Five Minutes With A Fellow: Faith Osier
When TED Fellows aren’t discovering new galaxies or conserving endangered species, how do these innovators and culture-shakers spend their free time? We find out.
TED Fellows are doing some of the most remarkable and groundbreaking work in the world. But when they’re not discovering new galaxies or conserving endangered species, how do these innovators and culture-shakers spend their free time?
Welcome to Five Minutes With A Fellow, a series where we ask Fellows a round of rapid fire questions about what they’re watching, what they’re listening to, who their dream dinner guest is and more. Check out their answers and recommendations, below.
Fellow: Faith Osier, infectious disease doctor
What she does: Osier works to understand how humans acquire immunity to malaria and intends to use this knowledge to design highly effective vaccines. Her studies focus on infections with the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which leads to nearly half a million deaths in Africa each year.
Osier, the first African and second woman to be elected president of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), will oversee an effort to train 1,000 African PhD students in immunology over the next 10 years. The goal of this training is to increase representation of African scientists in immunology.
What’s something that’s surprised you about being a Fellow?
I became a STAR overnight :).
Who’s one Fellow that everyone should know and why?
Without a doubt, Senior TED Fellow David Sengeh. He is now working closely with the government of Sierra Leone, where he’s using information technology and big data to solve problems, modernize and shake things up. I LOVE IT!
What’s the one TED talk you could re-watch over and over again?
Sir Ken Robinson: “Do schools kill creativity?” Such an easy style. So thought-provoking.
What’s the one travel destination you’re dying to go to?
Havana, Cuba.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Long Island iced tea.
What’s a current challenge that you’re facing?
Raising funding for a fantastic training program for African scientists.
Who’s your dream dinner guest and why?
P. Roy and Diana Vagelos. I would like to invite them to share my dream of transforming Africa’s high burden of disease into health and wealth through capacity building initiatives.
What’s one thing that’s on your summer bucket list?
Watching live Rugby Union Internationals at the World Cup in Japan this year.
Thanks so much, Faith!
Where to find Faith: @FaithOsier
Learn more about the TED Fellows program here. Apply to be a Fellow today.
