Why You Should Care How I Learn: Eric Smalls at TEDxStanford

Eric Smalls is a sophomore at Stanford studying computer science. In 2012, President Barack Obama featured Smalls in a campaign video about the importance of STEM education. Prior to studying at Stanford, Smalls participated in the Minority Introduction to Engineering and Science, a six-week residential program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was a contributor to Carnegie Mellon University's Multi-Robot Research Project. He also interned at the University of Pennsylvania's General Robotics, Automation, Sensing and Perception Laboratory, a robotics lab where he developed computer vision software for autonomous drones. In his first year at Stanford, Smalls founded the Stanford Robotics Club, which has over 100 active members. His current projects include creating a robotics major at Stanford and building Compass, a web application to help students navigate their time at Stanford. He enjoys hanging out with friends, making memes, watching a good movie, or playing chess, soccer and Ultimate Frisbee.

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)