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).
Speakers
Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.
Alex McLean
Alex has been active across the digital arts since the year 2000, developing a creative approach to computer programming, including live coding music. Alex co-founded the TOPLAP and Algorave movements, and has collaborated widely, as part of Slub, Canute, Aalleexx and xynaaxmue. He completed his PhD thesis on Programming Languages for the Arts at Goldsmiths, during which time he initiated the popular and free/open-source live-coding language TidalCycles (http://tidalcycles.org), connecting code and music to create a rich approach to pattern making. Alex is based in Sheffield UK, and works as part of the research institute in the Deutsches Museum in Munich, using live-coding techniques to explore the ancient thought processes of textile weavers, for the European project PENELOPE. He releases his solo music as Yaxu on the Computer Club label, including the EP Peak Cut and the album Spicule. He curates the annual Festival of Algorithmic and Mechanical Movement (www.algomech.com), bringing together code and machines in the performing arts.Babak Sayar
Babak is a war survivor and the father of an autistic son who coaches others to stand out and achieve great results. He also works in partnership with Dr. John C. Maxwell, the leadership and management expert. Together they help leaders and business owners who want to make it to the next level.Brad Gibson
Brad Gibson is a Professor of Astrophysics. He completed his MSc and PhD at the University of British Columbia, building the world’s first Liquid Mirror Telescope Observatory. He was responsible for using exploding stars to determine the expansion rate of the Universe (as part of the Hubble Space Telescope Key Project), for which his team was awarded the Gruber Prize in Cosmology. Clearly a busy guy, he also discovered the first evidence that our own Milky Way’s nearest neighbours were being cannibalised by our Galaxy. Who better to answer the question: alien worlds and extraterrestrial life – where are they?!Emma Gannon
Emma is a blogger, author and social media consultant. She has written for the likes of Stylist, Grazia, The Guardian, The Sunday Times and more, and is the former social media editor at British GLAMOUR. Her debut book CTRL ALT DELETE: How I Grew Up Online was published in July by Penguin Random House. Her podcast interviewing digital creatives hit number 16 in the iTunes charts on its first week of release. It features guests such as Elizabeth Gilbert and Zoella. It has been recommended by The Times, ELLE UK and Marie Claire.Isabel Pires
Dr. Isabel Pires is a cancer research scientist and lecturer in biomedical science at the University of Hull. Isabel is particularly interested in the biology of low oxygen in tumours (tumour hypoxia). Low oxygen in tumours drives them to become more aggressive and spread to other parts of the body. Isabel’s research aims to understand these changes to spot aggressive cancers early on, and better treat them. Isabel is an avid science communicator, who can be found at events such as festivals and science cafes geeking out about cancer biology. She is also a keen advocate for improving the visibility of women in science, and is the main organiser of Soapbox Science Hull, which is back again in Hull for 2017.Jody Day
Jody Day is a British author, trainee integrative psychotherapist and the founder of Gateway Women, the global friendship and support network for childless women which has a reach of two million women. She’s a founding and board member at AWOC.org (Ageing Without Children) and a former Fellow in Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School. She is the author of 2016’s Living the Life Unexpected: 12 Weeks to Your Plan B for a Meaningful and Fulfilling Future Without Children (Bluebird/PanMac), which the British Medical Journal has recommended as “the book to recommend to… patients when they face coming to terms with unavoidable childlessness.” She lives in London with her cat, a stereotype that she warmly and humorously subverts.John Curran
Dr. John Curran is a leading global business anthropologist and executive trainer and facilitator. His expertise lies in building strategies by understanding how everyday culture shapes the way consumers think and act, how brands resonate with the world they exist in, and how organisations build internal cultures that allow for innovation, creativity and high performance. He consults for some of the world’s most famous brands and conducts anthropological research projects, C-School training programmes and innovation workshops across the globe.Ness Knight
Ness is a record-breaking explorer and endurance adventurer who has stand up paddleboarded 1000 miles, cycled across the USA solo, become the first female in history to swim the Thames River, run 15 marathons in 15 days, cycled across Bolivia with no money, and traversed one of the most desolate, hot and inhospitable environments in the world solo: the Namib Desert. Next, she will be attempting to become the first female in history to row across the Pacific Ocean solo and non-stop. Ness’ greatest passion lies in exploring her mental and physical limits in some of the world’s most unique and remote locations, learning about survival from people and tribes around the globe. Ness’ great love is for storytelling, and creating documentaries that discover the wonders of wildlife, unusual locations, and unique cultures, taking people with her on a journey to explore the far reaches of our Planet Earth.Phil Bell-Young
Phil is an experienced Science Communicator and Science Outreach Officer based at the University of Hull who has made a career out of talking nerdy to people. It all started for him in 2014 after taking part in the UK finals of the internationally acclaimed FameLab competition. It was during this competition that he discovered a new and alternative approach to engaging with the public. He has since continued to experiment with this concept of engagement and as a result has helped to set up a science-busking and street performance group known as the Hull Street Scientists. Through this role he has been involved in the organisation and delivery of school and public events within Hull and the East Riding. He also writes and produces science stage shows which he performs around the country, mostly at Science Festivals.Sarah Louise Davies
Sarah is an actor and performer, award-winning artistic director, writer and theatre maker, facilitator and creative practitioner. She’s a pioneer in interactive and cross-disciplinary performance and play. Specialising in participatory engagement and culture, with roots in theatre and music, she designs and hosts powerful live, creative and collaborative new experiences. Sarah has performed all over the world from Canary Wharf to the Sydney Opera House and a host of European festivals. Her core interests lie in exploring and unlocking identity, cultivating community and transformation through live play. She’s fascinated with how we best thrive and connect in places where we work and live. She was described recently by a regional arts organisation as an “artistic force – ground-breaking, exceptional, innovative, challenging and very effective.”.Organizing team
