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).

Forum Groningen
FORUm
Groningen, Groningen, 9712JG
Netherlands

John Furey

Founder of MindTime and the MindTime Foundation

John Furey, founder of the MindTime Foundation, brings 20+ years of experience and insight to address what he believes is the central issue we deal with everyday of our lives. How we think and how our thinking creates our differences. His examples, engagement style and anecdotes bring to life how we all navigate the world every day. With simple steps and a great deal of clarity he opens up the world of thinking to audience members revealing their own thinking at work as they listen.

Lars Gierveld

Co-Founder Kumasi Drinks

In 2019 and 2020 journalist Lars Gierveld made a documentary about the cocoa industry in Western Africa for RTL Netherlands, where a lot farmers live below the poverty line. While making this documentary he discovered the tasteful white juicy pulp around cocoa beans that normally slips into the soil during the production on the farm. With a small group of cocoa farmers he started to collect the cocoa fruit juice and turned it into a soft drink in order to generate an extra income stream for the farmers. He founded Kumasi Drinks in 2021 and nowadays hundreds of farmers earn extra money.

Loes Damhof

UNESCO Chair Futures Literacy, Pioneer

In 2016 Loes Damhof was elected Teacher of the Year of all higher education in the Netherlands. She currently holds a UNESCO Chair in Futures Literacy at the Hanze University of Applied Sciences.

Mihai Frăcea

Young researcher

Mihai Frăcea is an 18-year-old future scientist who has been participating in small research projects in biomedical sciences since the age of 16. He has won prizes at international competitions in the fields of technology and biomedical science both in Europe and US, at NASA and MIT. Mihai works on educational and research projects at Oncogen research institute in Timisoara, Romania. Preferred areas of focus are CRISPR genetic editing, immunology and oncology.

Niels Den Daas

Neuropsychologist

Niels is a surfing neuropsychologist with a mission to add more compassion to the world. Having dealt with his own debilitating inner waves of fear for years, he now helps his clients befriend theirs. In his spare time, Niels likes chasing waves around the world, climbing the Himalayas or participating in rallies or surviving in the Scandinavian wilderness. He is always in for an adrenaline-infused adventure for a good cause. Niels is trained as both a neuroscientist & neuropsychologist, is a certified Breathwork coach, has over 5 years of experience with meditation and yoga, and has participated in silent Vipassana and tantra retreats.

Sarah Khalil

Psychology student

Sarah Khalil is now studying psychology at university but has come a long way to get here. Partly due to her late diagnosis of ADHD and a foreign background, this path has been made more difficult. But she persevered.