U of G Holds Inaugural TEDxGuelphU Talk
April 06, 2010 - News Release
University of Guelph faculty and students will reveal what they are passionate about at the inaugural TEDxGuelphU talks April 9.
The event is modelled after the annual TED conference held in Long Beach, Calif., which has featured guest speakers such as Bill Gates, Jane Goodall and Al Gore and is aimed at spreading ideas globally. Each talk from the conference is posted online for the world to watch.
The same scenario will happen here at Guelph. Organized by a group of students, the event will feature 12 speakers who will share their stories with a limited audience. These talks will then be posted online.
“We have an eclectic lineup of academic speakers giving short talks on a variety of topics with the intent of revealing to the audience the little-known fascinations present in the many interactions and activities we experience throughout the course of our lives,” said Yuriy Vernikovskyy, one of the student organizers.
The event is limited to an audience of 100 people to keep it small and intimate, added Vernikovskyy.
“The purpose is to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group.”
Organizers are also hoping to provide a streaming webcast of the talks so people who are unable to be part of the audience can still watch it happening live, he said.
The TED organization has given approval for groups to use it names under the “TEDx” moniker. Similar TEDx events are happening worldwide.
Scheduled to speak at the U of G event are environmental sciences professor Madhur Anand, mathematics professor Chris Bauch, neuroscience professor Pat Barclay, jazz musician Daniella Villa, the University’s chief information officer Michael Ridley, environmental activist David Lawless, student leader Marina Ran, economics professor Francis Tapon, psychology professor Hank Davis, musician Steve Sladkowski, Bob’s Dogs owner Bob Izdebskiego and Tom Klein Beernink of the Guelph Campus Co-op.
For more information on this event, including speaker profiles and how to register visit the website.
