Theme: Connecting The Dots

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, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. 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 (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Domplein 29
Utrecht, Utrecht, 3512 JE Utrecht
Netherlands

Gine Zwart

Gine is a graduate from the Wageningen Agricultural University in the Netherlands, and has since then worked her whole life in agriculture and rural development with a special focus on food security for people living in poverty. The food system, from the seed to the fork (and back) is what fascinates her and where she tries to make a change.

Joram van Rheede

Joram has always been fascinated by the brain – how it gives rise to our perceptions, thoughts, emotions and behaviour. With this background, he joined the Oxford Smart Specs research group. There, Joram works on the development and testing of a set of electronic glasses designed to help visually impaired people see better. By using principles from visual neuroscience, recent technological developments and creative image processing techniques, they have been able to put together a device that seems to be able to make a real impact on the independence of their visually impaired volunteers.

Mart de Kruif

Lieutenant General Mart de Kruif has held many positions within the Royal Dutch Army, including positions within the Army Staff and Defence Staff. The Lieutenant General currently serves as the executive commander of the Royal Netherlands Army.

Paul Piebinga

Paul is a travel photographer. His belief is that every human wants to be seen. During his travels he creates photography and social contacts in a daisy chain of small intimate moments. You may have seen some of his pictures already. Of his many activities, just one of them is a blog about Utrecht, a wonderful iconic dutch town.

Spencer Heijnen

‘Helping people, organizations and societies flourish’ is what gets Spencer out of bed in the morning. His playground is the place where idealism and reality meet. Leveraging the latest scientific insights and inspired by ancient traditions of wisdom and compassion he tries to help others build happier more meaningful lives. He does so professionally as a consultant alongside his colleagues at Purpose+, embedding the science of happiness in companies like Google and McKinsey, as a member of the Dutch National Think Tank and as a senior fellow of Humanity in Action.