Killer Snails Returns to TED 2026!

Killer Snails at TED!

Killer Snails is proud to return to the TED community in 2026, continuing a long-standing relationship with one of the world’s most influential platforms for ideas worth spreading. Over the years, both cofounders Dr. Mandë Holford and Jessica Ochoa Hendrix have taken the TED stage to share how science, storytelling, and immersive technology can transform the way we learn. 

In 2019, Jessica Ochoa Hendrix participated in the TED Residency program before delivering her TED Talk on how virtual reality can turn students into scientists. Her talk highlights how immersive tools allow learners to explore ecosystems, collaborate on investigations, and experience science as active participants rather than passive observers. The message continues to shape Killer Snails’ approach to designing engaging classroom experiences.

In 2020, Dr. Mandë Holford followed with her talk on the remarkable power of venom and its potential to inspire life-saving medicines. Drawing on her work as a marine biochemist and science communicator, she revealed how venomous marine snails can help unlock treatments for major diseases- an idea that captures the curiosity and imagination at the heart of Killer Snails’ mission. 

This year at the 2026 TED Conference, Dr. Holford is leading a Discovery Room session, inviting attendees to explore science through hands-on interaction and conversation. In addition, Killer Snails’ award-winning games Assassins of the Sea and Biome Builder are available in the TED Store, giving participants a chance to take the experience home.

We’re thrilled to continue sharing playful, research-based science learning with the TED community—and we hope you’ll explore alongside us.