The TED (Technology, Engineering, Design) independent (x) event in Seattle (Rainier) fit more than 30 speakers into one inspiring day. Based on presenting "ideas worth spreading," with a philosophy of radical openness, each speaker had nine minutes to share their passion with an audience of 300 live at Benaroya Hall and many more watching online. They spoke on subjects ranging from the latest developments in suspended animation (to prolong life in medical emergencies) to breakthroughs in affordable sanitary pads (so girls in Africa can stay in school without embarrassment) to modernist cuisine (science-based cooking techniques — liquid nitrogen anyone?). It brought together artists, entrepreneurs, and educators working in interdisciplinary fields to cross-pollinate ideas. It was like taking a bunch of mini-classes all in a day.
Here's a sample of the conference (http://tedxrainier.com/10/):
Listen:
• Jazz singer Meklit Hadero accompanied by cello and sax: www.meklithadero.com
• Cellist Joshua Roman: www.joshuaroman.com
Look:
• Food, flesh and photography: www.lafigaproject.com
• Galaxies! www.galaxyzoo.org
• "Super duper cool Acrobaticalist Ninja Action Heroes!": www.nandatown.com
Ideas worth spreading:
Babies have social brains and embody the idea of "celestial openness." "How can we keep our own minds open to learning for our entire lives?" — Patricia Kuhl, early learning brain scientist, co-author of The Scientist in the Crib
Eco-system, collaborative thinking — one of the hallmarks of Seattle society. "How can we create epidemics of pro-social thinking?" — Eric Liu, civic leader
Inequality kills. Studies show the greater the income gap in a country the lower the lifespan. How can we create fair and equitable societies and live longer, healthier lives? — Stephen Bezruchka, physician, founder of Population Health Forum
Electronics with interchangeable parts can be "transplanted" like human organs to reduce consumer waste. Think: SSG (skin, skeleton, guts). How can we design products differently to create less waste? — Dominic Muren, eco-friendly industrial designer, founder of www.humblefacture.com
Tablemaking. "Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas understood the importance of the table and the hearth – as the quintessential site of cultural exchange – a modernist revolution found its earliest spark at the salons and dinners hosted in their Parisian apartment." How can we create more civic rituals and opportunities to gather and share in gift culture around the table? Have more dinner parties! — Michael Hebb food provocateur, founder of One Pot
Peace-making: When two mothers who've lost children on opposing sides of a war ca..., what more can the rest of us do to make peace? — Jerilyn Brusseau, co-founder Peace Trees Vietnam
Our bodies as estuaries. Imagine the water inside you. Is it as pure as Puget Sound? Are you an endangered species? — Jourdan Imani, poet, founder of Urban Wilderness Project
On life: "Eat well and make love!" — Tiberio Simone, sensual chef
On aid to other countries: "Solidarity not charity." — Wendy Johnson, global health activist
On eating: "Food should provoke deep emotional responses." — Chris Young, chef
On paradise: "gardens watered by running streams," (The Koran's actual definition of paradise) — Lesley Hazelton, writer
On censorship: "You don't have to burn a book that's never published." — Claudia Mauro, poet, founder of Whit Press, a publisher of books that support environmental and social justice.
On passion and patience: "It took 30 years of experience to climb Annapurna." (the world's most dangerous mountains to climb), Having children "is my new Annapurna"..."a multiyear project." — Ed Viesturs, mountaineer
For further exploration (a TEDxRainier reading list):
Aria a novel by Nassim Assefi
"This Morning," and other poems by Elizabeth Austen
Oxygen: A Novel by Carol Cassella
After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam nonfiction by Lesley Hazleton
Pilgrimage: One Woman's Return to a Changing India by Pramila Jayapal
Imagination First nonfiction by Eric Liu
Sustainable Prisons Project blog
The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better nonfiction by Richard Wilkinson
"The Ills Inequality Brings," by Jerry Large in The Seattle Times
Prayers Like Shoes, In Praise of Fertile Land, Beloved Community - The Sisterhood of Homeless Women in Poetry and other titles from Whit Press (a small press in Seattle dedicated to environmental and social justice)
Here's a sample of the conference (http://tedxrainier.com/10/):
Listen:
• Jazz singer Meklit Hadero accompanied by cello and sax: www.meklithadero.com
• Cellist Joshua Roman: www.joshuaroman.com
Look:
• Food, flesh and photography: www.lafigaproject.com
• Galaxies! www.galaxyzoo.org
• "Super duper cool Acrobaticalist Ninja Action Heroes!": www.nandatown.com
Ideas worth spreading:
Babies have social brains and embody the idea of "celestial openness." "How can we keep our own minds open to learning for our entire lives?" — Patricia Kuhl, early learning brain scientist, co-author of The Scientist in the Crib
Eco-system, collaborative thinking — one of the hallmarks of Seattle society. "How can we create epidemics of pro-social thinking?" — Eric Liu, civic leader
Inequality kills. Studies show the greater the income gap in a country the lower the lifespan. How can we create fair and equitable societies and live longer, healthier lives? — Stephen Bezruchka, physician, founder of Population Health Forum
Electronics with interchangeable parts can be "transplanted" like human organs to reduce consumer waste. Think: SSG (skin, skeleton, guts). How can we design products differently to create less waste? — Dominic Muren, eco-friendly industrial designer, founder of www.humblefacture.com
Tablemaking. "Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas understood the importance of the table and the hearth – as the quintessential site of cultural exchange – a modernist revolution found its earliest spark at the salons and dinners hosted in their Parisian apartment." How can we create more civic rituals and opportunities to gather and share in gift culture around the table? Have more dinner parties! — Michael Hebb food provocateur, founder of One Pot
Peace-making: When two mothers who've lost children on opposing sides of a war ca..., what more can the rest of us do to make peace? — Jerilyn Brusseau, co-founder Peace Trees Vietnam
Our bodies as estuaries. Imagine the water inside you. Is it as pure as Puget Sound? Are you an endangered species? — Jourdan Imani, poet, founder of Urban Wilderness Project
On life: "Eat well and make love!" — Tiberio Simone, sensual chef
On aid to other countries: "Solidarity not charity." — Wendy Johnson, global health activist
On eating: "Food should provoke deep emotional responses." — Chris Young, chef
On paradise: "gardens watered by running streams," (The Koran's actual definition of paradise) — Lesley Hazelton, writer
On censorship: "You don't have to burn a book that's never published." — Claudia Mauro, poet, founder of Whit Press, a publisher of books that support environmental and social justice.
On passion and patience: "It took 30 years of experience to climb Annapurna." (the world's most dangerous mountains to climb), Having children "is my new Annapurna"..."a multiyear project." — Ed Viesturs, mountaineer
For further exploration (a TEDxRainier reading list):
Aria a novel by Nassim Assefi
"This Morning," and other poems by Elizabeth Austen
Oxygen: A Novel by Carol Cassella
After the Prophet: The Epic Story of the Shia-Sunni Split in Islam nonfiction by Lesley Hazleton
Pilgrimage: One Woman's Return to a Changing India by Pramila Jayapal
Imagination First nonfiction by Eric Liu
Sustainable Prisons Project blog
The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better nonfiction by Richard Wilkinson
"The Ills Inequality Brings," by Jerry Large in The Seattle Times
Prayers Like Shoes, In Praise of Fertile Land, Beloved Community - The Sisterhood of Homeless Women in Poetry and other titles from Whit Press (a small press in Seattle dedicated to environmental and social justice)
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