Theme: Frameworks for Social Sovereignty

In a world shaped by systemic inequalities and centralized control, the call for social sovereignty—the right of communities to define their own futures—has never been more urgent. Join us for TEDxCOA where five visionary speakers will explore different ideas, frameworks and strategies to reclaim autonomy, amplify marginalized voices, and reimagine justice, identity, and governance.

Thomas S. Gates Jr. Community Center, College of the Atlantic
College of the Atlantic
Bar Harbor, Maine, 04698
United States

Eliezer Zimring

Re-learning Love: Constructing Change from the Inside Out

In a world where people are complex and interpersonal dynamics are even more complex, creating collective change can feel daunting and impossible. Knowing and accepting ourselves is a fundamental step to creating collecting grace, acceptance, and co-existence. Elie will describe theories for collective change related to changing only one person––ourselves.

Frances LeDuke

Science Needs Humanity

What do we believe our purpose is as scientists? What gives our work meaning? What level of detriment begins to occur when science, engineering, math, and physics are pursued at the expense of humanity, rather than for its benefit? When we lose the very thing that gives our work meaning - science becomes a weapon, a means to income, control, or personal success. Without humanity; science is incomplete. For it is humanity (the human condition, emotions, rights, artistry, philosophy, music, life) that contributes to the existence and purpose of science.

Karma Tshering

The Framework of Gross National Happiness and Human Ecology

Karma talks about his journey from a remote village in Bhutan, where he studied by the light of kerosene lamps until his community gained electricity in 2013, to his experiences as a Human Ecology student at the College of the Atlantic in Maine. Growing up in Bhutan, he was introduced early on to the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH), a visionary development framework that measures progress not by GDP but by the holistic well-being of people and the environment. With its four pillars—sustainable and equitable socio-economic development, preservation and promotion of culture, conservation of the environment, and good governance— Karma will speak not only of how GNH has shaped Bhutan’s identity but also how it has inspired him deeply.

Rūdolfs 'Rūdy' Lukaševičs

Microgrids: A Solution for Energy Resilience

More and more people have been feeling the impact of electricity disruptions in the United States of America and around the globe. There is no one solution for energy resilience, but I believe that microgrids will play a vital role in it. Microgrids have massive potential in securing electricity availability even during devastating natural disasters.

Ryn Snyder

Embracing desire - the biological basis of female sexuality

How does gender affect sexual desire and pleasure? Ryn Snyder, a student at College of the Atlantic, explains that biological men and women have the same capacity for pleasure, they simply take different paths to get there. Ryn utilizes biological truths to destigmatize female sexuality - after all, sexual desire is valid, natural, and deserves to be embraced as such by all genders.