Theme: Perception

TEDxStOlafCollege is an event curated by undergraduate students from St. Olaf College. The event will host an audience of about 100 people at the college in Northfield, Minnesota. Our goal is to bring bright minds together, give idea-focused talks on a wide range of subjects, foster learning, inspiration, and wonder— to provoke conversations that matter. The theme this year is Perception. Perception invokes discussion about our ever-changing reality. From the reliance and dominance of the internet and social media, to the rise in non-eurocentric schools of thought and hyper-globalization, the theme, Perception, is meant to define and critique the way we view the world.

The Lion’s Pause
1500 St Olaf Ave
Northfield, Minnesota, 55057
United States

Cailin Mayotte

Environmental Studies Major at St. Olaf College

This talk centers on the rise in popularity of “Girl” language, ranging from terms like “Girl Power” to viral hashtags like #GirlDinner. Taken from her personal experience of being “Just a Girl” in the age of social media, Cailin poses the question: Are these terms truly empowering? Or are they just repackaged patriarchy disguised as relatable, modern feminism? Cailin is a current sophomore majoring in Environmental Studies. She is from Apple Valley, Minnesota.

Carson Bridigum

First-year student at St. Olaf College

Carson Bridigum's talk focuses on how people perceive those who are different from them. Born with cerebral palsy, Carson has been viewed as different throughout life, an experience that has shaped his self-perception. A first-year student at St. Olaf from Bloomington, Minnesota, Carson explores these themes through a personal lens.

Daniel Bergin

Filmmaker + Executive Producer

Stories and reflections from three decades of nonfiction media making and changing perspective by changing the narrative. Following in the path of Legendary media artist Gordon Parks and his ‘choice of weapons’ of the camera to make change, Daniel Bergin shares a reflection on struggle and progress, ethics and accountability, and the singular power of story. The Twin Cities PBS Executive Producer & WEM Endowed Director of History has won over 20 regional Emmy awards for productions ranging from 30-second PSAs to feature-length documentaries. His work has been screened in a range of film festivals, The Minneapolis native and University of Minnesota graduate has served as a director on the boards of several community media organizations. He has been recognized as a MN State Arts Board Fellow, received the UofMN Outstanding Alumni Award, the A.P. Anderson Award for significant artistic contributions, and was awarded a Bush Leadership Fellowship for his work in community media.

Julia Strand

Professor of Psychology at Carleton College

How can we explain the experience of seeing a color? Is it a property of objects, oscillations of an electric field, a feature of how the eye generates electrochemical signals to send to the brain, or a property of the experiences themselves? In this talk, Professor Strand explores the science (and wonder) of color vision. Julia Strand is a Professor of Psychology and Chair of the Psychology Department at Carleton College.

SooJin Pate

Professor of Race, Ethnic, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at St. Olaf College + Author

Dr. SooJin Pate is an educator, writer, and DEI consultant dedicated to centering the lives and experiences of historically marginalized peoples. She received her PhD in American Studies at the University of Minnesota, specializing in comparative approaches to race and ethnic studies. A proud alum of Howard University, SooJin received her MA in English, focusing on African American and Caribbean literature. She is the author of From Orphan to Adoptee: U.S. Empire and Genealogies of Korean Adoption and was named Educator of the Year and Ally of the Year by Macalester College. She’s also the co-host of the Antiracist Parenting Podcast, host of Decolonize Yourself, and a steward of Million Artist Movement.

Sophia González

Mathematics, Physics and Philosophy Major at St Olaf. College

Sophia Gonzalez is a junior from Bend, Oregon, majoring in mathematics, physics, and philosophy. She's on a quest to find the areas where physics and metaphysics converge and philosophers and scientists are peers. In her talk, Sophia explores how strategic deviations from the scientific method lead to groundbreaking scientific innovations such as the moon landing, secure internet communication, and quantum chaos modeling.