Alumna Nelly Mueller presents her talk "Careening Out of Complacency" at TEDxDePaulUniversity in April 2017. TEDx will return to DePaul on May 1, 2018. Faculty, staff, students and alumni are invited to submit their applications to become a speaker by Dec. 11. (DePaul University/Jeff Carrion)
TEDxDePaulUniversity is
now accepting speaker applications from all vision vanguards and idea-generators for the annual event returning May 1, 2018. Now in its third year, the event aims to unite the DePaul community for a half-day of idea-driven programming and promote faculty, staff, student and alumni thought leaders through the world-famous TEDx platform.
This year's theme is "Reimagine" - a single word inviting speakers to develop talks or performances that challenge the status quos, systems and standards of today. All talks should introduce novel understandings or unconventional approaches that frame the theories, technologies and truths of tomorrow.
Applications to speak at the event are being accepted from DePaul faculty, staff, students and alumni until Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. (CT) here. Following committee review, selected speakers will be notified on or before Feb. 1.
Like other popular TEDx talks, speakers and performers interested in applying for TEDxDePaulUniversity should be devoted to creating "ideas worth spreading." TEDx talks and performances incorporate concepts that change perceptions, connect with emotions, are widely relatable and can be conveyed in 18 minutes or less.
As "Reimagine" suggests, creative interpretations of the theme are encouraged. For the TEDxDePaulUniversity 2017 theme, "Courage to Connect," speakers offered fresh perspectives on a variety of topics including poverty, game design, whistle-blowers and war. They shared their expertise and experiences, telling powerful stories of perseverance, difficult conversations, scholarship and defying expectations.
Each of DePaul's TEDx events has been met with overwhelming enthusiasm and support by those both within and beyond the DePaul community. More than 80 faculty, staff, students and alumni submitted speaker applications in 2016 and more than 130 people attended the event in 2017. Attendees of past TEDxDePaulUniversity events describe the talks as "powerful," "eye-opening," "timely," "empowering," "diverse," and "thought-provoking." TEDxDePaulUniversity's over 91,000 YouTube views are proof DePaul's TEDx speakers sparked meaningful conversations that continue to engage others today.
Want to be a speaker, but need inspiration? Explore TED's video library at
TED.com or view TEDxDePaulUniversity talks from
previous years here.
TEDxDePaulUniversity 2018 will be held May 1 from 1-5 p.m. at the Lincoln Park Student Center, 2250 N. Sheffield Ave., room 120 A & B. For more information about the event, visit the
TEDxDePaulUniversity website.
About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to "ideas worth spreading." Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.