Kinga Panasiewicz is a young neuroscientist who conducts research on how the cognitive and behavioral functions depend on neural impulses in the brain. Her research project represented Poland during the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona in 2013, where it won the second prize in Medicine and Health Sciences. In recognition of her work, MIT Lincoln Laboratory named a recently discovered planetoid (29762) ‘Panasiewicz’. She successfully represented Poland at the World Neuroscience Competition in Washington and was awarded a scholarship by the Minister of Education. Kinga actively popularizes knowledge about the brain and supports foundations which improve the quality of life for people with brain diseases. In 2014 she appeared on New Europe 100, the list of Central and Eastern Europe's top 100 innovators, co-created by Google, Financial Times, Visegrad Fund, Res Publica Nowa magazine and many other European institutions. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

On our stage Kinga gave a very personal talk about mental illnesses and what they mean for all those affected - patients, families, friends.