TEDxUM now accepting nominations for 2017 conference.
OXFORD, Miss. – Organizers of the TEDxUM 2017 event are seeking ideas and speakers for the popular lecture series.
The window to suggest ideas and nominate participants is open through April 18. Last year’s event featured 10 speakers, and eight speaking spots are available for the coming year.
“In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED created TEDx, where x equals (an) independently organized TED event,” said TEDxUM organizer Georgia Norfleet, a UM sophomore majoring in business from Kenosha, Wisconsin. “These are programs of local, self-organized events bringing people together to share a TED-like experience.”
UM hosted its first “TEDx” talk in October 2015, featuring 10 brief lectures from Ole Miss faculty members to showcase “ideas worth spreading.” Though the event was open to only 100 attendees, those talks are available on YouTube for everyone who missed it.
“TEDxUM 2015” used the TED Talks conference format, which brings together lecturers and other participants in a globally popular set of conferences run by the Sapling Foundation under the slogan “Ideas worth spreading.” Under the rules set by TED, seating was limited for the event, although interest was very high.
Lizzy Wicks, a senior international studies and French major from Ocean Springs, organized the event along with Marvin King, UM associate professor of political science and African-American studies.
“Each of the talks focused on really different topics, so there is something for everybody,” King said. “I was most happy when audience members told us how much they learned because of the talks.
“We really want people to watch these videos and share them with their friends and family. It’s really amazing how much you can learn watching these short, 12-minute videos.”
The following talks, all 12-18 minutes long, are available at http://tedxum.olemiss.edu/:
- Randy Wadkins, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry, talking about nanotechnology
- Matthew Wilson, assistant professor of performance, lecturing on humor
- Mitchell Robinson, of Strawberry Plains Audubon Center, discussing diversity and environmental activism
- Cathy Janasie, research counsel for the National Sea Grant Law Center, lecturing on water scarcity
- Michele Alexandre, professor of law and Leonard B. Melvin Lecturer in Law, giving her talk on “The B Word”
- Gregory Heyworth, associate professor of English, lecturing on digital humanities
- David Rock, dean of the UM School of Education, discussing classroom technology
- Laura Johnson, associate professor of psychology, lecturing on cross-cultural engagement
- Marc Slattery, professor of pharmacognosy, talking about drug research from the ocean
- Chris McCurdy, professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, lecturing on natural products used to diagnose neural damage
Heyworth’s video has been viewed more than a half-million times since its debut. A textual scientist, he works to save historical texts that have been damaged by war, water damage, mold and/or chemical reagents using a process involving multispectral imaging.
Working beside other professors and pioneers in the digital imaging field, Heyworth has traveled to libraries both in the U.S. and aboard in efforst to preserve and reclaim numerous historical texts. His work is known as the Lazarus Project.
To nominate an idea or an individual speaker (self-nominations accepted), complete the nomination form at http://goo.gl/forms/OAza1cIcPG no later than 5 p.m. April 18. Please submit questions and inquiries to tedxum@olemiss.edu.