Tedx UC Davis will be held May 19th, 2012 9:00am-5:00pm at 
Social Sciences and Humanities 1100,
One Shields Ave Davis, CA 95616

The theme this year is "The Power of Perspective" and speakers will be 

Andreas Albrecht, Theoretical Cosmologist

Andreas Albrecht is a leading theoretical cosmologist. He received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 where, with Paul Steinhardt, he wrote one of the original papers on “new” or “slow roll” inflation. 

Shane Logan, Sociology of MMA

 Shane is currently working towards completion of his Ph.D in sociology. His dissertation is the result of a two year participant observation of the sport of mixed martial arts (cagefighting). During this time, Shane participated in all aspects of the sport to better gain an understanding of why men choose to engage in such risky activities. Along the way, he began to understand that MMA can tell us a great deal about aspects of the civilizing process and how the progression of images of masculinity manifest in the way young men "do" gender.

Jonna AK Mazet, Zoonotic Epidemiology

 Mazet is a Professor of Epidemiology and Disease Ecology and Director of the One Health Institute and Wildlife Health Center at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine where she focuses on global health issues and disease transmission among wildlife, domestic animals, and people. 

Claire Pomeroy, Social Determinants of Health

 Claire Pomeroy is an expert in infectious diseases and a professor of internal medicine and microbiology and immunology. She oversees UC Davis Health System and all of its academic, research and clinical programs, including the School of Medicine, the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, the 800-member physician practice group and the 631-bed acute-care hospital known as UC Davis Medical Center. 

Clifford Saron, Physiology of Meditation 

Main project is known as “The Shamatha Project” a large-scale collaborative and multimethod longitudinal study of the effects of intensive meditation training, using qualitative, self-report, behavioral, electrophysiological, and biochemical measures to begin to elucidate the levels of personal and physiological change that accompany such training. 

Andreas Toupadakis, Driving Student Passion

 Toupadakis’ principal interests include chemistry book writing and developing better methods of teaching, and research to find methods to reduce exam anxiety and promote success in college and after college. His research interest include activation of methane, hydrogen, and sulfur dioxide, and the synthesis, characterization and reactivity of Oxothiomolybdates.

Diane Ullman, Bridging Art and Science

 Diane Ullman received a Ph.D. degree in entomology from the University of California, Davis and now holds appointments in the departments of Entomology and Plant Pathology. Her laboratory has advanced international knowledge of interactions between thrips and tospoviruses and aphids and citrus tristeza virus. Her contributions played a fundamental role in developing novel strategies for management of insects and plant viruses, ranging from use of induced resistance to RNA interference. 

Michael Saler, History and Lord of The Rings

Michael Saler teaches history at the University of California, Davis. He is the author of "As If: Modern Enchantment and the Literary Prehistory of Virtual Reality," and "The Avant-Garde in Interwar England: 'Medieval Modernism' and the London Underground."


Eric Lerum, Students First

Most recentlyChief of Staff to the Deputy Mayor for Education for the District of Columbia, playing a lead role in school reform efforts, including the mayoral takeover of the school system and the successful Race to the Top application. A 2003 graduate of the Washington College of Law, Eric has served as the Legislative Counsel to the Committee on Education, Libraries, and Recreation of the D.C. Council and as a policy analyst for the DC Board of Education.

Jason Nett, modern day Renaissance musician...he is known as a composer, performer, conductor, and producer/engineer. Jason has composed pieces ranging from opera and symphonic works for full symphony orchestra, to chamber ensemble pieces and solo/duet works.