When science meets dedication and empowerment, the possibilities are endless. This year’s theme, “Now is the Time,” encompasses a lot of potential topics but none more appropriate than forward-looking future planning. TEDxSanAntonio speakers Ryan Lamm and Akshara Anand will discuss diverse topics in this category at the Main Event on November 18, 2017.
Using Technology & Data for Public Health
Akshara Anand, STEM education advocate and student ambassador from Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) in Austin, sees technology as a tool for improving public health and providing deeper insight into epidemiology research regarding flu pandemics. Anand emphasizes the value of data to help public health officials anticipate and predict pandemic patterns and manage some of the risk upfront.
“Through spatiotemporal models…created as part of computational epidemiology research, [Anand has] been able to create visualization possibilities that public health officials can utilize during future outbreaks to help allocate resources and best mitigate pandemic spread. [Her] talk stresses the importance of inspiring the millennial generation to utilize the multitude of free and available data throughout the internet to benefit our population.”
Anand has been recognized nationwide for her work on this topic and her efforts to support the expansion of STEM opportunities for minorities and women in her community, including the founding of STEMInnovation Program, a nonprofit promoting computer science education for minorities and girls at middle schools.
Robot Apocalypse or AI Advancement?
Ryan Lamm, Director of Research and Development at Southwest Research Institute focusing on Automated Driving Systems among other related fields, explores the what, why (and why not), how, and when of automated driving in his Talk on autonomous vehicles. With more than 20 years of experience in unmanned ground vehicles, automated driving systems, and non-linear controls, Lamm has a unique perspective on what the future of vehicular travel and artificial intelligence could look like.
“The terms self-driving, driverless cars, autonomous vehicles, and robot cars have become mainstream, but do you really know what these are, how they work, their limitations, how they will impact society, and when we will see them? According to the NHTSA, Automated Driving Systems have the potential to greatly reduce (or eliminate) the more than 30,000 annual fatalities attributable to motor vehicle collisions….We are in the midst of a modern arms-race; estimated by some to be $45B in the US alone by 2021, and projected to revolutionize how we hire mobility-as-a-service. The automotive industry is bracing for this major disruption. This has led to significant hype in the media and by investors, now birthing a frenzy around fears of liability, regulation, artificial intelligence without ethics, major job types vanishing, and yes…even the robot apocalypse. The reality is somewhere in the middle. Are you ready?”
In addition to his professional successes, Lamm is a Senior Member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and serves as the Chair of the San Antonio Chapter of the IEEE Technology Engineering Management Society (TEMS). Visit The TEDxSanAntonio website to read more about Ryan and his Talk.
Join us!
We invite you to join us for both Talks and many more at our Main Event on November 18, 2017 at the Witte Museum. Visit www.TEDXSanAntonio.com to learn more about our events, become a sponsor, or join the team.
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2017 TEDXSANANTONIO MAIN EVENT:
DATE AND TIME
Sat, Nov. 18, 2017
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. CST
LOCATION
Witte Museum
