Charles Darwin University hosting ‘Building Community Resilience’ TEDx talk in August 2025
Prisons, croc management and fear of missing out are just some of the topics academics will discuss at Charles Darwin University’s inaugural international TEDx talk.
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Prisons, croc management and fear of missing out (FOMO) are just some of the topics that academics will discuss early next month when Charles Darwin University hosts its first international TEDx talk.
The theme of the inaugural TEDx Charles Darwin University event on August 9 is ‘Building Community Resilience’.
A TEDx event is a local gathering where live TED-like talks and performances are co-ordinated and shared with the community.
Seats to the event are limited, with only 70 tickets available to the public at $30 per person.
Some presentations will explore how people engage or coexist with wildlife — such as professor Alan Andersen’s presentation, which will explore how the legacy of savanna ants can shape the future.
Others will explore the benefits of technology in the community, with professor Hamish Campbell set to explain why drone-based land management is taking off.
Meanwhile, Dr Kim Caudwell will address how FOMO is driving problematic social media use, while associate professor Adelle Sefton-Rowston will discuss the benefits of kindness in prisons.
CDU research fellow and event speaker Sharna Motlop said the event was an “incredible privilege” for Northern Territory academics to showcase their research in association with the TED brand.
Ms Motlop’s presentation will explore the use of three-dimensional motion capture technology to preserve Indigenous dance.
“I hope the audience will gain an appreciation for Indigenous dance as a living cultural lineage spanning tens of thousands of years,” she said.
“Today, we can preserve these traditions with accurate precision, so that they remain truly alive for future generations.
“I believe this event will inspire ideas and discussions about the all the possible ways culture can transmitted and preserved in the era of technological innovation.”
CDU PhD candidate Brandon Sideleau, another speaker at the event, said the research conducted at CDU often had international applications and was excited to join his peers to elevate some of that insight on the global stage.
Mr Sideleau’s presentation will explore the increase of saltwater crocodile attacks in developing countries, and examine the potential solutions to this complex problem.
“I hope the audience can gain a greater appreciation of just how rare saltwater crocodile attacks are in Australia and a better understanding of why it is such a bigger problem elsewhere and how this can be minimised, without sacrificing crocodile population recovery,” he said.
“Community resilience is imperative, particularly given the ecological and sustainability crises we are likely to face within our lifetime.
Tickets can be purchased at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tedxcharles-darwin-university-tickets-1432411644789?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=1
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Originally published as Charles Darwin University hosting ‘Building Community Resilience’ TEDx talk in August 2025