TEDxUniversity of Waikato
At TEDxUniversity of Waikato, expert speakers deliver short, powerful talks designed to spark new ways of thinking.
Welcome to the home of TEDx University of Waikato, where we bring "ideas worth spreading" out of the labs and onto the stage. We have challenged our leading researchers to condense years of complex study into short, engaging talks that everyone can enjoy. From environmental preservation and new technologies to social justice and health, these presentations show how our university’s work tackles real-world problems and shapes our collective future.
Professor James Lim
Factory in a can
James shares the innovation behind ‘factory in a can’, a solution he says has more potential for use in New Zealand than is currently taken up.
Dr Unaisi Narawa
Identity After the Storm: Past, Present and Rising
Unaisi asks an urgent question amid the climate change-fuelled identity crisis occurring in the Pacific: who are you?
Dr Samantha Heath
The real challenge of aging
Samantha warns that ageism is killing us, and that we all have a role to play in changing the narrative as New Zealand anticipates a great demographic shift.
Dr Lisa Tompson
Why denominators matter in policing bias
Lisa shares the dangerous potential of numbers, with denominators holding the key to our perception of pressing societal issues.
Dr Ang McGaughran
What can we learn from invasive species?
Ang asks what we can learn from nature’s bad guys (invasive species) to help the good guys (native species) survive in the face of climate change.
Dr Benjamin Djain
What Shakespeare's actors teach us about AI chatbots
Benjamin challenges us to consider AI chatbots as theatrical performances where the user, the chatbot and the programmer each play their part.
Karen Turanga
DNA, identity and the legacy of cross-cultural adoption
Karen's story explores themes of family ties and lost connections, and what we sacrifice to find the missing information we search for.
Dr Sione Vaka
Indigenous wisdom for mental wellbeing
Sione shares his expertise in the Pacific customs that can heal mental distress, with huge potential in a health system under strain.
Professor Judy Bowen
Why human-centred design must shape our tech future
Judy's insights tell us that a better AI-assisted technological future is possible - one where our smart companions blend seamlessly into our lives - and getting there is easy.
Dr Kirstine Moffat
Jane Austen's love of music—and why it matters
Kirstine gives an experience of musical time travel with an insight into the personal passions of English novelist Jane Austen.
Professor Nick Agar
Celebrate the Crisis in the Humanities by making it Bigger
Nick expands on the crisis in the humanities - a crisis he says should be welcomed as it's crucial to our advancement.
Previous TEDx events
Dr Jesse Whitehead | Mapping Health: The Invisible Lines of Inequity
Dr Amanda Williamson | How can we bridge the AI gap?
Dr Luke Harrington | Navigating randomness in a warming world
Professor Jason Mika | Manahau: How reciprocity can help us live sustainably
Dr Marie Magnusson | Molecular mimicri, Food security - and Seaweed
Professor Iain White | Why isn't research changing the world?
TEDx UoWaikato
At TEDxUniversity of Waikato, expert speakers deliver short, powerful talks designed to spark new ways of thinking.