TED@DuPont
Transformation starts with the spark of something new. In 2018, TED and DuPont began a partnership to do just that: TRANSFORM. As the world and our interactions grow more complex, so do our challenges. To solve for modern problems, we decided to pursue a new framework for innovation itself, one that considers all perspectives and outcomes in the calculus. This inaugural TED@DuPont event signifies a monumental step in the blossoming partnership between TED and DuPont to unlock the institutional knowledge within the organization and showcase the New DuPont. Taking place at The Fillmore in Philadelphia, the day’s topics ranged from science, technology, and beyond. Learn more about the TED Institute.
TED@DuPont 2019
With fascinating research and hilarious anecdotes, neuroscientist Camilla Arndal Andersen takes us into the lab where she studies people's sense of taste via brain scans. She reveals surprising insights about the way our brains subconsciously experience food -- and shows how this data could help us eat healthier without sacrificing taste.
During the winter of 2018-2019, one million tons of salt were applied to icy roads in the state of Pennsylvania alone. The salt from industrial uses like this often ends up in freshwater rivers, making their water undrinkable and contributing to a growing global crisis. How can we better protect these precious natural resources? Physical organic chemist Tina Arrowood shares a three-step plan to keep salt out of rivers -- and create a circular salt economy that turns industrial byproducts into valuable resources.
Transformation starts with the spark of something new. In a day of talks and performances about transformation, 16 speakers and performers explored exciting developments in science, technology and beyond — from the chemistry of everyday life to innovations in food, “smart” clothing, enzyme research and much more.
In a vibrant performance, Jeff Taylor performs his genre-breaking blend of jazz, rock, alternative and country -- performing his songs "Flush City" and "The Living."
By designing "smart" clothing with durable technologies, we can better keep track of health and well-being, says clothing designer Janani Bhaskar. She shares how we can use screen-printing technology to attach biometric "smart stickers" to any piece of clothing -- and how they can track blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs. "Why not transform clothing and make it a part of our digitized world?" she asks.
Microbial life is often a problem in oil fields, producing toxic chemicals and corroding steel pipes and tanks. Microbe detective Geert van der Kraan shares how we can transform this challenge into a solution by studying the clues these microbes leave behind. "There are things we can learn from the microorganisms that call oil fields their homes, making oil field operations just a little cleaner. Who knows what other secrets they may hold for us?" van der Kraan asks.