NHS doctor, he currently serves as Interim Executive Director of Digital Health at Our Future Health - the world's largest research program - where he shapes how technology can transform population health at scale. During the pandemic, he established a novel WHO digital platform for maintaining essential health services globally, and later led the implementation of AI solutions for rare disease diagnosis in the NHS. A Faculty Affiliate at Harvard Medical School, he combines clinical practice, global health systems expertise, and technological insight to explore solutions that can transform public health. Talk Synopsis: The Other 80%: Rethinking AI in Health What if we've been looking for health in all the wrong places? What if healthcare is about more than just hospitals, doctors, and breakthrough drugs? Drawing from his experiences Dr Khan's talk reveals how AI could revolutionise health.

Professor James Turvill

Consultant Physician, Gastroenterologist and Clinical Director for Research & Innovation York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Honorary Professor Hull York Medical School Yorkshire and Humber, RDN Specialty Lead for Gastroenterology

Professor James Turvill is a consultant gastroenterologist at York and Scarborough NHS Teaching Hospitals and honorary professor at HYMS. He has a research interest in the early diagnosis of bowel disease working initially with faecal calprotectin and more recently FIT. During the covid pandemic he was the Co-Chief Investigator for the national evaluations of the NHS England Colon Capsule Endoscopy (CCE) pilots. He is now the Co-Chief Investigator of the NIHR funded ColoCap study. Talk Synopsis: Candid colon camera Colon capsule endoscopy is a camera in a pill. It passes through your digestive tract taking photos, eventually coming ut the other end. The photos can be used to diagnose bowel disease. Colon capsule endoscopy is painless, safe and can be performed at home. During the covid pandemic NHS E successfully piloted colon capsule endoscopy. There is now a great deal of interest in its use for the long term and this talk shares the ColoCap study and its journey so far.

Professor Martin Levesley

Professor of Dynamics and Control, School of Mechanical Engineering University of Leeds

Martin has a degree in Mechanical Engineering, a PhD in Aero-Engine Dynamics and is currently professor of Dynamics and Control at the University of Leeds. He is a founding member of both the institute of Design, Robotics and Manufacturing and the wider Robotics@Leeds research community. He was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship for his innovative work in Engineering Education. As Pro-Dean for student education, Martin was responsible for the University’s contribution to the creation of the Leeds University Technical College and is currently working with the Leeds Maths School. Talk Synopsis: Teaching and Learning with and from Robots How did robots learn how to play chess before they learned how to walk? This is Moravec’s Paradox. Robots find hard what we find easy and vice versa. This talk explores how we learn a “skill”, how we teach robots a skill and how we teach robots how to teach us how to learn a skill.

QE Student Chahana .

Student

Chahana is a Year 12 student. She is originally from Nepal and is currently studying History, Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics. Keeping up with the challenges that being a student brings, Chahana has a deep interest in mental health and wellbeing and how important that is for a fulfilling life. She will be speaking about what it means to live in the moment. Talk Synopsis: Living in the moment. When was the last time you took a moment to appreciated what was around you? In this fast-paced, ever-changing world, living in the moment allows you to stay focused on your goals and recognise the privileges you possess. Living in the present is about embracing the fleeting moment and not dwelling on the regrets of the past, or the possibilities of the future. This mindset, whilst uncomfortable for some and pointless for others, is a step towards a fulfilling and balanced life.

QE Student Gianni .

Student

Gianni is a Year 13 student. He is originally from China. He is studying Law, History, Psychology, and is presenting his topic on Human Rights. He has a keen interest in the field of international law, and the extent of internationalism in the modern world. Talk Synopsis: Human Rights: Cause without effect. Human Rights. Be it you come from a different culture, or a different socio-economic background, or even a different country entirely; your very existence as a human being entitles you to fundamental principles that govern even the most powerful of sovereign nations… or so we hope. In this talk, we’ll be exploring the importance and reasoning behind the push for universal enforcement, as well as challenges posed by unscrupulous territories in restricting these right.

QE Student Harry .

Student

Harry is a Year 13 student. He is originally from Shanghai China and is currently studying Law, Business and Statistics. He is presenting on Nihilism as he has always loved philosophy since the age of 14. The question he never stops asking is why!. He is looking forward to sharing his knowledge and thoughts on Nihilism and how this developed. Talk Synopsis: The Roots of Nihilism. Exploring roots of nihilism—the belief that life lacks inherent meaning—and it's surprising relevance in our modern world. By delving into its historical background, examining common misconceptions, and offering fresh ways to navigate an often-uncertain reality, we’ll discover how questioning our assumptions can lead not to hopelessness but to a deeper sense of self-awareness and purposeful action.

QE Student Jack .

Student

Jack is a globally minded Year 12 student. Jack was born in England with a childhood shaped by life in Armenia and the Middle East. Currently studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths, and Photography, Jack is passionate about exploring the human experience through both Science and Art. In his TEDx talk, he explores the paradox of choice and free will, asking a thought-provoking question: Could having fewer choices actually lead to greater happiness and self-fulfilment? Prepare to rethink the way you approach life’s decisions. Talk Synopsis: Choosing Less to Live More Our free will is a gift which lets us choose our own path. But we often find ourselves with an abundance of choice which only increases our stress and limits our overall enjoyment of opportunities that arise. Why do we feel this way, and how can we stop feeling anxious about every decision we make? Come to my talk and I would be happy to tell you.

QE Student Obafemi .

Student

Obafemi is a Year 13 student. Obafemi studies Business, Economics, and Computing. He chose to present on crytpto currency because it aligns with his interests in finance and technology, and he is passionate about it. He is excited to share his insights into its worth. Talk Synopsis: Crypto: The Joke Worth Billions. This talk explores the unpredictable world of cryptocurrency, from Bitcoin's rise to the meme coin frenzy driven by social media. Through personal experiences—holding XRP and losing money on meme coins—I highlight the risks of hype-driven finance and the bigger question: Are we building a lasting financial future, or just chasing the next viral trend?

QE Student Sneha .

Student

Sneha is a Year 12 Student with a passion for the Sciences. Through her father’s journey, she believes that “Hope core” aligns closely with empowering communities by addressing barriers between fostering hope and the resilience of a bright future. She hopes providing a vision of hope will help inspire people to do the same. Talk Synopsis: Hope Core. Hope core is about preserving when in doubt, striving to do better and having self-confidence in yourself. The movement highlights the theme of self-care, emotional healing and finding beauty in the simplest movements. Offering a bright and welcoming space to escape stress. It’s the sense of optimism through personal growth, mental wellness and quiet strength when embracing doubt during difficult times. Come and hear how Hope Core embraces authenticity, not just about pretending everything is perfect, but acknowledging life challenges while manifesting collective resilience.