TEDxLeidenUniversity 2019: Through a New Lens

Sophie Mayanne

Twenty-five year old fashion and portrait photographer, Sophie Mayanne, has been recognized by both the fashion and music industry for her honesty and genuineness of her images. In her talk, Sophie shares striking imagery from her 2017 “Behind The Scars” initiative– a celebratory project featuring scars of all shapes and sizes, and the stories behind them. Sophie Mayanne is a 25 year old fashion and portrait photographer, splitting her time between London and Cotswolds, UK. Her style is unmistakable, favouring raw, striking imagery that is hers and hers alone.

Alexander Kohnstamm

An expert in fair fashion and holding businesses ethically accountable, Alexander aims at ‘business for good’—using market forces and economic resources for improving the quality of life in developing countries. But things must change for this to happen. In his talk, Alexander shares what can be done to promote a more socially and economically sustainable business in the garment industry…what he calls, Fair Wear fashion! Alexander has extensive experience both working at NGOs and in international businesses.

Frederike Geerdink

After having been kicked out of Kurdistan because of her journalism, Fréderike Geerdink returned to immerse herself in the armed movement PKK for a full year. While there, she learned about how the Kurds’ view on suppressive patriarchal structures can be used to break down racism– the power structure that is keeping our western societies away from radical equality. Fréderike Geerdink is a journalist and writer. Between 2006 and 2015, she was a freelance Turkey correspondent, and for some years the only foreign journalist based in Diyarbakir in the Kurdish southeast of the country.

Henk Blanken

Author and journalist, Henk Blanken was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and is now faced with the dilemma of euthanasia. His piece “My death is not my own: the legal limits of euthanasia” appeared as a long read in The Guardian and his book, “It Won’t Kill You”, was met with critical acclaim in both the Netherlands and Germany. His most recent essay is in fact the most personal piece he could write: his own ‘advance directive’– a last will disguised as an argument. Dutch author and journalist. He has worked for various newspapers and magazines, written books on the journalistic trade and won several prizes for his work. Henk Blanken was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. His piece “My death is not my own: the legal limits of euthanasia” appeared as a long read in The Guardian.

Henk van der Klok

From a very young age Henk dreamt of discovering the world, but despite his hunger for travel, his ambitions were stifled by fear. But in 2011 he decided to just do it. In the years that followed, he hitchhiked across two continents, walked from England to Rome, and cycled from the Netherlands to Istanbul. He also slept in caves, was chased by feral dogs, and stood face to face with a grizzly bear. His fears turned out to be completely unjustified, and Henk decided to embark on even greater adventures.

Stefan Buijsman

At just 18 years old, Stefan Buijsman already obtained a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Leiden and went on to complete a four-year doctorate degree within a year and a half, making him one of the youngest Ph.D.’s ever. Through his talk and books, “Het Rekenrij” and “Plussen en Minnen”, Stefan shares the impactful role of mathematics in our everyday lives. Stefan Buijsman graduated with a master’s degree in philosophy from the University of Leiden at 18 years of age, after which he left for Sweden to pursue a Ph.D. He completed the four-year doctorate program within a year and a half, making him one of the youngest Ph.D.s ever.

Olivier van Beemen

Olivier van Beemen is an investigative journalist from Amsterdam and the author of “Heineken in Africa: A Multinational Unleashed”. The book is the result of six years of thorough journalistic research, more than 400 interviews, and visits to thirteen African countries. In his talk, Olivier shares his findings on the unethical operations of the Dutch multinational in Africa. Olivier van Beemen is an investigative journalist from Amsterdam and the author of the book Heineken in Africa: A Multinational Unleashed (February 2019).