Sunday 29 January 2012

TEDx (or the power of ideas)

Yesterday Salford became part of the worldwide TED community thanks to its first TEDx event (TedxSalford), which took place in the shiny, brand-new MediaCity UK.

There is no doubt that the TEDx programme has spread all over the world since its creation back in 1984. It first started out in the spirit of "ideas worth spreading", following the guidelines of the big TED Conferences. Its name stands for “Technology, Entertainment and Design”, which, according to its creators, are the three subject areas that are shaping our future. Nevertheless, with the passing of the years, the scope of the TEDx programme has become broader, covering a wider variety of fields, such as philosophy, engineering, music, life sciences, and so on.

The TEDx events (where x = independently organized TED local event) are local events that hold talks, demonstrations and performances by international leading thinkers and doers, speakers and entertainers who have one thing in common – “they have something remarkable to share and are able to share it in a remarkable way."

If you think I am exaggerating, check out the speakers at TEDxSalford! Irene Khan – former Secretary General of Amnesty International –, Stephen Venables – a renowned British mountaineer –, Dr Umut Kose – leading researcher at CERN – and a NASA astronaut to name only a few!

TEDx events are organised in hundreds of cities all over the world, so if you believe in the power of ideas and want to find out about any upcoming TEDx events near you, just click here. For the information of my fellow Mancunians, the second TEDxManchester will be held next 13th February!

And for those of you who cannot attend any of the TEDx events, you may want to know that many of them make it possible to watch the stream live on their respective website. Is it not great?!

What is most special about the TEDx programme is that its creators, organisers and participants “believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world”, which means that us, the audience, play a key role in putting those ideas in practice.

So what are you waiting for? Go spread the ideas!

No comments:

Post a Comment