By Brendalis Puig
Save the date! Barry University’s fourth TEDx event is coming up on Thursday, April 3, at 7 p.m. at the David Brinkley Studio. The theme is “Digital Humanity: Retaining Our Humanity in a Tech-Dependent World.”
The TEDx project at Barry University began in 2020 when a student proposed the idea. Even though the event was impacted by COVID-19, missing 2021 and 2023, it made a triumphant comeback in 2022 and 2024, and it is now planned to become an annual event.
The student-run event gives students, faculty, and the community a chance to discuss this year’s theme, which explores how to preserve core human values in an era driven by technological advancements. As these advancements reshape life, work, and communication, it is important to examine technology as a powerful tool while also balancing innovation and authenticity, convenience and ethics, connection and isolation.
One of the student leaders, Daria Didenko, a senior majoring in international business, said, “This theme encourages dialogue on how we can integrate technology into our lives without losing what makes us uniquely human—our empathy, creativity, and social connections.”
This year’s TEDxBarryU will feature returning alumni Dr. Nadia Afkhami and Mark Kilpatrick, current Barry students D’Asia Hargrove and Victor Santos Frizzera, industry experts, and thought leaders. They will explore the impact of technology on personal, social, and professional life while covering topics including artificial intelligence, mental health, digital ethics, storytelling, and the future of work. Their insights will pro- vide a meaningful and engaging experience of how students and graduates navigate a tech-driven world while staying true to their values and aspirations.
Here are some of the key topics:
• The ethical implications of artificial intelligence and automation.
• The role of social media in shaping identity and human connection.
• How technology is trans- forming education, health- care, and business.
• Digital well-being and strategies to maintain a healthy relationship with technology
• The intersection of storytelling and digital platforms.
• How we can leverage technology to create positive social change.
Tickets for the event will be available at the price of $20 for students and $40 for non-students.
For those unable to attend in person, the event will be a simulcast live streamed on Barry’s Campus Cable Channel and through YouTube on BTV Channel 14.
Students interested in TEDxBarryU can get involved as they look for volunteers for event logistics, promotion, and speaker support. It will be an excellent opportunity to gain experience, network, and contribute to a global plat- form.
Contact the TEDxBarryU team or stay updated through their official Instagram account, tedxbarryu, for more information on how to sign up. Students can attend, join the discussions, and share their insights online.
As Barry University aims to make the TEDx event an annual event, organizers hope it will continue to inspire meaningful conversations relevant to today’s society.
“This TEDx project is a great example of what makes Barry University exceptional because it provides a space for exploring important critical discussion in modern society,” said Executive Producer John Musulin.
For more ticket details and ways to watch the event, check the back page of The Buccaneer for a QR code.
Join the insightful conversation on April 3 at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., for a thought-provoking evening on technology and humanity’s evolving relationship.
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