In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

William Doo Auditorium
45 Willcocks Street
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2H3
Canada

Diana Virgovicova

Diana Virgovicova was born and raised by a single mother in a small village in Slovakia, Eastern Europe. Very early on, water became a significant part of her life. At 14, during a backpacking trip in India with her mom, she witnessed the devastating impact of water pollution firsthand. Black rivers, people suffering from waterborne diseases, and girls her age using contaminated water during their periods—these scenes were pivotal in her decision to dedicate her life to purifying polluted water. Upon returning to Slovakia, Diana began researching at a local university. By 17, she had utilized quantum chemistry software to discover a novel photocatalyst molecule capable of purifying polluted water when exposed to sunlight. Her work earned her the Diploma of Excellence from Princess Victoria of Sweden at the World Water Week as part of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. This achievement led to the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, a fully funded scholarship enabling her to study computer engineering at the University of Toronto. Diana founded Xatoms in Canada. This startup combines AI and quantum chemistry to develop materials that eliminate viruses, bacteria, and pesticides from water. But Xatoms is more than just a quantum tech company; it is on a mission to improve global gender equality by providing clean water, reducing the reliance on unsafe water, and freeing women and girls from the burden of water collection, allowing them to pursue education instead. Xatoms has garnered significant support, including funding through the 776 Climate Fellowship, $100k USD from Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, and backing from UNESCO, AWS, and the International Research Center on AI. Their R&D is fully funded by the Compute for Climate Fellowship. They have received the first prize in Toronto's biggest research-based Desjardins startup competition and have been featured by Forbes and Betakit. Xatoms is currently running pilot projects in Kenya and South Africa, as well as working with Indigenous communities in Canada to ensure that everyone in Canada has access to clean and safe drinking water. Just recently, Xatoms received $500k, won the Women in Tech Award, Best of the Fest, and Front Row Ventures. These awards were matched with a $250k investment from BDC. Diana's journey in water technology led to being named Canada's Youth Entrepreneur of the Year 2023. She has also shared her insights in a TEDx talk, "Quantum Computing and AI: A Solution to Water Pollution and Equity."; Xatoms is collaborating with water organizations across Canada, the US, and Africa and is committed to delivering clean water worldwide through efficient, affordable technology. Diana has presented Xatoms technology at the UN, World Water Week in Stockholm, and World Water Forum in Bali. She was also named the youngest speaker at the G20 YEA (Young Entrepreneurs Alliance) in Brazil, where she represented Canada as a delegate.

Sahir Dhalla

Sahir Dhalla is a student, researcher, and magician exploring neuroscience and philosophy in his studies, focusing on the basis of perception as a predictive framework.