Thrival Innovation+ Music Festival: Keynote Series: Straight Outta My Parent’s Basement

Most 18-year-old college sophomores are thinking about final exams, summer vacation, and dorm room shenanigans. But before 18-year-old Ann (Andini) Makosinski ever stepped into a college classroom, she had won the Google Science Fair, garnered awards at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, was featured in TIME, and appeared on the The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon — twice. Instead of couching herself in the typical definitions of “entrepreneur” or “inventor,” Ann has coined a term for herself: “differentist.”But sometimes, world-changing ideas come out of a suburban home basement turned invention lab. Join Ann as she explains what it’s like to be a differentist in a world that’s constantly redesigning and reimagining itself, and charting new courses.THE SPEAKER:

While still in high school, Ann created the “Hollow Flashlight,” which was recognized with several award at the 2013 Canade-Wide Science Fair, won the 2013 Google Science Fair, and won several awards at the 2014 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

Makosinki appeared on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon twice on the GE “Fallonventions” segment to demonstrate her inventions. In 2014, she was named one of TIME Magazine’s “30 Under 30.” As of October 2015, Makosinski has been featured as the global ambassador for the Uniqlo Fleece produce line that highlights the similar harvesting of thermal energy in the Uniqlo produce and the “Hollow Flashlight.” She is currently a second year student at the University of British Columbia.