Random everyday objects and events that prompt a throwback to some experience in Tony Okoromadu's life, provoking deeper introspection than would have been expected.

Onsite wastewater treatment system is really a fancy term for what's better known as a septic system. These systems account for roughly 20% of the wastewater treatment infrastructure in Texas. Ryan Gerlich’s presentation will provide an overview of onsite wastewater treatment technologies, and how these systems have evolved over the years. He'll also discuss the advances toward water reuse to meet the growing demand as Texas' population continues to grow.

Sci-fi has warned us for decades of the danger posed by a super-intelligent computer network. H.A.L., Replicants, WOPR, Skynet, The Matrix, and others paint a bleak future for careless AI development… But none of these bear even the slightest resemblance to real AI, nor do any of them discuss the current problems that AI is already creating. Let’s dispel some of the superstition and address the real danger.

What if the world was made of LEGO? In this talk, Luke Lyons shares how he sees the world as tiny plastic interlocking bricks.  Lyons, like many children, grew up playing with LEGO, but today he uses LEGO as an outlet for his creativity and artistic side.  He has created LEGO scale buildings of old high schools, university buildings, train stations and designed his own museum specifically for the purpose of displaying a LEGO Tyrannosaurus rex. He discusses how LEGO promotes creativity in STEM education, while still accessing the arts.

In what is often seen as the cold, clinical, and even sterile environment of medical education, how do you teach providers to find empathy for their patients? Andrew Roblyer discusses the art at the core of medical training that helps prepare professionals to confront the humanity of their future patients with compassion and kindness.

Improv is comedy without a net. There are always some guidelines, but never a script. Rather than explain the process, which can often be as simple as making things up as one goes along, Off-Center Improv troupe, Jennifer Hargis is going to actually give a PechaKucha presentation based on photos they’ve never seen before.

Dennis Gore talks about his inspiration for and the artistry of brewing Czech-style beer.

Jennifer Briggs speaks on how her new role as Creative Manager at the School of Innovation (I-School) allowed her to rediscover her creativity and how it helped shape the trajectory of the I-School.

Brady Grimes questions the fact that children and young adults spend an ever increasing amount of time lost in the narratives of video games, movies, and television. But is that all bad? How imagination and creativity played a defining role in my own life and thoughts on how we leverage the fantastic for good.

It is impossible to have lived in Tanzania for 4+ years without hearing some of their many methali, or proverbs, often. It is also impossible to not land on a favorite: haba na haba hujaza kibaba, which translates most succinctly to: little by little, the pot is filled. There is so much that this methali could be applied to, but for this talk, Marisa Grimes is going to speak about the incredible power of making small donations. If we each directed just a few bucks to the right organizations every month, the drastic ripple effects we'd create could change the trajectory of people and communities around the globe. 

One of our most popular past presenters, Janet Vincent, returns to talk about creating the Costa Rican Roller Derby team and the experience they had at the world cup.

Molly Hagan-Ward knows from experience, that once you start wondering about what all the wild plants around you have to offer, you never stop! Let her encourage you to learn about the abundance that the earth is constantly providing. Whether outside your own front door, at work, or at your local park, there is green magic around every corner!