TEDxSanAntonio’s first live event on April 15 at UTSA’s Buena Vista Theater will feature six adult and youth speakers from across the U.S. passionate about finding solutions to climate change.
Speaker: Cris Eugster
President and CEO of Ever.green
Seattle, WA
“Crafting a Career with Purpose and Impact in Climate”
Cris is a seasoned executive who is passionate about making a difference in this world through the successful transition to a clean energy society. Cris was instrumental in setting the strategy and putting in place plans to begin decarbonizing the energy system of greater San Antonio. Cris went on to Seattle where he partnered with leading tech venture group Pioneer Square Labs to co-found Ever.green and create the first marketplace for companies of all sizes to invest directly into clean energy projects and thereby accelerate our society’s energy transition.
Speaker: Deepti Kannapan
Writer, Artist, Aerospace Engineer
Los Angeles, CA
“The Climate Movement Needs Your Creativity, Not Your Guilt”
Deepti grew up in New York, California, and Bangalore, India, and received Bachelors and Masters degrees in engineering design from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. While there, she co-founded the institute’s first student spacecraft project, IITMSAT. She currently works as an aerospace engineer and writes blogs on creativity and climate change. She is an avid volunteer for environmental causes and the author of an upcoming YA fantasy novel. Growing up, Deepti filled her notebooks with facts about wildlife and set herself math problems she couldn’t solve.
Speaker: Marisa Zalabak
Educational Psychologist, Founder of Open Channel Culture and Human Arts Lab
New York City, NY
“Regenerative Imagination and Climate Repair”
Dedicated to creating compassionate, sustainable communities, economies and ecosystems for the emerging future, Marisa is the Founder of Open Channel Culture & Human Arts Lab fostering Adaptive Leadership for the emerging future. Marisa is currently serving with IEEE, the world’s largest professional organization advancing technology for humanity, as Co-Chair of the Planet Positive 2030 Global Methodologies committee in partnership with Stanford HAI and Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. As Co-Chair of the IEEE AI Ethics Education committee, she has authored recommendations for collaboration in AI Ethics and is contributing author of IEEE’s Recommended Standards for the Ethical Design of Artificial Intelligence.
Speaker: Andre Felton
Integrative Biology PhD student at the University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX
“The Once & Future Plastisphere”
Currently, Andre works with a leading scientist in ephemeral freshwater systems and conducts research aimed at understanding environmental and biological threats of microplastic pollution. Additionally, in collaboration with a fellow UTSA doctoral student, he has developed and reported the first evidence of microplastics in hailstone formation and deposition. In 2023, Andre has been awarded the NISOD Teaching award and the NVC Excellence in Teaching award as an adjunct instructor for Alamo Colleges in San Antonio. He is passionate about research to understand current and future biodiversity trends, and his hope is to share that passion with minority-dominant communities and diversify the natural sciences.
Speaker: Anish Beeram
Junior at Episcopal High School, Member of the San Antonio Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives
San Antonio, TX
“Solar Energy: Beyond the Rooftops”
Anish is a senior at TMI Episcopal in San Antonio, Texas. Anish has been involved in debate throughout his high school career, competing in Congressional and World Schools Debate Formats, serving as the captain of his school team. In World Schools, Anish serves on the 2022-23 USA National Debate Team. Outside of debate, Anish served on the 2021-22 San Antonio Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives, where he advocated for cost-effective renewable energy alternatives and sustainable infrastructure projects. Anish is also an Eagle Scout with Bronze and Gold Palms, and founded the Eagle Action Project, a certified Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to building scouting troops in underserved areas, teaching life skills and environmental stewardship to youth in need.
Speaker: Sofia Esteban
Junior at Seven Lake High School, President of the Texas Future Business Leaders of America Area 5
Katy, TX
“Why Our approach to Climate Change is Dead Wrong”
Sofia is a junior at Seven Lakes High school. She is the president of the Texas Future Business Leaders of America Area 5, founder of the Seven Lakes Junior High and Beckendorff Junior High speech and debate programs, and team development chair on the Seven Lakes High School speech and debate team. In addition, she is the 2024 class secretary, and the founder of SEEN, a non-profit organization which focuses on placing awareness on and helping Title 1 schools. Sofia has an extreme passion towards using her voice to advocate for equality in all spaces, especially education.
Join us on April 15 at the UTSA Buena Vista Theatre for Earth2Hot2Handle. Register now and come together at our event for these six dynamic speakers and an interactive Idea Lab.