Brilliance on Display at TEDxMarlborough

If you walked into the Shari and Edward Glazer Center for Entrepreneurship at lunchtime this past month, you would have found yourself transported to cutting-edge labs, research centers, and small businesses. TEDxMarlborough transformed the space into a stage for bold ideas, where students from Capstone in Entrepreneurship, Honors Research in Humanities and Social Science, and Honors Research in Science took the mic to share their year-long research projects. Over the course of the month, 80 student presenters delivered TED-style talks that captivated audiences with insights spanning science, social issues, technology, and the arts. 

The breadth and diversity of topics showcased the extraordinary range of Marlborough students’ intellectual curiosity. Some explored groundbreaking scientific advancements, such as Sarah S. ’26’, whose talk, “How to Build Your Own Lung: An Introduction to Tissue Engineering & Lung Organoids,” introduced audiences to a fascinating exploration of tissue engineering. Isabelle F. ’25 gave a timely analysis of “The Science and Applications of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Other GLP-1 Receptor Agonists.” Students engaged in Honors Research in Science seamlessly bridged scientific innovation with real-world applications, offering a glimpse into the future of medicine and technology.

Others tackled pressing social issues. Jade C. ’25’s project in Honors Research in Humanities and Social Science addressed the changing landscape of literary education in California’s public schools called “California’s Literary Crisis.” Stella S. ’25 examined the intersection of social media and literature in “‘Book Tok’ and the Marketing of Books to Young People in the U.S.” Presentations like these demonstrated our students’ engagement with contemporary challenges and their commitment to understanding and solving complex societal problems.

The series also featured innovative research in a variety of fields, including Victoria P. ’25’s exploration of “From Movies to Muscles: The Future of Motion Capture in Orthopedic Rehabilitation” and Aoife O. ’25’s environmental study on “Fight and Flight: the Impacts of Anthropogenic LAX Noise on the Pacific Pocket Mouse.” Anya M. ’25, who is enrolled in the Capstone in Entrepreneurship, presented a look at modern fashion practices in “How Dyeing is Killing Us.” 

Yet, beyond the impressive research, what truly distinguished TEDxMarlborough was not just the range of knowledge on display, but the poise and professionalism with which our students presented their findings. Each speaker commanded the stage with remarkable public speaking skills, engaging their audience while clearly communicating complex concepts to be understood by everyone. 

TEDxMarlborough has once again proven to be a powerful platform for our students to showcase their academic achievements and share their intellectual passions with the broader school community. These presentations not only highlight the exceptional work being done within Capstone Projects and the Leonetti/O’Connell Honors Research Programs, but also inspire younger students to see what is possible as they pursue their own academic interests. The resounding success of this year’s TEDxMarlborough serves as a testament to the depth of our students’ intellectual curiosity and passionate dedication to contributing meaningfully to their chosen field of study.