Southern Miss Professor Invited to Speak at TEDxJackson Event Nov. 12

Dr. Scott Milroy, assistant chair and associate professor in the Department of Marine Science at The University of Southern Mississippi, will be one of the featured speakers for the TEDxJackson “Ideas Worth Spreading” series set for Thursday, Nov. 12 at the Jackson (Miss.) Convention Complex.

The program, set for 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., will include inspiring speakers from Mississippi and beyond. TED is an annual event where some of the world's leading thinkers and doers are invited to share what they are most passionate about. “TED” stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design -- three broad subject areas that are, collectively, shaping the future.

Now in its second year, the independently organized event carries the theme “Liftoff” to reflect Mississippi's contributions to space exploration and the desire to help Mississippi “lift off” to improve the quality of life and opportunities available for all Mississippians.

Milroy's presentation will focus on his current research, which includes a NASA-funded project to explore the possibility of fostering life on another planet by studying whether microscopic algae that thrives in Antarctica can survive in the Martian climate. His research is being conducted with marine science majors and high school students from the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama.

“It's always an honor to be selected as an invited speaker, and the reputation surrounding ‘TED talks' only adds to that distinction,” said Milroy. “Personally, it brings me great satisfaction to be able to share the work that I am so passionate about, and to highlight the contributions that we Mississippians are making every day to the advancement of human knowledge, and to the education of our next generation of scientists and innovators.”

Milroy notes that the prestigious speaking engagement will provide an opportunity to highlight the University's mission as a leader in research.

“I am proud to serve as both a representative of, and an advocate for, the amazing research and instruction that I and my colleagues deliver to the citizens of Mississippi and to the broader global community every day,” he said.

Mississippi Public Universities are well-represented among the speakers, with Dr. Robert Blaine, Dean of Undergraduate Studies and CyberLearning at Jackson State University, and Alysia Burton Steele, a photojournalist and assistant professor at the University of Mississippi's Meek School of Journalism and New Media, joining the roster.

While the event will be held in the Jackson Convention Complex, located at 105 E. Pascagoula Street in Jackson, it will be livestreamed at https://new.livestream.com/tedx/TEDxJackson so citizens across the state can participate by viewing the event on computer, tablet or phone devices.

For tickets and more information on TEDxJackson, visit http://www.tedxjackson.com/