Ethan Ferguson, a first-year student at Rhodes and founder of tech marketing and education startup Augseption, is one of the speakers for the 2019 TEDxMemphis to be held Feb. 2 at the Crosstown Concourse Theatre.
Established in 1984, TED began as a conference for technology, entertainment, and design. Today it covers various topics with the goal of making great ideas accessible. Independently run TEDx events such as the one in Memphis help to spark meaningful conversations and community connections. This year’s Memphis theme is “Ideas for the Next Century.”
As a presenter, Ferguson will talk about how he has been working with schools in Shelby County to promote the adoption of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) in classroom curriculums. He founded Augseption while a student at Lausanne Collegiate School and has been helping students at Crosstown High School with their project-based tech curriculum. Augseption also produces 360 videos and VR/AR for musicians, schools, and charities.
“From quantum computing to photogrammetry, Augseption makes the seemingly impossible a reality for both large organizations and young students alike,” says Ferguson. “We focus on skills that are cutting edge.”
At Rhodes, Ferguson is a computer science major and a Clarence Day Scholar dedicated to making a positive impact on Memphis through community service. In the community, he also participates in Facing History and Ourselves, an organization which empowers teachers and students to think critically about history and to understand the impact of their choices.
“I hope my TEDx talk gives a new perspective not only about the world we will soon be living in, but also about the Memphians who are making it all possible.”
To learn more about TEDxMemphis, visit here.