Say What? Storytelling, Language And Culture
Friday, April 1, 2011
Session Description
Cutting-edge research at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology and anthropology make clear that language and culture shape the stories we tell and what others take from them. How to engage audiences and inspire action is the main question for this session that explores the relationship between language, stories and culture. Using the popular open-chair format, this session will blend experts, case studies and open participation to benefit from the collective wisdom of the room. Come and be a part of the story!
Time & Location
Time:
11:00 - 12:30, Friday, April 1, 2011
BST
Speakers
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Speaker
Founder and Chairman, THE 99
Naif Al-Mutawa is the creator of THE 99, the first group of comic superheroes born of an Islamic archetype. THE 99 received positive attention from the world’s media. Forbes named THE 99 as one of the top 20 trends sweeping the globe and named Naif Al-Mutawa as one of the 7 most influential designers in the world.
Al-Mutawa has a PhD and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Long Island University. He holds a Masters in Organizational Psychology from Teacher’s College, Columbia University and an MBA, also from Columbia University. He earned his undergraduate degree from Tufts University, where he triple majored in clinical psychology, English literature and history.
A social entrepreneur, Al-Mutawa was recognised by The Schwab Foundation with a Social Entrepreneurship Award at the 2009 World Economic Forum and was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2011.
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Speaker
Professor, Stanford University
Dr. Boroditsky is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and Editor-in-Chief of Frontiers in Cultural Psychology. Boroditsky’s research examines how cognition emerges out of the interactions of mind, world, language, and culture. Her laboratory has collected data around the world, from Indonesia to Chile to Aboriginal Australia. The research has been widely featured in the popular press and has been honoured by the CAREER award from the National Science Foundation, the Searle Scholars award, and the McDonnell Scholars Award.
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Speaker
Martin Von Hildebrand has spent the last five decades accompanying indigenous communities in the Colombian Amazon. During this time, he has been a fundamental actor to obtain the recognition of indigenous communities rights in the National Constitution, including the collective ownership of their land and the development of their governments. They now own 26 million hectares of continuous rainforest. Their rights have been recognized, and they have set up many governments.
Currently, Martin, along with NGOs, indigenous organizations, civil society, governments, and private enterprises, is coordinating the protection of the largest stretch of rainforests on the planet (the northern part of the Amazon between the Andes and the Atlantic, 260 million hectares).
He is an ethnologist with a doctorate from the University of Paris VII, founder and the current president of the Gaia Amazonas Foundation. He has been awarded a dozen international awards.
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Speaker
Jess is a founder of Doc Society, which has funded and championed the work of independent documentary filmmakers around the world since 2005. Writing with Fire, I Am Softie, The Edge of Democracy, CITIZENFOUR, The Territory, The Square, Virunga etc Currently obsessed with Climate and Democracy narratives and protecting the space for independent storytelling.
Jess is also a trustee of MSI Reproductive Choices, the world's most effective family planning and abortion provider in 37 countries. Jess is also chair of UK think tank IPPR and a board member of crowdfunding innovator Kickstarter.
Jess is a big fan of the Skoll World Forum.
