Comfort zones are where we feel at ease as individuals, organizations, or as a society at large. They are familiar places, however, nothing ever grows there. Those who are most successful constantly challenge these comfort zones rather than letting their familiarity define them.
In this intriguing performance, Robert Hale, a professor at the Neag School of Education at UConn and award-winning musician and magician, challenges us to consider how we define our comfort zones through our logic and reasoning, and how magic serves as an example of how we can find beauty in challenging our comfort zones and embracing the unknown.
As a second grade teacher and head of Slate School in North Haven, CT, Julie Mountcastle has seen first-hand how a curiosity-driven curriculum that is both developmentally-appropriate and academically rigorous can benefit students and prepare them for a successful learning path through life.
Fumiko Hoeft is an accomplished Neuroscientist at UConn and, along with 30% of all Americans, experiences a fear of public speaking. In her inspiring talk, Fumiko discusses how her research and her own personal experience are testaments to the value of challenging personal comfort zones and the resilience people can build by doing so.
Harvard Professor, Aysha Upchurch (The Dancing Diplomat), explains why more dance and movement should be encouraged and supported in classrooms everywhere. She breaks down how old restrictive and marginalizing narratives around bodies and dance can and need to be reclaimed and rewritten, unlocking opportunities for deeper learning and engagement in schools for ALL students -- inclusive of race, ethnicity, gender, class, and body types.
For former actress April Hernandez, motherhood was a difficult and isolating experience. In her talk, April describes how her mental health experience and her drive to help other mothers facing backlash on social media over their parenthood struggles inspired her to become an advocate for transPARENTcy.
How can curiosity enhance our ability and drive to learn? In this talk, Brandon Emerick, a cognitive science student at the University of Connecticut, shares his research and personal journey into understanding the psychology behind curiosity, leaving us with ways we can all become life-long learners by improving our curiosity about the world around us.
Driven by her own experience as an artist and her background in financial services, Grace Cho founded Artreprenuer in an effort to assist independent, working artists to build their own creative empires. In her inspiring talk, Grace shares how all artists can benefit and find sustainability in their careers by taking a business approach.
Monalisa Padhee is a medical doctor who permanantly returned back to her rural community in India to provide needed health services, despite facing pushback from her family and friends. In her inspiring talk, Monalisa describes what made her stay back with these rural communities and elaborates on the work she is currently doing with Barefoot College to uplift and empower hundreds of women and girls in India today.
As a UConn medical student and former Ms. Connecticut, Bridget Oei has worked tirelessly to use her platform to inspire hundreds of others with her love of science. In this talk, Bridget shares her academic experiences and the work she has done to promote STEM education in schools across Connecticut.
In this intriguing performance, Robert Hale, a professor at the Neag School of Education at UConn and award-winning musician and magician, challenges us to consider how we define our comfort zones through our logic and reasoning, and how magic serves as an example of how we can find beauty in challenging our comfort zones and embracing the unknown.