At Brown, ideas don’t stay contained — they find each other, collide, and grow.
At Brown, ideas don’t stay contained — they find each other, collide, and grow.
Over time, we've had:
10,000+
10,000+
Attendees
1,500,000+
1,500,000+
Views on Youtube
100+
100+
Talks
Annual Theme ||
Annual Theme ||
Annual Theme ||
Don't Blink
Alumnae Auditorium MAY 5TH 2025
March 1st, 2026 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
2026 Speakers ||
2026 Speakers ||
2026 Speakers ||
Cayden Brown
Cayden Brown is an 18-year-old American juvenile rights defender and activist. He is the youngest of five United Nations youth peace panelists and the founder of The Trespass Project, a global nonprofit that works to help underprivileged youth access their nations’ legal systems. He earned his first formal legal credential from Harvard Law School, studying the interplay of race and constitutional law through America’s Reconstruction era, and has addressed several world leaders including the president of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and has been featured in Forbes and TIME. ABC has called him “one of the world’s most influential juvenile justice advocates.”
Cayden Brown
Cayden Brown is an 18-year-old American juvenile rights defender and activist. He is the youngest of five United Nations youth peace panelists and the founder of The Trespass Project, a global nonprofit that works to help underprivileged youth access their nations’ legal systems. He earned his first formal legal credential from Harvard Law School, studying the interplay of race and constitutional law through America’s Reconstruction era, and has addressed several world leaders including the president of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and has been featured in Forbes and TIME. ABC has called him “one of the world’s most influential juvenile justice advocates.”
Cayden Brown
Cayden Brown is an 18-year-old American juvenile rights defender and activist. He is the youngest of five United Nations youth peace panelists and the founder of The Trespass Project, a global nonprofit that works to help underprivileged youth access their nations’ legal systems. He earned his first formal legal credential from Harvard Law School, studying the interplay of race and constitutional law through America’s Reconstruction era, and has addressed several world leaders including the president of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and has been featured in Forbes and TIME. ABC has called him “one of the world’s most influential juvenile justice advocates.”
Ismar Volić
Ismar Volić is a Professor of Mathematics and the Director of the Institute for Mathematics and Democracy at Wellesley College. He is the author of many articles and books and has delivered more than three hundred lectures in over twenty countries. His writing has appeared in publications such as The Hill, TIME, and LitHub. His latest book, Making Democracy Count: How Mathematics Improves Voting, Electoral Maps, and Representation, is based on The Mathematics of Democracy, a popular course he created and has taught for several years at Wellesley. A native of Bosnia, he moved to the U.S. because of the war in his country and became a mathematician who advocates for quantitative political literacy and mathematics as a common foundation from which we can reimagine and redesign our democracy.
Ismar Volić
Ismar Volić is a Professor of Mathematics and the Director of the Institute for Mathematics and Democracy at Wellesley College. He is the author of many articles and books and has delivered more than three hundred lectures in over twenty countries. His writing has appeared in publications such as The Hill, TIME, and LitHub. His latest book, Making Democracy Count: How Mathematics Improves Voting, Electoral Maps, and Representation, is based on The Mathematics of Democracy, a popular course he created and has taught for several years at Wellesley. A native of Bosnia, he moved to the U.S. because of the war in his country and became a mathematician who advocates for quantitative political literacy and mathematics as a common foundation from which we can reimagine and redesign our democracy.
Ismar Volić
Ismar Volić is a Professor of Mathematics and the Director of the Institute for Mathematics and Democracy at Wellesley College. He is the author of many articles and books and has delivered more than three hundred lectures in over twenty countries. His writing has appeared in publications such as The Hill, TIME, and LitHub. His latest book, Making Democracy Count: How Mathematics Improves Voting, Electoral Maps, and Representation, is based on The Mathematics of Democracy, a popular course he created and has taught for several years at Wellesley. A native of Bosnia, he moved to the U.S. because of the war in his country and became a mathematician who advocates for quantitative political literacy and mathematics as a common foundation from which we can reimagine and redesign our democracy.
Rani Elwy
Rani Elwy is the Warren Alpert Foundation Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University, a VA Research Career Scientist, and the Founding and Executive Director of the Brown Research on Implementation and Dissemination to Guide Evidence Use (BRIDGE) program. She is also a Presidential Leadership Scholar, and an alumna of the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program, where she served in the U.S. Senate on the health team of Senator Patty Murray (WA), Vice Chair, Senate Committee on Appropriations and President Pro Tempore Emerita. Rani is passionate about spreading and scaling evidence-based practices into routine clinical and community-based settings. She does this through implementation science, policy research, psychological, and communication science methods and strategies. Rani prioritizes mentorship and training, to help others build the skills they need to have a successful implementation science career.
Rani Elwy
Rani Elwy is the Warren Alpert Foundation Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University, a VA Research Career Scientist, and the Founding and Executive Director of the Brown Research on Implementation and Dissemination to Guide Evidence Use (BRIDGE) program. She is also a Presidential Leadership Scholar, and an alumna of the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program, where she served in the U.S. Senate on the health team of Senator Patty Murray (WA), Vice Chair, Senate Committee on Appropriations and President Pro Tempore Emerita. Rani is passionate about spreading and scaling evidence-based practices into routine clinical and community-based settings. She does this through implementation science, policy research, psychological, and communication science methods and strategies. Rani prioritizes mentorship and training, to help others build the skills they need to have a successful implementation science career.
Rani Elwy
Rani Elwy is the Warren Alpert Foundation Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at Brown University, a VA Research Career Scientist, and the Founding and Executive Director of the Brown Research on Implementation and Dissemination to Guide Evidence Use (BRIDGE) program. She is also a Presidential Leadership Scholar, and an alumna of the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program, where she served in the U.S. Senate on the health team of Senator Patty Murray (WA), Vice Chair, Senate Committee on Appropriations and President Pro Tempore Emerita. Rani is passionate about spreading and scaling evidence-based practices into routine clinical and community-based settings. She does this through implementation science, policy research, psychological, and communication science methods and strategies. Rani prioritizes mentorship and training, to help others build the skills they need to have a successful implementation science career.
Alex Greven
From professional basketball to venture-backed startups to the neurosurgical suites of the Barrow Neurological Institute, Alex Greven’s diverse path has shaped his belief that the passionate pursuit of excellence in any field cultivates skills that transcend disciplines. In his talk, Alex explores how passion, commitment, embracing the journey, and staying in the moment can be transformative, both personally and professionally, in ways that may surprise you.
Alex Greven
From professional basketball to venture-backed startups to the neurosurgical suites of the Barrow Neurological Institute, Alex Greven’s diverse path has shaped his belief that the passionate pursuit of excellence in any field cultivates skills that transcend disciplines. In his talk, Alex explores how passion, commitment, embracing the journey, and staying in the moment can be transformative, both personally and professionally, in ways that may surprise you.
Alex Greven
From professional basketball to venture-backed startups to the neurosurgical suites of the Barrow Neurological Institute, Alex Greven’s diverse path has shaped his belief that the passionate pursuit of excellence in any field cultivates skills that transcend disciplines. In his talk, Alex explores how passion, commitment, embracing the journey, and staying in the moment can be transformative, both personally and professionally, in ways that may surprise you.
Joyce Ng
Joyce Ng—9/11 survivor, author, and tech innovator—is driven by a mission to build things that matter. She currently leads the development of AI features at Google and champions women in technology while pursuing a Master’s in Technology Leadership at Brown University. Yet, her most profound impact lies in her advocacy. As the founder of a nonprofit and author of the bestselling history book Hotel 9/11, she has transformed her experience of escaping the September 11 attacks into a legacy of support and historical preservation. Her talk explores how we can transform personal survival into a life of purpose.
Joyce Ng
Joyce Ng—9/11 survivor, author, and tech innovator—is driven by a mission to build things that matter. She currently leads the development of AI features at Google and champions women in technology while pursuing a Master’s in Technology Leadership at Brown University. Yet, her most profound impact lies in her advocacy. As the founder of a nonprofit and author of the bestselling history book Hotel 9/11, she has transformed her experience of escaping the September 11 attacks into a legacy of support and historical preservation. Her talk explores how we can transform personal survival into a life of purpose.
Joyce Ng
Joyce Ng—9/11 survivor, author, and tech innovator—is driven by a mission to build things that matter. She currently leads the development of AI features at Google and champions women in technology while pursuing a Master’s in Technology Leadership at Brown University. Yet, her most profound impact lies in her advocacy. As the founder of a nonprofit and author of the bestselling history book Hotel 9/11, she has transformed her experience of escaping the September 11 attacks into a legacy of support and historical preservation. Her talk explores how we can transform personal survival into a life of purpose.
Malia Chavinson
Malia Chavinson brings us a fresh perspective on how self-preservation blinds us to growth and how embracing painful emotions can be our most profound asset. A student at Brown University concentrating in Environmental Science with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Malia is compelled to dissect and reframe hard truths—from confronting sobering climate realities to acknowledging repressed emotions. Having recharacterized her own experience of assault into a mission of empowerment, she works to normalize conversations around trauma, consent, and emotional literacy. After graduation, Malia strives to merge her passion for tackling pressing problems with her commitment to creating hope on the other side of hardship by advancing sustainability and community justice within institutions.
Malia Chavinson
Malia Chavinson brings us a fresh perspective on how self-preservation blinds us to growth and how embracing painful emotions can be our most profound asset. A student at Brown University concentrating in Environmental Science with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Malia is compelled to dissect and reframe hard truths—from confronting sobering climate realities to acknowledging repressed emotions. Having recharacterized her own experience of assault into a mission of empowerment, she works to normalize conversations around trauma, consent, and emotional literacy. After graduation, Malia strives to merge her passion for tackling pressing problems with her commitment to creating hope on the other side of hardship by advancing sustainability and community justice within institutions.
Malia Chavinson
Malia Chavinson brings us a fresh perspective on how self-preservation blinds us to growth and how embracing painful emotions can be our most profound asset. A student at Brown University concentrating in Environmental Science with a Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Malia is compelled to dissect and reframe hard truths—from confronting sobering climate realities to acknowledging repressed emotions. Having recharacterized her own experience of assault into a mission of empowerment, she works to normalize conversations around trauma, consent, and emotional literacy. After graduation, Malia strives to merge her passion for tackling pressing problems with her commitment to creating hope on the other side of hardship by advancing sustainability and community justice within institutions.
Hongyu Jasmine Zhu
Hongyu Jasmine Zhu, from Chengdu, translates between Chinese and English, words and worlds, grief and joy. A third-year undergraduate student at Brown, she studies Comparative Literature, celebrates international students as an IMP mentor, and serves as Editor-at-Large for China at Asymptote Journal. In her essay “Leaping Seasons 妈妈眨眨眼” (PEN Transmissions), Hongyu reflects on grief work, mother-daughter body language, and moving between winter and spring. Jasmine’s translation of Taiwanese author Zhou Jian-Xin’s picture book Little Squirrel and Old Banyan (Balestier Press), passing memories from branch to branch, invites readers to see death as part of—not after—life. As a Community Storytelling Fellow at Swearer Center for Public Service, Hongyu Jasmine will co-create with grieving children in Providence to explore loss anew.
Hongyu Jasmine Zhu
Hongyu Jasmine Zhu, from Chengdu, translates between Chinese and English, words and worlds, grief and joy. A third-year undergraduate student at Brown, she studies Comparative Literature, celebrates international students as an IMP mentor, and serves as Editor-at-Large for China at Asymptote Journal. In her essay “Leaping Seasons 妈妈眨眨眼” (PEN Transmissions), Hongyu reflects on grief work, mother-daughter body language, and moving between winter and spring. Jasmine’s translation of Taiwanese author Zhou Jian-Xin’s picture book Little Squirrel and Old Banyan (Balestier Press), passing memories from branch to branch, invites readers to see death as part of—not after—life. As a Community Storytelling Fellow at Swearer Center for Public Service, Hongyu Jasmine will co-create with grieving children in Providence to explore loss anew.
Hongyu Jasmine Zhu
Hongyu Jasmine Zhu, from Chengdu, translates between Chinese and English, words and worlds, grief and joy. A third-year undergraduate student at Brown, she studies Comparative Literature, celebrates international students as an IMP mentor, and serves as Editor-at-Large for China at Asymptote Journal. In her essay “Leaping Seasons 妈妈眨眨眼” (PEN Transmissions), Hongyu reflects on grief work, mother-daughter body language, and moving between winter and spring. Jasmine’s translation of Taiwanese author Zhou Jian-Xin’s picture book Little Squirrel and Old Banyan (Balestier Press), passing memories from branch to branch, invites readers to see death as part of—not after—life. As a Community Storytelling Fellow at Swearer Center for Public Service, Hongyu Jasmine will co-create with grieving children in Providence to explore loss anew.
Daiela Simon-Seay
Daiela is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer completing her senior year in Contemplative Studies at Brown University. Her work merges R&B, jazz, and experimental sound with research on vibration, frequency, women’s health, and mindfulness to explore how our inner and outer worlds connect. Through performance, film, and contemplative practice, Daiela’s mission is to create spaces where people can honor the full spectrum of their emotions, recognizing that feeling deeply is not a flaw, but a form of wisdom and a reminder that we’re alive and interconnected.
Daiela Simon-Seay
Daiela is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer completing her senior year in Contemplative Studies at Brown University. Her work merges R&B, jazz, and experimental sound with research on vibration, frequency, women’s health, and mindfulness to explore how our inner and outer worlds connect. Through performance, film, and contemplative practice, Daiela’s mission is to create spaces where people can honor the full spectrum of their emotions, recognizing that feeling deeply is not a flaw, but a form of wisdom and a reminder that we’re alive and interconnected.
Daiela Simon-Seay
Daiela is a singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer completing her senior year in Contemplative Studies at Brown University. Her work merges R&B, jazz, and experimental sound with research on vibration, frequency, women’s health, and mindfulness to explore how our inner and outer worlds connect. Through performance, film, and contemplative practice, Daiela’s mission is to create spaces where people can honor the full spectrum of their emotions, recognizing that feeling deeply is not a flaw, but a form of wisdom and a reminder that we’re alive and interconnected.