Emma Seppälä, Ph.D. is a Science Journalist & Author (http://emmaseppala.com) and the Associate Director of the Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education at Stanford University (http://ccare.stanford.edu/)

Emma Seppälä's areas of expertise are health psychology, well-being, and resilience. She conducts research, writes and speaks about the science of happiness, social connection, and compassion. Her research investigating the effects of yoga- and meditation-based interventions for combat veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with trauma was featured in the documentary Free the Mind. Emma's research has been cited in numerous television and news outlets including ABC News and The New York Times as well as books such as Congressman Tim Ryan's Mindful Nation. Emma often gives talks on the psychology of health and well-being to academic, corporate, and governmental institutions including places such as Google, the National Science Foundation, and a US Congressional Hearing.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)