SVSU student Shahamatul Alam, of Bangladesh, helps organize TEDx event

2016 Oct 4

Saginaw Valley State University student Shahamatul Alam, of Bangladesh, helped organize a multifaceted event featuring a diverse group of engaging speakers for the second annual TEDxSVSU Friday, Sept. 30 in SVSU's Curtiss Hall.

Alam is studying Computer Science at SVSU.

Based on the format of the popular TED talks, TEDx events are intended to be "a suite of short, carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances that are idea-focused, and cover a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder - and provoke conversations that matter."

SVSU students such as Alam take an active role in planning the event, selecting speakers and preparing them.

Featured speakers included Ben Champagne, who presented on memes, and SVSU alumnus Marlin Jenkins, who addressed the issue of how flippantly people discuss mental health. Brian Thomas, SVSU associate professor of sociology, who runs ultra-marathons, discussed how that helped him persevere following the loss of his late wife.

One of the most popular speakers from last year's TEDxSVSU, Darnell Jackson, a Saginaw County Circuit Court judge, returned to speak on the topic of the legacies people leave and how their activities have an impact upon others who come in contact with them.

The event was sponsored by Covenant HealthCare.