About TEDxUofM

“We aim to educate and engage the TEDxUofM/Ann Arbor community by building a collaborative platform to share diverse, innovative, and inspirational ideas”

What is TED?

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California over 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Vancouver, British Columbia. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; TED Translators, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED has established The Audacious Project that takes a collaborative approach to funding ideas with the potential to create change at thrilling scale; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self- organized TED-style events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

What is TEDx?

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 called TEDxUofM, where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxUofM 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.

What is TEDxUofM?

TEDxUofM is a university-wide initiative to galvanize the Ann Arbor and University of Michigan community for an event like no other; filled with inspiration, discovery, and excitement. Borrowing the template from the world-renowned TED conference, TEDxUofM aims to bring a TED-like experience to the University of Michigan. Our vision is to showcase the most fascinating thinkers and doers, the “leaders and best” in Michigan terms, for a stimulating day of presentations, discussions, entertainment, and art that will spark new ideas and opportunities across all disciplines.

Annual Conference

Borrowing the template from the world-renowned TED conference, the annual TEDxUofM conference showcases many of the most fascinating University-affiliated thinkers and doers for a stimulating day of presentations, entertainment, art, and discussion.

There is no formal application process to become a speaker. All of our speakers are recruited by our very own TEDxUofM Speakers team.