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TED@DuPont
September 2019 | Philadelphia, USA
Photo credit: Ryan Lash/TED
Transformation starts with the spark
of something new.
In a day of talks and performances about transformation, speakers and performers from the DuPont community and beyond explored exciting developments in science and technology. From the chemistry of everyday life to innovations in food, “smart” clothing, and more, this inaugural TED@DuPont event unlocked institutional knowledge and showcased some of the best ideas from across the DuPont ecosystem. We’re excited to see how these insights will continue to spark transformation—and ignite new ideas—all around the world.
Event Theme
TRANSFORM
Distraction, disruption and rapid change define our modern lives. As the world and our interactions grow more complex, so do our challenges. To solve for modern problems, we need a newx framework for innovation itself, one that considers all perspectives and outcomes in the calculus. Our model to truly transform society must be collaborative and transparent, and unfold at scale and speed to exceed the issues we face.
Featured Talks
How "smart" clothing could help improve our health
Janani Baskhar
Smart clothing designer
By designing "smart" clothing with durable technologies, we can better keep track of health and well-being, says clothing designer Janani Bhaskar. She shares how we can use screen-printing technology to attach biometric “smart stickers” to any piece of clothing -- and how they can track blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs. "Why not transform clothing and make it a part of our digitized world?" she asks.
A circular economy for salt that keeps rivers clean
Tina Arrowood
Physical organic chemist
During the winter of 2018-2019, one million tons of salt were applied to icy roads in the state of Pennsylvania alone. The salt from industrial uses like this often ends up in freshwater rivers, making their water undrinkable and contributing to a growing global crisis. Tina Arrowood shares a three-step plan to keep salt out of rivers - and create a circular salt economy that turns industrial byproducts into valuable resources.
What happens in your brain when you taste food
Camilla Arndal Andersen
Neuroscientist
With fascinating research and hilarious anecdotes, neuroscientist Camilla Arndal Andersen takes us into the lab where she studies people's sense of taste via brain scans. She reveals surprising insights about the way our brains subconsciously experience food -- and shows how this data could help us eat healthier without sacrificing taste.
The TED@DuPont Speakers
Camilla Arndal Andersen
Instead of asking them what they think, Camilla Arndal Andersen covers her subjects in sensors to reveal their unfiltered and subconscious response to food.
Camilla Arndal Andersen
See my talk
Tina Arrowood
By combining science, circular thinking and disruptive innovation, Tina Arrowood helps envision a world in which fresh river water is not scarce, but well-managed.
Tina Arrowood
See my talk
Janani Bhaskar
Jajani develops smart clothing technologies and is passionate about using the power of materials science to create high-impact products that will improve the quality of life globally.
Janani Bhaskar
See my talk on TED.com
Andrew Ho
Andrew is a DuPont marketer who believes that better and more affordable technologies will help create a more diverse and inclusive society.
Andrew Ho
See my talk on TED.com
Geert Van der Kraan
Geert is research scientist at DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences business, responsible for the development of next-generation control strategies and biocide formulation testing, holding specific use in the oil and gas industry.
Geert Van der Kraan
See my talk on TED.com
Vicky Huang
Vicky works on the innovation and development of enzyme products in the Fabric & Household Care industry, focusing on translating biotechnology into product development and sustainable consumer solutions.
Vicky Huang
See my talk on TED.com
Edward Paxton
Ed collaborates with DuPont’s customers to develop new polymer components for aircraft and aero-engines. Among other things, he is interested in how the exceptionally high standards of aviation safety are achieved and how they can be applied to other aspects of life.
Edward Paxton
See my talk on TED.com
Lori Gottlieb
Our guest speaker, Lori Gottlieb is a natural storyteller - and no wonder. She has crafted stories for film and television series as a Hollywood executive, delved deep into her subjects' stories as a nationally recognized journalist.
Lori Gottlieb
See my talk on TED.com
Live in the N:OW
On September 12, 2019 the Fillmore Theater in Philadelphia was transformed into a TED@DuPont experience, to help tell our story in a new way. While our presenters were transformed into TED speakers, hundreds of attendees explored their own ideas of creativy and transformation with interactive exhibits, culinary surprises and of course, those famous red letters!
Want more TED?
TED@DuPont is a TED Institute event given in partnership with DuPont. You can learn more about TED Institute, the TED@DuPont event, and all our speakers and talks, at TED.com.