TEDxDelft 2015 Speaker | Elisa Giaccardi | A day in the life of a kettle

Elisa Giaccardi

It’s a bizarre idea but maybe one day, objects will be able to design objects. That’s the sincere belief of Elisa Giaccardi, Professor of Interactive Media Design at TU Delft’s Department of Industrial Design.

Currently, design and manufacturing processes are centred around factors such as cost-effectiveness and optimal design – so is that wrong? “No,” says Giaccardi, “it’s just that these days, there are more opportunities to design products that are more radically innovative.”

One such opportunity involves getting everyday objects to speak for themselves, as it were. “Everyday we use and misuse things for other purposes so that your boot becomes a doorstop or your cup becomes a prop to keep the window open,” explains Giaccardi. “So we thought, what if we could listen to things? Involve objects in the design process? Then we could really innovate because we would be able to look at things that usually go unnoticed because we don’t have the eyes to see them.”

The idea then came to wire up mundane objects such as printers or kettles, by attaching sensors or cameras. In this way you can learn much more about how these objects are used; information that would otherwise go unnoticed. “Imagining a day in the life of the kettle,” suggests Giaccardi, “offers a new perspective, which can contribute to the design process; information that’s invisible to the human eye.”

Working closely with Giaccardi on this project is the ‘Thing Tank’, a team of designers, computer scientists and anthropologists. The ‘Thing Tank’ is described as ‘an interdisciplinary research platform for designing a new generation of products and services capable of reinventing themselves’. Instrumenting and connecting everyday objects around us reveals patterns of use and connections between objects that we would otherwise miss. “The Thing Tank listens to what objects have to say about their use and misuse,” says Giaccardi. “And what these things say could offer new insight into design and manufacture. In this way, things may be able to suggest better versions of themselves”.

So how did Giaccardi get into this field? “For me, there is a theme in all my work: how can we use our new technologies to empower people to develop solutions to their own problems; solutions that are personally meaningful.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdtf7KlLrRI&feature=youtu.be

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The People Behind TEDxDelft | Wolter Smit | Making every penny count

‘There’s nothing more challenging or rewarding than to make this year’s TEDxDelft event a kick-ass experience,” says Wolter Smit. As Treasurer of the TEDxDelft non-profit organization, it goes without saying that Smit plays an important role in the team. Any event, no matter how ‘kick-ass’, requires sound finances, ensuring that expenditures do not exceed the earnings. This may mean having to make choices between what is possible and what is not. “It is a risk calculation of a sort, evaluating whether something is possible or if we have to give in because the funding does not allow for it,” explains Smit.

Being Treasurer does mean being more removed from the event itself, Smit admits. “The closer you are to the actual organisation of the event itself, the more it pulls you in,” he says. “I look at it from a bit farther away.” What matters to Smit is that sponsors are signed on and the bills are paid on time. Despite looking at the organisation from more of a distance, this has done nothing to diminish Smit’s enthusiasm about the upcoming event. In particular, the diversity among the speakers and the atmosphere are what Smit looks forward to. With such a positive attitude, visitors can rest assured that TEDxDelft is going to be a truly kick-ass event.

What is your role at TEDxDelft?

I’m the Treasurer of TEDxDelft. Basically, my job is to make sure there will be another TEDx edition after this one.

Why did you get involved with the organization?

Someone in the board asked me if I could help out. I’m an entrepreneur, so I could make some connections to the local business community and make sure that TEDxDelft is run soundly and professionally. I really like the TEDx concept so it didn’t take long for me to decide to join.

How long have you been a part of the TEDxDelft team?

This is the second TEDxDelft I’m helping with.

If you could choose one person to give a talk at TEDxDelft, who would it be and why?

I would choose Elon Musk. He founded PayPal and then went on to run SpaceX en Tesla Motors. He would talking about having an impact as an entrepreneur.

What’s your nerdy little secret?

It is not a secret that I feed my inner nerd now and then by programming or toying around with Arduino.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6tW-IieDNg

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TEDxDelft Event | TEDxYouthDelft 2015 | You own the future!

A three hundred-large audience gathered for the third TEDxYouthDelft at Theater De Veste on January 27, 2015. It was a day filled with music, ballet, cabaret and TED films, featuring talks from eleven speakers ranging in age between 13 and 30. Here’s a recap of their stories: Data journalist Winny De Jong works for OneWorld, which, according […]

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TEDxDelft 2015 | Made Possible By | TamTam | Making people Smile

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TEDxDelft would not take place if it were not for the support of our outstanding sponsors. They share the spirit of TED’s mission of “ideas worth spreading”.

TamTam is one of the sponsors for TEDxDelft 2015. We’d like to introduce this organization to you, and thank them for their support and contribution. We asked Dimi Albers from TamTam to share some insights:

1. What is the name of your company, and what do you do? 

We are TamTam, a full service digital agency of 130 “Tammo’s” based in Delft, Amsterdam and Utrecht. We create awesome digital experiences that make people smile. We do this for clients like Oxxio, HBO, Dutch National Opera & Ballet, Arcadis and Mojo Concerts.

2. What is the company¹s mission/vision?

Airbnb did it with hotels, Uber with taxis and Netflix did it with TV. Disruptors, they’re called. They are popping up everywhere, rethinking industry standards and offering spectacular new ways to use and enjoy the Internet. Every disruptor that comes along proves that the joy and ease in using a product, living with it, relying on it, and learning from it – is what makes the difference. Consumers are becoming increasingly connected 24/7 and everywhere. Digital is transforming real life. We see a huge opportunity to increase brand interactions and make them more meaningful.

We are proud of our Dutch heritage. Growing up in the Netherlands, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, full of spoiled consumers, both as people and as a company, has had a great impact on who we are and how we see the world. We have digital DNA. One hundred percent. What drives us every single day is that we get to work with clients in this ever-changing world, find our mutual inspiration, the enjoyment of working together and help them deliver the best digital customer experience possible because we know that their service is their brand. We are here to create awesome digital experiences that make people smile.

3. Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelft?

When Rob came to us with the idea for TEDxDelft, it felt like a natural fit to become one of the founding partners. Since then, we have enjoyed our role in support of a great TEDxDelft event. We love to be a part of the TEDxDelft family and bring a lot of Tammos and clients to the event to share the inspiration.

4. What do you see in common between your company and TEDxDelft?

Aside from our Delft heritage, we both love to inspire people and try to come up with ideas that can impact the world around us. We both live for new innovative stuff.

***

Interested in being a sponsor of TEDxDelft 2015?

We engage the local community by inviting people and companies to contribute whatever skills, goods or funds they are able to share. It is our belief that the TEDx concept is such an inspiration to so many people because its partners contribute whichever they are good at.  If you feel you or your company can relate to TEDxDelft don’t hesitate to contact us.

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TEDxDelft 2015 | The City | TEDxDelft Salon

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TEDxDelft Salon | The City
 

On Sunday, January, 25 2015, over a hundred people flocked to Theater de Veste in Delft to attend the first TEDxDelft Salon of the year. These Salon events are small, weekly or monthly gatherings organized to engage the TEDx community between regular TEDx events. With “The City” as its theme, the Salon featured a number of speakers who discussed prevalent issues ranging from tackling urban problems to preserving the historical value of old buildings.

The event kicked off with TU Delft’s very own Architecture Master Students, who pitched their designs for two historic buildings in Delft. Nadia Remmerswaal, an old building enthusiast, is working to preserve the Delft Armamentarium –a national monument and former weaponry building of the Dutch army– by exploiting the space for commercial and educational spaces. Working on the same project is Gerben Jansens. His vision entails that the Armamentarium becoming a melting pot for technical individuals and society by creating a complex that houses budding entrepreneurs as well as public exhibitions.

Equal in prominence is the Paardenmarkt at northern part of central Delft. Aukje Schukken proposed to create a basement under the old horse market courtyard, housing three levels for technical students, start-up entrepreneurs and established companies. On the other hand, Andrew Hollands wanted to open the Paardenmarkt to the public by using “food as a catalyst” for social interaction. To do so, he aims to infuse the principles of retail, education and cuisine. In the end, the four students great received applauses from the audience as a sign of approval for their proposals.

After a lively performance by Dutch trio PAul, FrAnk and Friends, two other speakers shared their working concepts in tackling urban issues. Ekim Tan, PhD graduate from the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment, is concerned with the increasing number of ghost cities around the world, and strives to solve the problem. As the founder of Play the City, she has designed a gaming concept, which helps the various players involved in the urban planning to come to a consensus for future urban development. The games are now being “played” around the world.

Closer to home, Nan Deardorff-McClain is working to bring more aesthetic value to Delft. Upon her arrival to the Netherlands, she considered vandalism as an eyesore and found them all over the city. Not until an accidental stroke of luck with her neighbor did she start beautifying the “tagging” with mosaic art. Residents have warmly welcomed the project and have been actively involved in creating the mosaics. One of her works has earned the Le Comte Prize for “Best beautification of the city”.

If you are interested to take part in this unique conversation, join us at this year’s TEDxDelft event on February 27, 2015.

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TEDxSalonTheCityClear
 

Special thanks to:

Print
Studium Generale
 TU Delft

 

 

Successful Speaker Now Logo
Barbara Rogoski
 Successful Speaker Now

 

 

TIP Logo
Jonathan Talbott
 Talbot International Presentations

 

Theater de Veste Logo

 

 

 

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TEDxDelft 2015 Speaker | Puck Meerburg | Turning the conventional into state-of-the art

Modern technologies allow for new ways to look at conventional systems. Whether it is to help children learn in school or to rebuild an ageing Operating System (OS), Puck Meerburg sees only possibilities in what new technologies have to offer.

“When I first started programming, I used PHP to build simple websites,” says Meerburg. “At the time, I was five years old.” By the age of ten, Meerburg had already gone on to develop applications for the iPhone. “It wasn’t something that came gradually,” the fifteen year old explains. “I just said to myself, ‘this is something I want to do.'” Since then, the programming prodigy has developed ten applications for multiple OS, which combined have been downloaded over 300,000 times since they were first launched.

What appeals most to Meerburg are applications that are not necessarily conventional as he calls it, but rather have a practical element to them. In fact, he created his first app TableTrainer because he needed a tool that would help him memorize the multiplication tables. Later on, Meerburg expanded the app and created similar versions for young children and children with learning disabilities. Some of his other applications include a museum exhibition guide on gadgets and an app that turns the iPad into a barcode scanner cash register for kids to use for their play shop.

Nowadays, Meerburg continues to find new avenues and challenges to pursue, such as helping develop a modernised OS for various hardware, including the famous Texas Instruments TI-84 calculator. “Many people probably don’t realise that the TI-84 runs on an OS. They just consider it to be a calculator and not a system which can run programs,” Meerburg claims. Since the system that runs on these calculators has aged, the challenge for Meerburg is to develop an OS using the latest programming techniques. This same sense of challenge has also persuaded him to join a team which has taken on the daunting task of developing a new OS for Mac and PC.

Needless to say, Meerburg’s success and ambition has not gone unnoticed. His programming skills have garnered much interest from national newspapers and television shows, not to mention being asked to speak at various conferences such as the upcoming TEDxDelft event.

This year’s theme, “Let’s make things beta” is of particular interest to Meerburg since he considers the beta phase to be an important part in the development process of applications. “All apps go through various phases, alpha, beta, before being released as a final product,” Meerburg shares. When apps reach the beta phase, it signals the next big step in their development. Given the scale of the projects Meerburg  is currently working on, it should come as no surprise that for him, it’s all about that next step. It’s all about making things beta.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBh1oNFdKbE&feature=youtu.be

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TEDxDelft 2015 Speakers | Andy Zaidman | Making testing fun

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During a lecture earlier this year, one of Andy Zaidman’s students stood up in class and asked him a frustrating question: “Why do I need to test my program? If I get a correct result, that means my program works. Why waste time testing?”

That, for Zaidman, is the biggest problem with the mindset to software design today. People do not test their programs beyond a superficial result.

“I get very frustrated when there are bugs in a program,” the TU Delft Software Engineering Associate Professor says. “More and more programs are launched today without being vetted for bugs. Frankly, it doesn’t surprise me. I see how my students approach design. They only want their program to work, to be functional. They are not interesting in ensuring that it’s flawless.”

His talk at TEDxDelft 2015 will address the need to change that very approach to software design. In order to help with that mind shift, Zaidman is creating software that, on the one hand, stimulates software developers to keep on testing, but it also recommends to test parts of the software because of previous weaknesses. “The idea is to stimulate an interest in the program beyond the result and make it fun to keep testing, a bit like playing a game.”

Zaiman’s interest in software started with his fascination for computers as a teenager. “It seemed only logical for me to study computer science. In the course of actually studying the subject, I realized how complex it was. I feel it’s strange that we haven’t found a way to make the process of testing complex programs more interesting.”

As part of his talk, he will explore examples of high profile projects that went wrong due to software bugs. One such example was the Fyra – the high-speed rail service launched between Netherlands and Belgium. “One of the biggest reasons why that project didn’t work was failing software. Sometimes there are errors because people don’t look into all kinds of things that can go wrong and take precaution against them.”

Programmers and cross disciplinary teams are often unaware of the kind of pitfalls that can occur if a program is not well tested. These examples will help create some awareness about what to watch out for. “In the larger picture, I think the talk is also about how we should be critical of our own work. Keep testing it, looking at it from different perspectives and trying to ensure it’s as flawless as possible.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFWm8C4FoUI

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TEDxDelft 2015 | TEDxDelft Salon | The City

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TEDxSalonTheCityClear
The City
Date: January 25
Time: 15:00 – 17:00
Entrance: Free
See more about the event on Facebook. 

On Sunday, January 25, 2015, TEDxDelft will be hosting the first TEDxDelftSalon of the 2015 at the Theatre de Veste, from 15:00-17:00. With “The City” as its main theme, the aim of the event is to build bridges that connect the international, local and TU Delft community with the city of Delft.

Special guests Nan Deadorff-McClain (Art in the City) and Ekim Tan (Play the City) were invited to discuss their ongoing urban projects and the importance of involving the local community. Art in the City is a community art project with the goal of beautifying the Delft city center with mosaic art. At the same time, Play the City helps people build communities and to develop tools and strategies for digital urbanism and urban transformation. TU Delft Master students Andrew Hollands, Gerben Jansen, Aukje Schukken and Nadia Remmer will also be present to showcase their proposals on how to update the city of Delft.

The TEDxDelft Salon is free, in English, and is open to everyone.  So come join us. Share in the knowledge and tell us about your idea worth spreading!

Special Guests:

 

 Nan Deadorff-McClain
 Art in the city

 

 

Ekim Tan
 Founder, Play the City

 

Paul Frank and Friends

Master’s presentations:
Andrew Hollands
Gerben Jansen
Aukje Schukken
Nadia Remmer

Special thanks to:

Print
Studium Generale
 TU Delft

 

 

Successful Speaker Now Logo
Barbara Rogoski
 Successful Speaker Now

 

 

TIP Logo
Jonathan Talbott
 Talbot International Presentations

 

Theater de Veste Logo

 

 

 

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The People Behind TEDxDelft | Performer Coaching Team | Making People Think

How do you go from giving a simple presentation to delivering an unforgettable performance? That’s the business of the TEDxDelft Performer Coaching Team: helping speakers to give the performance of their lifetime.

Performer Coaching Team
So just how does the team do this? We spoke with Toine Andernach, Co-ordinator of the TEDxDelft Performer Coach Team.

“First of all, TEDx is different from the usual setting,” says Andernach. “It’s not a PowerPoint presentation for your colleagues at work. It’s a performance so people need training in the characteristics of a show.”

At the core of a TEDx talk is the ‘Idea Worth Spreading’ and it usually takes a while before the speakers have boiled all their information down to one simple message. “The speakers might have a vague idea”, claims Andernach, “but we usually need to help them build a story around the idea.” Performer Coach Jonathan Talbott agrees: “If the main idea isn’t very clear then it’s just a cool story. But we’re not in the business of cool stories – we’re in the business of making people think!”

Another challenge for the team is that a TEDx talk is very concise; it can be six, twelve or eighteen minutes long. “That can be tough,” agrees Talbott. “Usually my clients have one of two problems. Either they have way too much stuff or they worry that they’ve got no idea what they’re going to talk about. Usually it turns out they do know what they want to talk about – it’s just a confidence problem. So mostly that’s what I do – I help people with their confidence.”

Once the content is sorted, the coaches turn next to the form of the talk. “Once we’ve got it down it into a ‘Tweet form’ – I mean really solidly sorted out – then it’s my job to say: Hey how are we going to get that message across?” says Talbott. What often works well is a personal story says Andernach. “Where the audience identifies with the story and thinks “Oh yes I can do that too!” – that’s important.”

And there’s another advantage to telling personal stories – a physiological one. “Something happens in your brain when you tell a personal story,” explains Talbott. “As you’re telling it, you really get into it and so you forget your nerves.”

The team also coaches speakers in the use of silence. “If you leave just three seconds of silence between words, sentences, or chunks of sentences, you get a lot for free”, explains Andernach. “Silence can emphasis the point being made and give the audience time to understand.” It’s not easy to do but the Performer Coaching Team trains speakers how and when to use silence. And it can be really effective, says Andernach: “If people are able to do it well in their talk, it always gives me goosebumps!”

Meet the TEDxDelft 2015 Speaker Coaches:

Toine Andernach Headshot
Toine Andernach

 

 

Sjaak Baars

 

 

Wim Blokzijl

 

 

renate


Renate  Klaassen

 

 

 

Jet van Paassen

 

 

 

Kim van der Linden

 

 

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Martijn Wackers

 

 

 

Antoinette Wijffels

 

 

 

Jonathan Talbott

 

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TEDxDelft 2015 | Made Possible By | Fabrique | Pushing the boundaries of creativity

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TEDxDelft would not take place if it were not for the support of our outstanding sponsors. They share the spirit of TED’s mission of “ideas worth spreading”.

Fabrique is one of the sponsors for TEDxDelft 2015. We’d like to introduce this organization to you, and thank them for their support and contribution. We asked Fabrique’s Communications Coordinator Eveline Schonewille to share some insights:

1. What is the name of your company, and what do you do?

Fabrique [brands, design & interaction] is a multidisciplinary agency based in the Netherlands since 1992. More than 100 artists, engineers and storytellers work with pleasure and passion on a wide variety of assignments for consumer brands, service-sector companies, the government, education, the entertainment industry and cultural institutions.

2. What is the company’s mission and vision?

Fabrique thinks carefully about brands, concepts, products and interaction, in order to arrive at apparently simple solutions to complex problems. Fabrique pushes boundaries and breaks through existing patterns, because avoiding the beaten path is the only way to achieve truly innovative and effective solutions.

3. Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelft?

That’s a good question. The same question we ask ourselves every year, the day before TEDxDelft starts! But then, when we arrive at TEDxDelft, we know the answer: because TedXDelft is an awesome event!

4. What do you see in common between your company and TEDxDelft?

In a word: curiosity.

***

Interested in being a sponsor of TEDxDelft 2015?

We engage the local community by inviting people and companies to contribute whatever skills, goods or funds they are able to share. It is our belief that the TEDx concept is such an inspiration to so many people because its partners contribute whichever they are good at.  If you feel you or your company can relate to TEDxDelft don’t hesitate to contact us.

 

 

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TEDxDelft 2015 Speaker | Kor van Velzen | Creativity and change

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Change and creativity go hand in hand for Kor van Velzen. An artist, advertiser, songwriter and once-upon-a-time a priest, Van Velzen has worn many caps, and with each new one he discovered a new aspect of himself.

Van Velzen believes that a new perspective can often help make sense of difficult times. “Sometimes, when you feel unhappy in a situation, simply changing the way you look at things can really make a difference. At one point I was a creative director at an ad agency and I found that being responsible was really interfering with my creative process. We often had to give in to clients and go against our ideas. That caused a lot of conflict in me. I finally moved on and now work with smaller clients with an agency in Delft. I feel that I am now better than I have ever been,” he says.

For him, the theme of TEDxDelft 2015 – ‘Let’s make things beta’ –offers up multiple perspectives too. From giving voice to ideas to making things better. A surprise performance during his talk will also play on this theme and echo a sentiment U2 made famous with their song Stuck in a Moment.

Music has always been an integral part of his life. More so now as his son Roel Van Velzen gains recognition internationally as a singer-songwriter. Van Velzen recalls that while his son was always interested in music and all the instruments around the house, it was a game they played that lead to his love of performing. “From when he was about two, we would do recordings together on a tape recorder. We pretended that we were on radio and would talk as though an audience was listening. It was incredible for me to record something with my son, but I wanted to do it in a creative way. We did that for about six years,” he says.

It’s no surprise then that one of his favourite TED talks is one that offers a fresh perspective on a old process – tying shoelaces!

Teddy Moore: How to tie your shoelaces

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9wJ8aKdxas

 

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TEDxDelft 2015 | Made Possible By | TU Delft | Contributing to a sustainable society

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TEDxDelft would not take place if it were not for the support of our outstanding sponsors. They share the spirit of TED’s mission of “ideas worth spreading”.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology) is one of the sponsors for TEDxDelft 2015. We’d like to introduce this organization to you, and thank them for their support and contribution. We asked Evelyne Esveld from TU Delft to share some insights:

What is the name of your organization and what do you do?

Delft University of Technology. It is the largest and oldest Dutch public technical university, with over 19,000 students. The university was first established in 1842 as a Royal Academy, with the main purpose of training civil servants for the Dutch East Indies but has rapidly expanded its research and education curriculum since then.

What is your mission?

The university’s mission is to make a significant contribution towards a sustainable society for the twenty-first century by conducting groundbreaking scientific and technological research, which is acknowledged as world-class, by training scientists and engineers with a genuine commitment to society and by helping to translate knowledge into technological innovations and activity with both economic and social value.

Why did you choose to sponsor TEDxDelft 2015?

Delft University of Technology is one of the founding organizations of TEDxDelft. From the beginning we have aimed to inspire and contribute towards a sustainable society with knowledge and experience. Something that TEDxDelft also aspires toward.

What do you see in common between TU Delft and TEDxDelft?

As mentioned previously, the university and TEDxDelft share a common goal. TU Delft views its role in society as supplying technological solutions that take us significantly further along the road towards sustainability and a flourishing economy.

***

Interested in being a sponsor of TEDxDelft 2015?

We engage the local community by inviting people and companies to contribute whatever skills, goods or funds they are able to share. It is our belief that the TEDx concept is such an inspiration to so many people because its partners contribute whichever they are good at.  If you feel you or your company can relate to TEDxDelft don’t hesitate to contact us.

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The people behind TEDxDelft | Liesbeth Mantel | Committed to excellence

Liesbeth Mantel Headshot

For Liesbeth Mantel, Project Manager of TEDxDelft, there is no doubt that this year’s event will be better than ever. “We can expect an even bigger, more inspirational day than the last three years,” Mantel says, “because the organization is growing as well, so we know what we need to do to make it even better than the last time.” With a dedicated team and good partnerships, Mantel is convinced that everything is shaping up nicely for this year’s TEDxDelf event.

Having helped organise the TEDxDelft event two years ago as a speaker liaison, Mantel is looking forward to seeing what challenges her new role will bring. More than anything, what matters most to her is the smooth operation of the event itself, when everyone knows their roles and people are fully committed to play their part so that the visitors will have a truly memorable day.

When she’s not organizing TEDxDelft, Mantel works as Head of Open Spaces at the TU Delft library, where she is responsible for the public areas. “I like to redesign spaces and think about what people need when they come to a building,’ she explains. Writing a blog in her spare time, where she recommends great places to visit, it’s easy to understand that for Mantel, nothing is more rewarding than having organized a successful event where the visitors matter most. ‘It’s most rewarding is when it’s a huge success, when, at the end of the day, when everyone goes home you can say, we did a good job.”

What is your role at TEDxDelft?

I’m the project leader of the event. That means that I’m responsible for the whole day and everything that has to do with that. I’m not responsible for the speakers and the talks. I work with a wonderful team of people who all have their own expertise.

Why did you get involved with the organization?

Rob Speekenbrink and I are colleagues at TU Delft. During the TEDxDelft edition of 2012, I was the speaker liaison. In 2013, I was in the audience and I realised that I wanted to be part of the team again. I asked Rob if he had a position in the team for me.

How long have you been a part of the TEDxDelft Team?

This will be my second TEDxDelft event.

If you could choose one person to give a talk at TEDxDelft, who would it be and why?

That would be my friend Marina Noordegraaf. I’m sure she would make a lasting impression.

What’s your nerdy little secret?

I love books and paper. I make cards and I collect angels.

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TEDxDelft 2015 Speaker | Gerardo Soto y Koelemeijer | Let’s change math education

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“Math is an important element of human culture,” says Dr. Gerardo Soto y Koelemeijer. Culture and math may sound like a collision of worlds, but Koelemeijer believes they complement each other.

And he would know. Having completed his PhD in mathematics at TU Delft, he also studied literature and cultural studies. A published author of historical fiction, he is now working on a book with stories about math and is also researching another historical subject. All this alongside his day job as a math teacher at a secondary school in Haarlem.

Does his varied knowledge base make him a better teacher? “Yes. The more you know, the more you can improvise and motivate students. Mathematics is not a discipline that stands on its own. It has many similarities and connections with other disciplines. Some people consider math an art. I think it is an important element of human culture.”

Inspired by people with great knowledge, it is no surprise that Koelemeijer offers his students a chance to learn something more.“I sometimes tell students about the history of mathematics or about books that I read. Last year I gave a philosophy course and last period I spoke about linguistics.”

Soto y Koelemeijer believes that his work as a mathematician and as a novelist has differences and similarities but people often focus only on the differences. “The focus on language and logic is a similarity and in both disciplines structure and beauty is very important. An elegant mathematical proof can be considered as a poem. Furthermore, creativity is in both cases a keyword.”

His talk at TEDxDelft will explore how to change math education and make it more engaging. “I think that telling stories can be very helpful for students, especially for those who are bad at math. I’m going to tell a story about a specific and complex concept in mathematics and I hope that everybody will understand my talk.”

Soto y Koelemeijer is no stranger to telling a complex story in a gripping format. His novels Armelia and De Gestolen Kinderen (The Stolen Children) explore tragic and dark periods in Spanish history.“Both my books were about Spain, about the Civil War and about the Franco era. I think it is a relatively unknown period of history in the Netherlands.”

Given his Spanish heritage (his father is Spanish) Soto y Koelemeijer has always enjoyed reading about the heritage and history of Spain. When he came across a news story about children who had been abducted from Republican parents by Francoists, he knew that was a story that needed to be told.

As an educator, his favorite TED talks are about education. Here are some he recommends.

Hackschooling makes me happy: Logan LaPlante
How schools kill creativity: Ken Robinson
New experiments in self-teaching: Sugata Mitra’s

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The people behind TEDxDelft | Brenda Hooiveld | Bringing people together

Brenda Hooiveld Headshot

Working together with other people is one of the most gratifying things to do. Whether it’s playing the tuba in an orchestra or getting colleagues and volunteers to be enthusiastic about TEDxDelft, what Volunteer Coordinator Brenda Hooiveld appreciates most is the opportunity to work with other people. It’s no surprise then that she returns to the team for a third time to help organise the upcoming TEDxDelft event.

While most people would regard it a challenge to coordinate more than a hundred volunteers, Hooiveld considers such an undertaking to be a reward in itself. “Every year, I am amazed and surprised by how many highly motivated volunteers are prepared to do almost anything for TEDxDelft,” Hooiveld says. “I really enjoy getting other people equally enthusiastic about the event. It’s a really great concept and I love creating a sense of excitement around it.” Indeed, for Hooiveld, there is no better moment when the sense of cooperation, inspiration and excitement come together than during the event itself.

Working as a Communications Advisor for TU Delft’s Education and Student Affairs department, Hooiveld is a genuine people person. So when the opportunity came to join the TEDxDelft team as the Volunteer Coordinator, she was more than willing to take up the task. “They needed someone who could work with people from all across the board and I like working with people,” Hooiveld explains, “so I thought, why not?”

If you are interested in volunteering for the upcoming TEDxDelft event, why not drop her a line or sign up via our website?

What is your role at TEDxDelft?

I am the volunteer coordinator. This means that I am responsible for recruiting and mobilizing the volunteers at TEDxDelft. And of course keep all volunteers and our event managers happy.

Why did you get involved with the organization?

I was a volunteer at the first TEDxDelft and several of the organisers of TEDxDelft are colleagues of mine, as I work at TU Delft

How long have you been a part of the TEDxDelft team?

The first edition I was a normal volunteer. Unfortunately, I had to skip the 2nd edition. The role of volunteer coordinator I am doing for the 2nd year.

If you could choose one person to give a talk at TEDxDelft, who would it be and why? 

Mr. Bean, curious what he would do on such a stage.

What’s your nerdy little secret?

I read a lot, including fantasy and science fiction books. And I am a comics fan.

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TEDxDelft 2015 Speaker | Jojanneke van den Bosch | Helping the Invisible

Jojanneke van den Bosch
A person’s childhood is as fragile as it is precious. Everyday, millions of children around the world are forced to deal with the realities of life, thrown into situations they neither asked for nor deserve. In most societies, these children often remain invisible, while the issues they face are considerably neglected. For Dutch social activist, author and online strategist Jojanneke van den Bosch, raising awareness of the plight of this group of children has become a personal calling, especially since their life-altering experiences are similar to her own.

At the upcoming TEDxDelft Event on February 27, 2015, Van den Bosch shares how a sad twist of fate permanently changed her life and the steps she took to overcome it. “In my talk, I will focus on and illustrate a particularly vulnerable and rather challenging situation that millions of children are facing everyday,” the activist says, hoping that her message will resonate with the TEDxDelft attendees. “In the last seven years, I discovered that not so many people are aware of this issue and that it is in fact considered a taboo. My mission is to break this taboo and to improve the circumstances of the many youngsters who are dealing with this everyday.”

As founder of online strategy and communications consultancy Eos Online Communicatie, Van den Bosch is no stranger to being on stage. Since 2006, she has been giving various presentations and professional seminars, developing the world’s first online training program for online strategy and social media. Be that as it may, the strategist still considers speaking at TEDxDelft as both a unique and challenging opportunity. She hopes that her presentation will open many possibilities for young people in order for them to understand what they are going through and what is necessary to build a good life for themselves.

“Preparing for this TEDxDelft talk is something special,” Van den Bosch admits. “I have given hundreds of speeches and presentations, but this one is different. It demands even more focus and clarity than usual because you want to make a point in a very limited time frame. Since I feel so strongly about the issue I’m addressing at TEDxDelft, preparing for this talk is a journey in itself. It teaches both the attendees as myself something new. I’d like to think that’s a good thing. It makes me feel grateful.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEmv6fJJFGU&feature=youtu.be

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The People Behind TEDxDelft | Paul Manuel | Looking to inspire

Paul Manuel Headshot “It’s an honor to work for TEDxDelft,” says Paul Manuel, Board Member of the TEDxDelft Non-profit Organization. “The most challenging part is to give all the visitors the best experience. We make this happen with a very small budget, but also through a huge amount of effort from the volunteers.” As managing partner of leading Dutch digital agency TamTam, Manuel greatly appreciates the value of discovering and learning new things, especially from younger generations. “I am always surprised by the young students on stage,” Manuel shares. “I can get completely energized by their stories.  I still use some of them as examples in my business.”

When he’s not looking to inspire or be inspired by others, the Delft resident spends his time communing with nature, be it biking, sailing, skiing or drinking under the rain, snow and sun. Although he would like to keep the details of the TEDxDelft event under warps, Manuel insists that conference will be well organized. “This is the first time we begin the event in the afternoon,” Manuel says. “This will give the event a new dimension. All-in-all, TEDxDelft will give visitors new insights and chance to meet nice people.”

What is your role at TEDxDelft?

 TEDxDelft is a foundation with a board. I am in the board with Rob, Peter and Wolter.

 Why did you get involved with the organization?

Because rob asked me and I find it an honor to contribute to such a beautiful event in Delft.

 How long have you been a part of the TEDxDelft Team?

I have been  involved in the foundation’s board since the first TEDxDelft.

 If you could choose one person to give a talk at TEDxDelft, who would it be and why?

TEDxDelft is the right place to get surprised by unknown people. Of all speakers, I think the students are most often the most surprising.

 What’s your nerdy little secret?

I am founding partner of digital agency Tam Tam, but I have no clue how to get my wifi or whatsoever working properly.

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TEDxDelft 2015 | HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

From all of us at TEDxDelft, we wish you all a Happy New Year!

Looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming TEDxDelft Event on 27 February 2015. Let’s make things beta!

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