TEDx Columbus Announces Diverse Speaker Lineup

Press Release:

Earlier this year, TED.com (for Technology, Education and Design) announced a local license program for communities that wanted to embrace its style of presenting ideas worth spreading through short talks. Today, the speakers were announced for TEDx Columbus, the local affiliate for TED, which will take place on October 20th from 5:30pm to 10pm at the Wexner Center.

“We sought to recruit speakers that have or could, with their experiences, ideas, and innovations, touch the globe.” said Ruth Milligan, TEDx Columbus Curatorial Co-Chair. “These amazing speakers for the inaugural TEDx Columbus should make for a truly inspiring and memorable evening.”

The speakers and their topics include:

• Former Astronaut and Senator John Glenn will share some of his more memorable stories from America’s first orbit around the earth in a first-generation technology, along with thoughts on other passions like education.
• Advanced materials scientist Dr. Arthur Epstein will present his future projections on how plastics will impact things like pharmaceuticals and will  make you wonder what won’t be plastic in our world to come.
• Industrial designer Reade Harpham will discuss how he has been ‘protoyping change’ and will challenge you about the difference you are making in this world.
• Library expert Chrystie Hill will present her global perspective on how information sharing is shifting, and what role libraries really have in our communities today.
• International relations expert John Mueller will argue one of our most poignant technologies is grossly overstated and asks, what really is the role of atomic weapons in our world today?
• Architect Ann Pendelton-Jullian will share from her many years of teaching design that gaming may help re-wire the future instruction of architects across the world.
• Dance and technology researcher Norah Zuniga Shaw will share lessons on the complexity of contemporary life as uncovered from deep structures contained in dance.
• And offering an inspiriting opening to the evening,  theater director Matt Slaybaugh holds forth on the charms and trials of the imagination, the difficulties of creativity, and the absurdity of writing poetry.

Tickets are $50 and may be applied for through TedxColumbus.com. Due to the limited number of seats, applicants will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis.  All proceeds are applied to the expenses related to producing the event.  Questions can be sent to tedxcolumbus@gmail.com.