Theme: Lighting the Way

In an era marked by unprecedented challenges, some individuals have dared to lead the way with innovative solutions and transformative ideas. These individuals, hailing from diverse fields and backgrounds, embody the spirit of leadership and courage, tackling global issues with relentless passion and unwavering commitment. Their stories, insights, and groundbreaking work are set to inspire, ignite, and empower us to take action and contribute to meaningful change.

Rooted in the vibrant and dynamic city of Chicago, a hub of innovation, culture, and resilience, TEDxChicago celebrates the city’s unique spirit and its history of fostering groundbreaking ideas and movements. Our event serves as a beacon of hope and progress, reflecting Chicago's legacy as a place where visionaries and change-makers converge to make a difference. As we gather in this great city, we honor those who are Lighting the Way toward a brighter tomorrow, both on the stage and among all of you. Join us at TEDxChicago 2024: Lighting the Way in this extraordinary journey of discovery, where the power of ideas will illuminate our path and inspire us all to become leaders in our own right.

Harris Theater for Music and Dance
205 E Randolph St
Chicago, Illinois, 60601
United States

Abbie Clary, FAIA, FACHA

HEALTHCARE ARCHITECT

Abbie Clary has nearly 30 years of experience helping globally recognized institutions architect more accessible healthcare spaces and is the Global Health Practice Co-Director at CannonDesign. Abbie champions projects that challenge the status quo and break down existing barriers within the medical world, while emphasizing social progress and encouraging empathy-driven approaches. Her passion lies in translating design visions into inclusive and supportive experiences. For the entirety of her career, she has held the unwavering belief that intentionally designed platforms can set everyone up to thrive.

Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, HASLA

THE PEOPLE’S ARCHITECT

Carol Ross Barney is an architect, urbanist, mentor, and educator and the recipient of the 2023 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal. She is renowned for her expertise in civic space design and her dedication to creating exceptional public spaces—including the Chicago Riverwalk. From small community facilities to prestigious academic buildings, as well as innovative transit stations and urban places and spaces, her designs have become cultural icons. These projects are also renowned for showcasing the transformative power of architecture in our daily lives. Her work has garnered over 200 major design awards, fourteen National American Institute of Architects Honor Awards and over 45 AIA Chicago Awards, and her commitment to sustainable design has been recognized with two AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE®) Top Ten Project Awards.

Dr. Lia Merminga

SCIENTIFIC LEADER & ACCELERATOR PHYSICIST

Dr. Lia Merminga is a Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Distinguished Scientist, a fellow of the American Physical Society, Crain’s Chicago Business’ Notable Women in STEM, and a graduate of the first cohort of Department of Energy’s (DOE) Oppenheimer Energy Science Leadership Program. She has served on and led numerous international scientific committees. Currently, Dr. Merminga is Laboratory Director at Fermilab where she is overseeing the development and execution of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), a first-of-its-kind experiment to unlock the mysteries of neutrinos. This program represents the largest international experiment ever built by the DOE on U.S. soil. Ultimately, it will help us get closer to answering the really big questions; such as, why does the universe, and—by extension—humankind exist?

Dr. Mark Hersam

NANOTECHNOLOGIST

Dr. Mark C. Hersam, the Walter P. Murphy Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Director of the Materials Research Center, and Chair of the Materials Science and Engineering Department at Northwestern University, has made major breakthroughs in the field of nanotechnology. His research interests include nanomaterials, additive manufacturing, nanoelectronics, scanning probe microscopy, renewable energy, and quantum information science. Dr. Hersam has received several honors including the Marshall Scholarship, Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, American Vacuum Society Medard Welch Award, U.S. Science Envoy, and MacArthur Fellowship. In addition, he is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and National Academy of Inventors and has founded two companies, NanoIntegris and Volexion, which are suppliers of nanoelectronic and battery materials, respectively.

Erika Allen

ECOSYSTEM INNOVATOR

Erika Allen has dedicated her career to developing sustainable community food systems and addressing the ways in which structural racism prevents equity and justice. She is the Founder & CEO of the Urban Growers Collective and the President of Green ERA Educational NFP and Co-Owner of Green ERA Sustainability Partners. A commitment to conservation, a dedication to the eradication of environmental injustice, and a promotion of regenerative, urban agriculture within Chicago lie at the heart of her work. Her devotion to the public sector—by promoting restorative agriculture, creating economic opportunities for people living below the poverty line, and expanding access to healthy food—is helping transform Chicago into a city that can meet the needs of today’s residents without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Michael E. Papka

SCIENCE ENABLER

Michael E. Papka, the Director of the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility at Argonne National Laboratory and Professor of Computer Science at the University of Illinois Chicago, is engineering a new future for enabling data-based insights. He oversees the development and deployment of Aurora, one of the world's first exascale supercomputers. While typical computers perform billions of calculations per second, Aurora can perform more than a quintillion calculations per second. With this “supercomputer power”, he and his team are pushing the boundaries of what we can learn from vast amounts of data. These insights can help us advance innovation within the fields of human health, material science, climate research, and more. With three decades of experience, Michael constructs and strategically guides massive computing infrastructures and trains and mentors the next generation of data scientists.

Prof. Alessandro F. Rotta Loria

SCIENTIST & ENGINEER OF THE UNDERGROUND

Dr. Alessandro F. Rotta Loria is the Louis Berger Junior Professor at Northwestern University, where he directs SOIL – the Subsurface Opportunities and Innovations Laboratory. He is also the co-founder of GEOEG and enerdrape. His work is centered on the subsurface and is dedicated to fostering the renewable energy transition, decarbonizing the built environment, innovating infrastructure, and conserving the environment through underground solutions. His endeavors aim to address pressing challenges and opportunities for cities and territories: from subsurface urban heat islands to sea-level change, and from geological energy harvesting and storage to the sustainable construction and preservation of civil infrastructure. Rotta Loria’s work empowers the underground in support of human activity—on Earth and beyond. His studies have culminated in the publication of one book, two book chapters, two patents, and more than 100 publications in scientific journals and conference proceedings.

Scheherazade Tillet

ARTIST

Scheherazade Tillet is an artist, curator, and feminist activist focusing on Blackness, play, freedom, trauma, and healing. She is the Executive Director of A Long Walk Home—an arts organization she co-founded in 2003 with her sister, Salamishah Tillet—which combats violence against girls and women and empowers young people to create a more peaceful world. Tillet’s efforts center Black girls and young women who are vulnerable to gender violence and racial inequality, as she is a strong advocate for their healing and protection through systemic changes in our society. Her work has been showcased at distinguished institutions and featured in various major publications. Scheherazade is also the lead artist and curator of The Black Girlhood Altar installation, the founder of The Rekia Boyd Monument Project, and a co-curator of “Picturing Black Girlhood: Moments of Possibility,” the largest exhibition dedicated to Black girls and genderqueer youth.

Vanessa Harris, PE

ART ENGINEER

Vanessa Harris, PE, is a licensed civil engineer, problem-solver and artist with multiple disabilities. Amid a 46-year engineering career, she took a documentary class at Hyde Park Art Center that changed the trajectory of her life and led her to establish Strategy for Access. This organization has produced more than 180 videos celebrating and informing Chicago’s vast disability community of their right to access. Her most recent project was the production of 16 short subjects in a series called Accessible Chicago, which she created to help Chicago become internationally recognized as a disability-friendly city. She covers each subject clearly with her unique sense of humor, helping to empower those with disabilities and giving them a platform to share their experiences, wisdom, and perspectives. Crain’s Chicago Business has recognized Vanessa as a Notable Black Leader and Executive and she is on the grantmaking panels for Illinois Humanities and the Resist Foundation.