 |
|
|
|
|
There is no greater force for changing the world than a powerful idea.
|
 |
On March 23, 2009 the University of Southern California hosted the first-ever TEDx event, where "X" equals 'independently organized TED event' - a new program TED just launched. (Check out the TEDx blog announcement here.)
At its heart, the mutual goal of TED and USC is to foster the spread of great ideas. USC aims to provide a platform for the world's smartest thinkers, greatest visionaries, and most-fascinating teachers to inspire people to gain a better understanding of the issues faced by the world and create a better future. And thus, USC partnered with TED to host the first-ever independently organized TED event at a university. |
| And now…the TEDx USC “Ideas Empowered” Conference |
|
As the first university to pilot the TEDx program, USC found great synergy with TED and considers this event to be a grand experiment – one where new ideas, dialogue, and conversation are delivered to the USC community through a wide array of thought-provoking and innovative content.
The TEDx USC “Ideas Empowered” conference stayed true to the spirit of the TED conference – hosting some of the world's most prolific thinkers and doers, and challenged them to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or less.
|
|
TEDx USC presenters included:
|
.jpg) |
USC is home to some of the most groundbreaking research and brilliant minds. Bringing TEDx to this university provides innovators at USC and beyond an experience that challenges the mind and senses, connects people together, and inspires them to move their ideas beyond campus and out into the world.
Overall the immersive experience was a huge success for all who attended and many left feeling inspired and ready to make impact.
More information, photos and post event chatter is available for you to read on this page. |
A little history about TED…
TED began 25 years ago as a conference to bring together some of the world’s greatest thinkers and doers and share “ideas worth spreading.” Over the last decade, TED has gained new momentum at the hand of new media executive Chris Anderson, who brought new life to the conference after acquiring and making it a non-profit in 2001. |
|
|
|
|
| SUGGEST A PRESENTER |
BEST PRACTICES |
TEDxUSC 2010 will take place on Tuesday, April 13. We are looking for charismatic, dramatic and thought-provoking presenters to give the talk of their lives. Speakers should be able to tell an interesting story, revealing something surprising and cutting-edge, give a performance the audience will remember forever, or share an idea that could change the world. Please note that we receive many suggestions for potential presenters, so we may not respond to every nomination. (And yes, you can nominate yourself.)
Suggest a speaker here.
Photo: Jane Poynter discusses her two-year experience in Biosphere 2 at TEDx USC 2009.
 |
As the first university to pilot the TEDx program, USC and TED agreed that a key outcome from the first TEDx event would be a set of “best practices” that could be shared with other organizations seeking to host a TEDx event. We put this document together to share some of the challenges we faced, the decisions we made, and the outcomes that resulted.
Download a copy here.
Photo: USC professor Dave Logan speaks about Tribal Leadership at TEDxUSC 2009.
|
|
|
|
|
| RUN OF SHOW |
|
.jpg)
Session One:
Musical performance: Qi Zhang, USC
Opening remarks: Krisztina 'Z' Holly, USC
Remarks: Chris Anderson, TED Conferences
TEDxUSC Talk 1: C. L. Max Nikias, USC
2009 TED Talk 1: Juan Enriquez
TEDxUSC Talk 2: Jane Poynter, Paragon Space Development Corporation
Short Film: Breathe, USC MFA Student Film 2008, John Thompson and Sean Contay
TEDxUSC Demo 1: Donal Manahan, USC
Short Film: Summer Storm, USC MFA Student Thesis 2008, Valerie LaPointe
2009 TED Talk 2: Natasha Tsakos
TEDxUSC Demo 2: Paul Debevec, USC
Performance Introduction: Varun Soni, USC
Musical Performance: Salman Ahmad, Satnam Singh Ramgotra and Melissa Etheridge
Session running time: 2 hours and 30 minutes
|
Session Two:
2009 TED Talk 3: Renny Gleeson
TEDxUSC Talk 3: Kellee Santiago, thatgamecompany
Short Film: Abridged, USC MFA Thesis Film 2008, Arjun Rihan
Musical Performance: Qi Zhang, USC
Short Film: Look at Life, George Lucas' first student film, USC
2009 TED Talk 4: Elizabeth Gilbert
TEDxUSC Talk 4: Markus Nordberg, CERN
Short Film: Large Hadron Rap, ATLAS
TEDxUSC Talk 5: David Logan, USC
TEDxUSC Demo 3: Mark Humayun, USC
2009 TED Talk 5: Aimee Mullins
Closing Remarks: Krisztina 'Z' Holly, USC
Musical Performance: Salman Ahmad and Satnam Singh Ramgotra
Session running time: 2 hours
|
|
|
|
|
| PROGRAM |
RECAP |
| |
Click on the thumbnail to download the TEDxUSC event program.
|
|
|
|
.jpg)
Click on the thumbnail to download the event recap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| USC CHRONICLE STORY |
PHOTO ALBUM |
Click here to read the story in the USC Chronicle.
|
Click on the thumbnail to view the
TEDxUSC photo album.
|
|
|
|
1150+ registered guests
8 speakers
4 TED 2009 talks
4 musical performers, including surprise guest Melissa Etheridge
4 films from USC students, including first student film ever produced by alum George Lucas
2500 tweets, making TEDxUSC the #1 trend on Twitter during the event
7 interactive installations and demos at the reception
8 student bloggers for CNN.com |
|
TEDxUSC is an indicator of the energy of innovation at USC - which is very exciting.
I'm glad to see that USC is taking initiative to become a leader in collaboration with other projects and discussions of important issues. The TED talks represent, to me, a wonderful collaboration of intelligent, but not necessarily elite, leaders who are changing the world. I am always a little wary of USC being "elite," and hosting events which represent a more conservative, "safe" value system. This event, and the fact that all students were welcome, made me look at USC a little differently.
It was good to reinforce the idea that USC is a place of intense intellectual discovery and inspiration. TEDx provided this reinforcement.
|
|
TEDxUSC attendees were invited to blog and tweet during the TEDx experience. There were 2500 tweets , making TEDxUSC the #1 trend on Twitter during the event.
Here is some of what was said:
rafaellazarini: Stephen Hawking two weeks ago, TEDxUSC Conference yesterday, Henry Jenkins' inauguration talk today...USC is a mind blowing think tank!!!
autonomylost: My mood & general outlook on life have been overwhelmingly more positive this week & I blame #tedxusc
egradman: Recovering from #TEDxUSC. Presenting art at the reception for hundreds of engaging people was a real honor, and a bit overwhelming.
andrewmcnally: following #tedxusc on here, since i'm stuck in class all day. i think this is the kind of thing that twitter is made for.
jesseeinstein: #tedxusc I so want to see that show! I want to be a part of something like that! |
|
|
|
|
ABOUT US
