TEDx talks returning to Austin on Oct. 17
Published 11:00 am Friday, October 9, 2015
A group of volunteers is bringing another dose of “Brain Food” to Austin.
Austin’s committee for TEDxHoracePark will host its second round of talks meant to inspire ideas while sharing stories about Austin and society from 1:30 to 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at the lower level of 400 Fourth Ave. NE on Oct. 17.
“It’s pretty cool to get people together to just share ideas,” said co-organizer Kelsey Ritchie.
TEDx events were first launched in 2009 as the independently-organized offshoot of the popular TED Talks. Volunteers held Austin’s first TEDx event at The Hormel Institute in March 2014. Like last time, the subject for the talks will again be “Brain Food.”
Ritchie said the 2014 TEDx event was well received; in fact, she simply attended the event then and was inspired to get involved and help organize this round.
“I was so energized after hearing different people speak that I knew that I wanted to get more involved in the community,” she said.
All the TEDx talks are filmed. Austin attorney John Beckmann was one the speakers in 2014, and his talk was a pick of the month and was featured on the national TEDx website.
“Our first event at the Hormel Institute in 2014 was so successful that we wanted to continue,” co-organizer Ann Hokanson said in a press release. “Something special happens when you bring interested people together to share their ideas. It is a powerful experience.”
This year’s speakers are Riverland Community College President Dr. Adunuga Atewologun, KSMQ President and CEO Eric Olson, Catherine Haslag, Marc Anderson, Austin McCoy and Pete Wangen.
Longer talks will be blended with shorter ones, and Ritchie said the talks are designed to engage and connect with audience members.
TEDx speakers focus on local developments and current thinking on topics that affect people and the community.
“It’s to get ideas out there and share opinions,” Ritchie said.
Only 100 seats are available for the Oct. 17 TEDx event. Tickets are $7 and are still available at the Austin Public Library, 323 Fourth Ave. NE, or at www.austinareaarts.org/store/tedx-horace-park.
Austin’s TEDx event is sponsored by KSMQ, the Austin Area Commissioner for the Arts, the Austin chapter of the American Association for University Women, the library, and the city of Austin.
More information about TEDxHoracePark is available at www.facebook.com/TEDxHoracePark.
Schedule
TEDxHoracePark will be from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 17 in the City Council Chambers at the lower level of 400 Fourth Ave. NE.
Scheduled speakers at TEDxHoracePark 2015 include:
•Austin McCoy, a Minnesota teenager working on a low-cost detection system for Dengue fever.
•Dr. Adenuga Atewologun, president of Riverland College, speaking on leveraging our local college, business and agricultural assets into a world-class institution with global impact
•Catherine Haslag, a chemist and educator, on using community volunteers to teach the scientific method to elementary students, and using it to demonstrate results.
•Austin native Marc Anderson, a percussionist and adjunct professor in anthropology at Hamline University.
•Eric Olson, KSMQ president and CEO, on his adventures as a major-market TV reporter.
•Pete Wangen on forming the ArtWorks Jam Sessions, which aim to bring musicians together to make connections.
—Tickets are $7 and are still available at the Austin Public Library, 323 Fourth Ave. NE, or at www.austinareaarts.org/store/tedx-horace-park.Tickets are $7 and are still available at the Austin Public Library, 323 Fourth Ave. NE, or at www.austinareaarts.org/store/tedx-horace-park.