On Becoming Ourselves: As Individuals and a Nation TEDxBoulderSalon

Salons are a place for the community to engage in dialogue with new ideas. We provide time and prompts that allow the community to connect new ideas into their own lives. 

Michael Klymkowsky

Mike is a professor of molecular biology at CU Boulder with a long term interest in effective science education. Mike dives into the fascinating role of randomness—or "noise"—in biology. 

While this noise might seem chaotic, it actually plays a crucial role in shaping who we are. Mike explains how these unpredictable events emerge at the molecular level and influence everything from brain function to our unique behaviors. By exploring how both internal and external factors shape us, Mike reveals why we’re neither programmed robots nor entirely free spirits. Instead, we are wonderfully complex organisms responding to a blend of chance and control.

Michael Tracey

Mike is a veteran media studies professor at CU Boulder with over three decades of experience exploring the intersection of crime, media, and culture. Mike challenges us to rethink our understanding of free will and moral responsibility, especially in the context of crime and justice.

With his extensive background in media, having produced documentaries on notorious cases like JonBenet Ramsey, Mike delves into how crime is portrayed in our culture and how it shapes our beliefs about human nature. Are criminals truly free to choose their actions, or are we all products of biological processes beyond our control? Drawing on insights from neuroscience, Mike questions whether we’re the rational agents our justice system assumes or complex machines acting without true freedom. This thought-provoking talk will leave you questioning the essence of free will and what it means for justice in our society.

Ulcca Joshi Hansen

Ulcca is a visionary in human-centered design and a leading voice in educational transformation. Ulcca has dedicated her career to reimagining education for a more human-centered future. As an author and podcast host, she explores how we can reshape our systems to better serve all individuals. 

Ulcca tackles a pressing issue: America’s current identity crisis. Today’s rapidly changing world encourages people to embrace over-simplified identity narratives. She suggests that by embracing the mindsets of "Third Culture Kids" (TCKs)—those who grow up across different cultures—each of us will be better equipped to recognize and navigate the complexities of identity - our own as well as other people’s. By adopting TCK skills, Ulcca believes Americans can build stronger connections across diverse communities, and enable us to build a more inclusive story of our national identity.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Rembrandt Yard, 1301 Spruce Street, Boulder, United States