Inspirational speakers are converging on Salford to share ideas at the annual TEDxSalford festival.
Preston schoolboy Jamie Edwards, 13, who achieved nuclear fusion by colliding the nuclei of hydrogen atoms via inertial electrostatic confinement in his school laboratory, will be among a raft of speakers, also including research scientist and Belle de Jour author Brooke Magnanti.
The event, which is now in its fourth year, will appeal to the local community as well as students and academics, according to curator Mishal Saeed.
“This year’s TEDxSalford aims to provide an unblinking experience to attendees by highlighting some extraordinary stories and ideas from speakers who have gone above and beyond to explore, challenge and accomplish in their fields,” she said.
“The day will highlight some of the best from subjects as diverse as the comic and futuristic, science and feminism, art and technology and is designed to be even more engaging and interactive than last year’s event.”
This weekend’s event, a major one-day conference which will host some of the leading thinkers in science, technology, art, media, politics and economics, will also see a number of inspirational innovators take to the stage.
Also on the bill is the first Arab woman and the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize Tawakkol Karman, TED veteran and comedian writer Robin Ince and Massimo Marchiori, an Italian mathematician credited with the invention of the web search.
Based on the principles of TED (Technology, Education and Design), the global foundation behind the events are devoted to spreading ideas through bringing together some of the world’s leading thinkers and doers.
University Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Hall said: “The fourth TEDxSalford follows on from the legacy of its predecessors – a world-class event which features some of the leading minds and individuals across a broad range of fields.
“Once more, the university is proud of the students involved and we are honoured to be associated with TEDxSalford.”
TEDxSalford runs from 10.00am-9.00pm on Sunday 5 October. Further information on the event, including a full list of speakers, can be found here.
