From microbiology to comic books, this year’s TEDxLSU speakers have plenty of ground to cover. Their areas of expertise vary, but the question holding them all together, as well as this year’s theme, is simply, “Why?”
Why fight for your cause? Why would a lieutenant general become an environmental crusader? Why would an oceanographer team up with oil and gas? Why would a developmental psychologist use video games to fight childhood obesity?
Meet your 2016 TEDxLSU lineup, and grab your ticket for the March 5 event to hear their answers. tedxlsu.com
Want to win tickets? Get the details below.
BIANCA SMITH
Creativity comes to comic book writer and LSU mass communication senior Bianca Smith in colors and shapes as often as words. From the first graphic novel she read years ago, she transformed her writing approach to scenes contained in panels, visuals of the dialogue and action in her mind. Now, she’s gearing up to launch her first comic book, Glitz Squad, a female-driven space opera of dueling interplanetary factions and a heated rebellion. For Smith, writing isn’t just about expression but empowerment, particularly for women.
“I’d say the biggest problem facing women in the entertainment industry right now is the lack of starring roles for women, especially women of color,” she says. As a woman of color, Smith hopes to help solve the problem by creating those roles herself.
LT. GENERAL RUSSEL HONORÉ
Military man turned environmental warrior, retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré knows one principle that has proven true across both careers: Preparedness is key. After coordinating military relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Honoré—described by then-New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin as a “John Wayne dude”—brought his straightforward style to disaster preparedness and coastal preservation efforts along the Gulf Coast, putting him often at odds with local political leaders and the oil and gas industry.
“We can’t control the weather,” he says, “but we can make sure a disaster on that scale doesn’t happen again.”
GINGER GUTTNER
When everyone wants to hear that tiger roar, Ginger Guttner is the one who makes that tiger tweet. Keeping up Mike the Tiger’s social media presence is one part of the job for the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s public relations director, but it’s not all.
Between sharing photos on Instagram of pre-game meals made of meat sculpted into rival mascots, Guttner has worked to create an entertaining and engaging presence for the entire vet school over 11 years. Her aim? Getting the community interested in veterinary developments at LSU, promoting a love of animals and getting a few laughs along the way.
Other speakers to check out this year:
Hector Alila: In the fight against cancer, doctor and biopharmaceutical researcher Hector Alila brings the heavy artillery. One of the developers behind antibiotic Augmentin, Alila and his firm Esperance Pharmaceuticals are working with the MD Anderson Cancer Center on a new generation of highly targeted cancer drugs.
Mark Benfield:Thousands of feet below the surface, Mark Benfield’s robotic cameras seek out the secrets of the Gulf of Mexico’s deep waters. The oceanographer’s research through the LSU School of the Coast and Environment in partnership with the oil and gas industry has brought to light new discoveries of what lies beneath the waters.
Gary King: If you want to understand how the world works, LSU microbial biology professor Gary King suggests you start small. Very, very small. Studying volcanoes’ impact on microbial life or that of bacteria on atmospheric gases has given this doctor an acute insight on the world around us.
Sister Judith Brun: Dedication is perhaps the most important tenet of Catholic sisterhood, and Sister Judith Brun of St. Joseph has plenty of it. With 40 years of commitment to the community—25 as principal of St. Joseph’s Academy—Brun now leads outreach projects including neighborhood revitalization organization Take Care Baton Rouge.
David Klanecky:Clean energy is coming to Louisiana, whether oil companies like it or not, and energy expert David Klanecky is here to prepare us. Backed by field research across the globe, Klanecky is pioneering modern energy-storage solutions for a new age of transportation.
Amanda Exner Staiano:A developmental psychologist at Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Staiano spends her days tracking childhood obesity. She is working to pinpoint its causes and heads research in “exergaming,” a virtual exercise program via Wii Active to help schools combat Louisiana’s 33 percent youth obesity rate.
Joseph Tucker:From the track to the shelves of sporting goods stores, this marathon runner created his own CEO position when he masterminded a self-watering mouth guard to give athletes hands-free hydration. Hydra-Guard is gearing up to take on markets soon, beginning with Baton Rouge.
Chris Thomas King: A Grammy winner, blues powerhouse, musical mentor and founder of New Orleans’ 21st Century Blues Studios, Chris Thomas King believes in a future for Louisiana’s history. The tradition of Louisiana blues made King’s father—and local blues legend—Tabby Thomas a star, and he plans to keep the spirit alive.
Barton Gilley:If you’ve seen the beer-dispensing robot R2-DBrew at tailgates—or on the pages of 225—you’ve got Barton Gilley to thank. The LSU Fine Arts graduate’s specialty is animatronic sculptures like this one, and his next projects promise to grow with his prowess.
Which speaker’s “why” interests you the most? Tweet your answer to @225batonrouge for a chance to win two tickets to TEDxLSU on March 5. Winners will be selected at random. Deadline to enter is February 21 at midnight CST.
