2026
Aastha Patel
To Learn a Language is to Live It
Watch the talkStudent Speaker Competition
One slot on the Unseen stage goes to a student. You don't need a title, a lab, or a startup — you need one idea you can defend in six minutes.
Applications open soon
How it works
Step 01
Apply
Submit your application.
Step 02
The competition
Selected students give a shortened version of their talk.
Step 03
Coaching
Winner gets mentored and coached by our team.
Step 04
The stage
The winner speaks at the conference, filmed for the TEDx channel.
Past winners
2025
Giselle Ferrao
Rising Beyond Limits: The Power of Perspective
Watch the talk
2025
Jyotisman Rath
What You Don't See is Definitely True!
Watch the talkWho can enter
- Any currently enrolled Purdue undergraduate or graduate student
- Any discipline