Engaging with the public is a critical component of the University of Minnesota’s mission as a land-grant institution and two Twin Cities faculty are taking outreach to the big stage.

Marc Hillmyer, a professor in the College of Science and Engineering, and Tseganesh Selameab, an assistant professor in the Medical School, will speak at the TEDxMinneapolis on August 4, 2026.

The event, titled “Climate of Change: Shifting Conditions Spark New Ideas,” will feature speakers sharing how they navigate different climates — whether emotional, social, professional or cultural — through adaptation, growth and innovation.

Below, learn more about their talks and why speaking at an event like this is valuable for the University community.

Marc Hillmyer

Marc Hillmyer, who has been a part of the Department of Chemistry since 1997 and is director of the Center for Sustainable Polymers, researches the intersection of sustainability and plastics. His talk will cover his work aimed at tackling the world’s plastic waste problem.

He points out that research universities are under greater scrutiny today, so it is important for faculty to communicate to the public how they’re solving society’s challenges.

“In the Department of Chemistry, we’re working on lifesaving medicines, sustainable materials and renewable energy initiatives,” he says. “As a public institution, faculty members have a responsibility to make their case for why their work benefits society.”

He also notes that faculty are driven to be helpful, which requires doing community outreach — including providing general science education in an era of fast-moving misinformation — so the public can influence policy for issues important to them.

As a big fan of TED Talks, Hillmyer is honored to be selected as a speaker.

“I’m looking forward to learning from others, but also the thrill of delivering a message I’m passionate about in such a short period of time.”

Tseganesh Selameab

Fueled by her extensive experience treating refugee and immigrant patients, Tseganesh Selameab teaches in the Medical School about social determinants of health and qualities doctors need outside of physiology and anatomy knowledge. Her talk will focus on the importance of creating spaces of belonging in medicine.

“Inclusive spaces help us live better and longer lives,” Selameab says. “The U.S. Surgeon General’s Health and Human Services 2023 report stressed that loneliness increases the risk of premature death at a rate that’s comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.”

To help create these spaces, she works with the Medical School’s Center for the Art of Medicine to create a community-facing program where people like nurses, doctors and translators — both in and outside of the University — share their perspectives and stories.

“The hope is that this community outreach will create a more connected, empathetic and kind medical community,” says Selameab. “Kindness is a learnable skill and when medical professionals show that, they can treat people better and people will trust them, which ultimately makes their jobs easier.”

Ultimately, engaging with the public in this way fosters a culture of curiosity and inclusivity that benefits the public good.

She hopes that people from the University either come to the event or watch the videos when they’re posted.

“TED Talks are an incredible platform to reach a huge number of people I wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to connect with. It’s really great that out of the six speakers, two of us are at the University.”

Learn more about TEDxMinneapolis.