Glasgow University to host TEDx conference

University of Glasgow is to hold its first TEDx conference

The event, which takes place on March 15, 2014, promises to bring inspirational stories and experiences that will challenge and motivate.

The conference’s theme is connectivity and it will be explored through reference to technology, multiculturalism and inter-subjectivity.

The talks will focus on the potential that technology has in a changing the world.

The speakers will journey through different subjects such as biology and computer science, geography and entrepreneurship, religion and sociology and many others, only to show how these subjects interconnect and create something innovative.

All are prominent figures of the Scottish community and they vary from young scientists to academics, Glasgow University lecturers and world-renowned entrepreneurs.

Andreia Hozhan, project manager of TEDxUniversityofGlasgow, said: “I am proud to say that we have worked very hard together to get this far and that the project is going very well due to our amazing team spirit. We are making it happen – this is a dream turned into reality, an idea turned into a project. In the spirit of TED (ideas worth spreading), the team hopes that our initiative will serve as an example of how ideas can change things.”

Launch party

The launch event, which will have a focus on networking, will take place on February 5, 2014 at the Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor Hotel and will feature taster talks, wine and canapés with entertainment provided by Philantrobeats.

Launch party tickets can be bought from eventbrite.co.uk .

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Mel Young

President and co-Founder Homeless World Cup. Mel Young is recognised as one of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. He is a Schwab Fellow of the World Economic Forum.

Jamie Gallagher

Jamie Gallagher is an interdisciplinary scientist and communicator. Jamie was recently recognised as one of the “175 Faces of Chemistry from the past 175 years” by the Royal Society of Chemistry and was a 2012 UK finalist in Famelab the science communication competition.

Prof Alison Phipps

Alison Phipps is Professor of Languages and Intercultural Studies and co-convener of Glasgow Refugee, Asylum and Migration Network. She holds a Teaching Excellence Award from the University of Glasgow and is Principal Investigator on the Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Translating Cultures project.

Prof Linda Woodhead

Linda Woodhead MBE DD is Professor of Sociology of Religion at Lancaster University, UK. She studies religious change in modern societies, and is especially interested in how religion has changed worldwide since the late 1980s.

Dr Scott Sherwood

CEO and Co-Founder of Dynamically Loaded Ltd, Scott Sherwood has over ten years of combining, design thinking and innovative technical solutions to transform businesses across the world.

Dr Jillian Ney

Dr Jillian Ney is the first Dr of social media in the UK. She is the brain child behind and CEO of Disruptive Insight, a social intelligence consultancy who specialise in transforming digital noise into valuable insight for business.

Gerry McCusker

Gerry McCusker has been working within the digital industry for over 17 years and is the MD of Dog Digital, a creative and digital agency. He has been managing Dog as a successful agency since 2001, growing its presence internationally with offices in Glasgow, London and Singapore.

Dr Jason Gill

Dr Jason Gill is a Reader in Exercise Science in the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at the University of Glasgow. One of his major research interests is understanding why certain population groups appear to be particularly susceptible to the adverse effects on health of a ‘Westernised’ lifestyle, how lifestyle changes can modulate this excess risk, and the potential implications of this for public health policy.