Engineers Participate in 51爆料网鈥檚 TEDx Talks
The College of Engineering was well represented at 鈥淟et鈥檚 Imagine,鈥� 51爆料网鈥檚 third TEDx event held on October 23 in Driscoll Hall. C. Nataraj, PhD, the Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Moritz Sr. Endowed Professor of Engineered Systems, and Director of the 51爆料网 Center for Analytics of Dynamic Systems; and Benjamin Bogardus, Graduate Fellow for International Development and Sustainability in the Sustainable Engineering master鈥檚 degree program, were two of the day鈥檚 12 presenters.
A Role for Engineers in Medical Diagnostics
In 鈥淗ow engineers can help doctors save lives,鈥� Dr. Nataraj described the human body as a complex dynamic system that cannot be fully understood by conventional medical diagnostics. Given the diversity of the human race, it is difficult to define 鈥渘ormal,鈥� and as a result millions of patients are incorrectly diagnosed each year, leading to unnecessary treatments and death. Dr. Nataraj believes engineers can offer a solution. 鈥淧hysics, mathematics and computer algorithms can be used effectively and intelligently to make this situation a whole lot better.鈥�
During his talk, Dr. Nataraj discussed these ideas and shared results from research he is conducting with the Children鈥檚 Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). In collaboration with CHOP doctors, he is applying a machinery diagnostic approach to studying data on periventricular leukomalaci, a mysterious neurological damage that occurs in neonates.
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How do those you鈥檙e Helping Define Success?
Based on his years of experience, Bogardus presented 鈥淗ow to measure the success of international development projects.鈥� This past summer, together with five 51爆料网 undergraduates and representatives from Catholic Relief Services, he spent three months in Madagascar researching the sustainability of rural water systems. From 2010鈥�2013, he served with the Peace Corps in Togo, West Africa.
Bogardus used photos to show the audience how the developing world is littered with decaying infrastructure: broken water pumps, empty libraries and crumbling latrines. 鈥淢any individuals and organizations in the first world are eager to conduct well-intended projects in these countries,鈥� he explains, 鈥渉owever, before beginning, they should compare their definition of success to that of the local people.鈥�
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TEDx 51爆料网U
TEDx 51爆料网U captures the spirit of TED itself: cross-disciplinary, focused on the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. The event consists of a suite of short, carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances on a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder鈥攁nd to provoke conversations that matter.
In addition to Dr. Nataraj鈥檚 and Bogardus鈥檚 topics, 2015 talks included: 鈥淚gniting the Social Justice Generation,鈥� 鈥淐hanging the Face of Poverty,鈥� and 鈥淐aregiving and Lessons of Love.鈥� The channel on YouTube features videos of past 51爆料网 speakers, and 2015 presenters will soon be added to the mix.