Story by Zenaida Gonzalez Kotala
Albert Manero ‘16, president of Limbitless Solutions, will speak about the power of technology and art to help children unlock their identities during the relaunch of TEDx Orlando on Saturday, June 24.
UCF biology Pegasus Professor Graham Worthy also will speak about the pressures of population growth on the future of Florida’s coasts.
TED Talks date back to 1981 and are known for their thought-provoking and society-changing topics. Leaders of industry, education and business have presented their powerful stories. In 2007 the talks, which were then held in only one location, were put online. Local talks started a few years later. TEDx Orlando launched in 2010, but took a hiatus last year. Saturday’s program from the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center in Orlando is the relaunch of the program.
The focus of the afternoon program is Growth, Identity and Conflict. Speakers include Manero, who will discuss how 3-D printed bionic arms and art have the power to help children who have been perceived as disabled discover their identities. He will share the story of his nonprofit organization, which started as a group of students at UCF in 2014. The group builds functional bionic arms with artistic designs and gives them to children at no cost. The organization received national attention when actor Robert Downey Jr. helped the students deliver an Iron Man-themed arm in March 2015.
Worthy, an expert in marine biology and director of UCF’s Sustainable Coastal Systems Cluster, will discuss Florida’s population growth and its impact on coastal communities. He makes the case that because the marine environment influences far-inland areas, even Orlando residents should consider themselves as coastal citizens. He concludes that since all Floridians are coastal citizens, we all need to be concerned about coastal issues because ultimately, we’re all contributing to coastal problems.
Organizers say the goal of the local presentation is to showcase unsung heroes in the community, help the community heal from past conflicts and find ways to tackle some big problems.
Tickets for the show sold out within 15 minutes, which is why the organization decided to livestream the event on Facebook (facebook.com/TEDxOrlando).
Those who didn’t get a ticket and would like to check out the Knights in action along with a crowd, are invited to a free simulcast from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Pops Parlour at Knights Plaza on the main campus. UCF Alumni will hosti the event, and donations are welcome for Limbitless Solutions at https://www.ucffoundation.org/limbitless .
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