TerryTalks 2008
November 22nd, 2008. Life Science Center,
Vancouver, University of British Columbia
On November 22nd, 2008, the Terry project rolled out its first “Terry Talks” conference. Under the guidance of the UBC student community and via feedback with the fine folks at TED, the aim was to present a student conference where our very own students had the platform to express their own passions – be they related to their roles as academic participants or as advocates for social change.
The day occurred in the beautiful Life Science Institute with an audience that peaked at around 300. Here, those audience members were on hand to hear out 6 undergraduate, 2 graduate, and 1 “Young Alumni” present their stories, as well as listen to three great TED videos.
Now with the TEDx program in effect, we are pleased to join the ranks of other great TEDx initiatives around the world.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is call TEDx (place), where x=independently organized TED event. At our TEDx (place) event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are self-organized.
THE SCHEDULE
9:30 – 9:40 INTRODUCTIONS
9:40 – 10:00 Allen Manser (Sauder School of Business class of 2006)
10:00 – 10:20 Idette de Boer (Masters of Architecture, 3rd year)
10:20 – 10:40 TED video (Doris K Goodwin)
10:45 – 11:15 BREAK
11:15 – 11:35 Duncan McNicholl (Civil Engineering, 4th year)
11:35 – 11:55 Tiffany Tong (Global Resource Systems, 3rd year)
11:55 – 12:15 Mike Gretes (Biochemistry, PhD student)
12:20 – 1:20 LUNCH
1:20 – 1:40 TED video (John Francis)
1:40 – 2:00 Andre Malan (Computer Science, 3rd year)
2:00 – 2:20 Fatou Wurie (Women Studies, Minor in Political Science, 4th year)
2:25 – 2:55 BREAK
3:00 – 3:20 TED video (John Hodgman)
3:20 – 3:40 Elysa Hogg (Political Science, 3rd year.)
3:40 – 4:05 Geoff Costeloe (Double Major in Integrated Sciences and Political Science, 4th year)
4:10 – 4:20 FEEDBACK, RAFFLE, AND CLOSING
(note: throughout the day, audience members also brainstormed, pitched, practiced and executed an idea for a YouTube video – the results of which can be seen here)
THE WISH
Like the TED talks, this conference enacted a wish component, whereby a student had an opportunity to make a wish to members of the audience, receive some funding, and provide an element of focused programming for the Terry project in future years.
This inaugural run saw Geoff Costeloe receive that honor, where his wish essentially seeks more opportunities for students from different disciplines to interact in an academic setting.
This, due to requirement hierarchies in the various Faculties, is not an easy thing to do. However, with the help of the Terry project, the backing of the UBC President, as well as Deans, Faculty, graduates, and undergraduates, Geoff has begun to formalize this wish, culminating in its place as a Project of the Clinton Global Initiative.
Details were initially laid out at the talk itself, but have been fleshed out over the last few months and will be soon summarized in our wish section. As well, by summer’s end, we hope to have a website dedicated to the folks interested in making this wish a reality.
FEEDBACK
- Inspiring.
- Speakers were of a phenomenal Ted like quality.
- Better conference than almost any I’ve attended while being less formal, and expensive.
- It was so much better than I expected (and I was looking forward to it for weeks.
- Well run, great talks, great food, great day.
- Extremely well organized with truly inspirational speakers that far exceeded my expectations.
- It was a delight to hear from such motivated and engaging student/alumni speakers.
- I did multiple silly dances with a room full of strangers along to a weakerthans song. Can’t really think of anything more fun.
- All the goodness of TED brought home to UBC.
- Awesome speakers. Fun ideas. Inspiring people. Amazing powerful speakers on diverse important issues.
- I found it hard to get bored.
- Surreal experience.
- The time flew by because I was having so much fun.
- I would not hesitate for a second to attend again.
- Terry is awesome.
- Inspiring, informative witty creative and more! Felt like a push to accomplish something/contribute something to the whole.
- Coming back to campus for this was the best thing to start my weekend.
- Astonishing well organized.
- I’m so glad the TED phenomenon is reaching me at a micro level.
- Managed to spark debates within me concerning issues I never even knew were issues. Talks provided a place where minds, great ones at that, provided inspiration and give aspirations to people like me who are trying to find their purpose and/or place at UBC.
- Brilliant talks.
- Talks had topics from diverse fields that kept the day novel and interest captivated.
- Awesome to see students empowering their ideas and coming together to talk about issues outside of the classroom and that affect the world.
- As a big fan of TED talks online..not only were the topics interesting and relevant, it was inspiring to see such accomplished students talking about what they are passionate about.
- All the talks were connected in some way, all engaging, entertaining and Dave the host was awesome.
- Speakers captivating and very passionate about what they talked about. Wish is a great idea.
- Glad to see TED at UBC.
- Awesome talks, awesome food.
- Well organized and very mind opening to have a chance to listen to so many brilliant student speakers from different faculties and backgrounds. I loved that the common theme of bettering education ran through the talks.
- I don’t exactly know what Ive learnt through this, but I’m sure I’ve learnt something valuable.
- I was having a conversation with a friend during a break, and it went something like this: (friend) “ I was thinking of leaving after x’s talk, so I could help my design project team, finally. Then I realized I need this for my soul.” He’s right. There’s a lack of passion in UBC students, but more so, a major lack of forums through which to express what passion there is.
- Fantastic day! I really enjoyed how it tied together ideas that are not normally related together.
- It really got me thinking and stimulated not only great conversation but hopefully actions too.
- Great opportunity to see students’ feedback about UBC. Found it fascinating to hear other stories and experiences.
- Very interesting, informative and inspiring.
- Bravo for doing what very few universities would. Showcasing the immensity of student talent, achievement, and ideas is so refreshing
- Absolutely inspirational; excellently planned and executed; great integration with TED videos; fun crowd activities. Excellent speakers.
- This kind of opportunity for student engagement, learning, sharing, teaching is awesome.
- Connecting this conference to TED helps exemplify the focus on integration of cross discipline experience
- It was a great inspiring and interesting day! Terry should be enlarged and supported, it is a great project.
RESOURCES
A pdf copy of our grant application (we received $20,000 the vast majority of which went to hiring a two student team to project managed the event).
A pdf copy of the general logistics/timechart (coming).
We made good use of various web tools including Eventbrite, Flickr, YouTube, and Facebook.
