The event will showcase the 2016 WIRED Innovation Fellows – people working in fields covered by WIRED who, in our opinion, have the potential to make a huge impact on the world. The Fellows, who will speak on the Main Stage, include two India INK Fellows and one La Ciudad de las Ideas Fellow.
In 2016, the WIRED Innovation Fellows will benefit from the support of The Rumi Foundation. Chaired by Lord Rumi Verjee, its support will help provide the fellows with coaching, personal development, and networking opportunities.
Singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, India
Singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, India Five-octave vocalist Gingger Shankar is the only female musician to play the ten-string double violin. She has performed with Katy Perry and The Smashing Pumpkins. In partnership with the INK Conference, India.
World’s youngest headmaster, India
Ali started a school in his backyard at the age of nine. He’s now 23, and his organisation in Murshidabad, West Bengal, has around 300 students and ten teachers. In partnership with the INK Conference, India.
Afghan educator and entrepreneur, Afghanistan
As one of Afghanistan’s few female entrepreneurs, Mahboob has faced multiple threats in her homeland. She has created nine IT centres for girls and plans to expand the project throughout the continent.
Program director, WITNESS, USA
WITNESS uses video to highlight human-rights abuses and give a voice to the oppressed. Sam Gregory launched a Webby-nominated human-rights YouTube channel and talks on the subject.
Irrationality analyst, USA
Leslie John, a Harvard Business School assistant professor, researches the seemingly paradoxical and self-destructive decisions that people make – with a focus on online privacy.
Robot builder, USA
Alexander Reben is fascinated by AI. He builds robots – such as The First Law, that can choose to hurt its operator – to explore their relationships with humans.
Artist and film-maker, UK
Di Mainstone is an audio artist whose projects include The Human Harp – a kit that turns suspension bridges, including Brooklyn Bridge, into giant harp pianos
Sun storm scientist, France
Miho Janvier is an astrophysicist studying the Sun’s atmosphere, in particular solar flares and how they impact Earth’s weather patterns. She works at France's Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale.
Pashmina goat farmer, India
Former McKinsey analyst Afzal quit his lucrative career to become a Pashmina goatherd. He will share his journey from India’s tech scene to its Kashmir valley.
Off-grid energy engineer, UK
With BuffaloGrid, Daniel Becerra is using solar energy to provide power and internet connectivity to millions of people who have a mobile phone but limited access to electricity. In partnership with the Gifted Citizen programme, Mexico.
AR and VR pioneer, UK
Ed Barton's company Curiscope is democratising augmented- and virtual-reality experiences, and making education more interactive with its Virtuali-Tee biology app.
Fighting cancer with genomics, USA
At Californian biotech firm Natera, chief scientific officer for oncology Cheng-Ho Jimmy Lin is using genomics to create personalised treatment in the fight against cancer and other rare diseases.
Bionic arm builder, UK
Samantha Payne’s Open Bionics turns amputee children into superheroes with its robotic hands, inspired by the worlds of Frozen, Star Wars and Iron Man.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
