Oscar Acosta

Engineer, Life mentor, Parent, Technologist

I am driven by curiosity and a desire to understand how things work. My interests span engineering, technology, environmental sustainability, education, and leadership, but they are all connected by a common theme: solving problems and creating meaningful impact. I enjoy exploring complex challenges, whether they involve environmental systems, human behavior, technology, or community development. Throughout my experiences, I have worked on projects related to environmental monitoring, accessibility, education, and public engagement, while also leading teams, organizing events, and creating initiatives that bring people together. I believe that some of the most valuable ideas emerge at the intersection of different disciplines. For that reason, I am constantly seeking opportunities to learn from people with different backgrounds, perspectives, and expertise. My goal is not simply to gain knowledge, but to apply it in ways that create positive change.

I am passionate about understanding complex problems and designing solutions that create real impact. What excites me most about engineering is not the technology itself, but the opportunity to use knowledge, creativity, and collaboration to improve the way people interact with the world around them. I am particularly interested in environmental sustainability, accessibility, and the ways technology can help communities make better decisions. Whether developing monitoring systems, designing digital tools, or exploring new ideas, I enjoy the process of turning curiosity into practical solutions. I am also fascinated by the intersection of science, technology, human behavior, and public policy. Many of the challenges facing society today cannot be solved by a single discipline, which is why I value multidisciplinary thinking and diverse perspectives.

The most powerful innovations do not come from having better answers, but from asking better questions. Throughout history, many of the greatest advances in science, engineering, and society began when someone challenged an assumption that everyone else accepted. Progress is often driven by curiosity—the willingness to question how things work, why problems exist, and whether a better solution is possible. In a world with unprecedented access to information, the ability to think critically, explore ideas, and ask meaningful questions may be more valuable than ever. I believe that cultivating curiosity is one of the most effective ways to drive innovation and create positive change.

and interdisciplinary problem-solving., community engagement, development, engineering, entrepreneurship, environmental sustainability, innovation, Leadership, project management, public speaking, technology

What first attracted me to TED was its ability to bring together ideas from completely different disciplines and reveal unexpected connections between them. As someone interested in engineering and innovation, I quickly realized that many breakthroughs occur when knowledge from one field is applied to another. TED showed me that meaningful ideas can come from scientists, entrepreneurs, artists, educators, and community leaders alike. More importantly, it demonstrated that solving complex problems often requires collaboration across disciplines rather than expertise in only one area. That perspective has influenced the way I approach projects, leadership, and learning. I see TEDx as an opportunity to create a space where people can encounter new ideas, challenge assumptions, and discover connections they may not have considered before.

People are often surprised to learn that one of my favorite things is connecting ideas from completely different fields. I enjoy identifying patterns between subjects that may seem unrelated at first, whether it is technology and environmental science, engineering and public policy, or education and human behavior. I also enjoy taking complex problems and breaking them down into smaller, more manageable pieces. Many of my projects have started not with expertise, but with curiosity and a willingness to learn. I find the process of exploring a problem, asking questions, and gradually building a solution just as rewarding as the final result itself. More than anything, I enjoy turning ideas into reality. Whether through a project, an event, a team, or a new initiative, I like creating things that did not exist before.