A spirit of curiosity coupled with a sense of urgency framed the theme at TEDxPanaji 2025, where voices from Goa and beyond converged to remind the audience that ‘It’s About Time!’, spotlighting voices that urge us to act before it is too late.
With 10 pathbreaking speakers from diverse fields such as music, climate change, diabetes, art, solar power and Antarctica, TEDxPanaji 2025 stood out on account of the range of voices it brought to the fore. Dr Ravidas Naik, a marine biologist speaking of survival in Antarctica; Samaira Pansare, a 12-year-old calling out the daily battles of living with diabetes; Dr Parul Saoji, a gynaecologist questioning social pressures around women’s bodies and Sonia Sirsat, Goa’s celebrated fado singer, were some of the speakers at the event who underlined the idea that change often begins with individual voices breaking through silence.
Supported by the Government of Goa, TEDxPanaji has grown into one of the state’s most anticipated annual gatherings. It remains a platform where scientists, artists, educators, entrepreneurs and everyday citizens converge in a common search for “ideas worth spreading”.
The 2025 edition featured 10 speakers who delivered talks on their domain expertise, such as Sonia Shirsat (With Love, from Goa), Dr Vijay Borges (Igniting Minds), Wenceslaus Mendes (Traditional Knowledge and Climate Resilience), Samaira Pansare (Speaking My Diabetic Truth), Alvinia DeSouza (It’s Time to Look Beneath!), Anish Sousa (From Rooftops to Resilience), Dr Ravidas Krishna Naik (A Hundred Days in Antarctica), Summaiya Afreen (Breaking the Good Girl Script), Orijit Sen (Mapusa Mogi: A Public Art Project) and Dr Parul Saoji (The Quest for Perfect Vagina).
“Every edition of TEDxPanaji has its own identity, but this year’s theme ‘It’s About Time’ turned the event into more than just a series of talks it became a shared experience that kept people immersed till the very end,” reflected Ravi Kambhoj, Curator and Organiser, TEDxPanaji 2025.
The day-long event also witnessed the unveiling of the Innovation Hub, a new platform celebrating Goa’s spirit of entrepreneurship. Twenty innovations drawn from across India, from rapid diagnostic kits and integrated dust-capture systems to AI-driven drones for infrastructure inspection, were showcased after a rigorous selection process.
The event was inaugurated by Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications and Printing and Stationery, Government of Goa, at the Kala Academy in Panaji. Supported by the Government of Goa and the Start-up IT Promotion Cell, the Hub highlighted how local talent and bold ideas can find a stage for national and global impact.
