Alex Mutter

What motivated you to do a Ted Talk?

As I am about to graduate high school, I am thinking about my future career and aspirations. I noticed that one of my biggest weaknesses is my public speaking ability, so I decided to do this TED Talk in hopes that the process would improve that area and give me more experience.

Why did you choose your specific topic?

I chose this topic because it is something I am very passionate about; next year I’m going to be studying Biomedical Sciences and Tissue Engineering at University. Over the summer, I did a research project on lab-cultured meats and found the topic to be truly fascinating. I am convinced that lab-cultured meat will be the next big thing in the near future, but I am also surprised at how few people really know about it. I really want to spread awareness of the subject and I think it is really cool to give people an insight into the future.

What’s one thing you want people to know/appreciate about your subject?

I want people to know that the future of lab-cultured meat is inevitable and that it will end up replacing most meat in our shops. Most of all, I want people to know that this process isn’t only better for the environment, but also benefits us as an entire population.

What makes a strong TED Talk?

I think a strong TED Talk needs to have a “make the audience feel good” section that the audience can really connect with. If a speaker is going to really dig at the problems in our society and make humans look bad, the audience will become very defensive. That is why it is important to then build up their esteem and make them feel better about themselves by the end.

When did you first realize you were into your subject?

My dad would bring it up a lot because he knew I was interested in medicine. I was always so fascinated by the pseudo-science behind Jurassic Park and soon realized that this technology was very similar. Since then, I’ve been absolutely obsessed with it and it has fueled my love for science.

Who are some of the people who inspire you in your field?

One of my inspirations is a Youtuber named Tom Scott who creates short videos called “Things You Might Not Know”. I think it is truly incredible to be able to share insight on topics and present fascinating ideas that most people don’t know. Of course, Elon Musk has always been a huge inspiration. It is truly remarkable how dedicated he is to his work and how successful he has been at leading the new generation of innovation.

How did you prepare for your talk?

I watched hours of TED Talks, took notes, looked for recurring themes, brainstormed for my topic, created pages of mind maps about what I wanted to talk about, brainstormed some more, created an outline, and then built on top of that outline with some research. Since then, I have powered through multiple drafts and memorization techniques.

How nervous are you to speak in front of so many people?

Incredibly.