Materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez lives for figuring out new ways to control metals and shape them into materials that can be put to practical use — for instance, in the ever-shrinking smart phones.
Her research on shape memory alloys — so-called “smart materials” — and on a solder that can be manipulated into place with a magnetic field has kept her busy during her time in Yale’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Sarah Parcak is an American archaeologist and Egyptologist, who uses satellite imaging to identify archaeological sites in Egypt.
Parcak was born in Bangor, Maine, received her Bachelor's degree in Egyptology and Archaeological Studies from Yale University in 2001, and her Ph.D. from Cambridge University.
Parcak is also a TED Fellow.
With never-before-seen video, primatologist Isabel Behncke Izquierdo (a TED Fellow) shows how bonobo ape society learns from constantly playing -- solo, with friends, even as a prelude to sex.
Indeed, play appears to be the bonobos' key to problem-solving and avoiding conflict. If it works for our close cousins, why not for us?
TED Fellow Isabel Behncke Izquierdo studies the social behavior (and play behavior in particular) of wild bonobos in DR Congo.
TED Fellow Isabel Behncke Izquierdo writes: I was born and raised in Chile, and was educated in animal behaviour and evolutionary anthropology in Cambridge and Oxford.
For my PhD work, I study the social behaviour (and play behaviour in particular) of wild bonobos in DR Congo.
In a zippy demo at TED U, AnnMarie Thomas shows how two different kinds of homemade play dough can be used to demonstrate electrical properties -- by lighting up LEDs, spinning motors, and turning little kids into circuit designers.
AnnMarie Thomas works on the playful side of engineering -- using cool tools to teach and help others.
AnnMarie Thomas joined the faculty of the University of St. Thomas in the fall of 2006.
Previously, she was a faculty member at Art Center College of Design. She is the director of the UST Design laboratory and leads a team of students looking at both the playful side of engineering (squishy circuits for students, the science of circus, toy design) and ways to use engineering design to help others (projects in technology design for older adults).