TEDxSydney 2011

Overview

Sharing ideas and stories is at the bedrock of all human cultural existence. Whether it is news of distant lands, or the excitement of a recent discovery in one's bathtub, we all want to get together and listen up. Now the internet has done a fantastic job of providing a globe-spanning eavesdrop, but every once in a while, it is refreshing to get amongst the flesh of fellow humans and revel in a batch of great ideas.

TED - Technology, Entertainment, Design - has become an international sensation, summoning illustrious speakers from all fields of human achievement to each deliver 18 minutes worth of inspiration. Now in its second year, TEDxSydney (the x stands for "independently organised") brings the ideas exchange to our very own Carriageworks.

2011 promises a broad range of thought-provokers. Percussionist dynamo Ben Walsh will share a stage with geneticist Richard Cotton, who will be hi-fiving historian Grace Karskens, who will be nodding her head to FourPlay, who will all be scribbling down notes from Veena Sahajwalla's speech on the science of sustainability. And that's not even a fifth of the brains trust that'll be in attendance on the day.

Great speeches are not the only drawcard for TEDxSydney 2011. Carriageworks have arranged for the TEDx Forum, an absolutely brilliant idea for promoting the rapid spread of ideas and good cheer. Throughout the entirety of TEDxSydney, the public are welcome to come and set up camp in the foyer of Carriageworks. Here everyone will have the opportunity to watch live projections of the speakers (who will be hidden away in Bay 17) and take part in activities such as Q&As, music presentations and good old discussions about the topics raised throughout the day.

For those TED addicts out there, now's the time to get out of the closet and experience the real thing in good company. Bring a blanket and cushion to get cosy, and bliss out on shared human brilliance for the day.

Image by Daniel Boud