On November 15th, Berlin was treated to the 1000th TED event worldwide, as the German capital held its second major TEDx conference: TEDx Berlin 2010. The symposium marked a milestone in the history of the TED organization, proving once more that ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’ are a currency with enormously high value.
Radialsystem V buzzed with excited conversation as the venue played host to 450 fascinated guests with backgrounds in diverse sectors: media, economics, politics, art, and design – all present to listen, to engage, and to network. Online, even more were able to take part, as a specially created livestream beamed the conference to global locations.
The speakers and their talks were selected and curated specifically in line with the theme FANTASTIC REALITY: HOW WE SHAPE OUR FUTURE. The audience heard from such luminaries as Janine Wedel, who has pioneered the study of ‘shadow elites’ – non-governmental individuals who wield great political power, Tobias Walliser, who described a future for carbon-neutral cities in arid and previously uninhabitable locations, and Maha Alusi, who spoke of the passing of time not as a dreaded and unstoppable progression, but as an opportunity to shine with the warmth of her beautiful ‘art-candles’.
Particular highlights were the performance-based talks of Dr. Peter Lovatt, aka Dr. Dance, and Simon Halsey, chief conductor of the Rundfunkchores Berlin, which provided a fresh take on the TED Talk concept, and one we hope to see at future TED conferences. As even the shyest of participants stood and jived energetically, Dr. Dance explained, with reference to his own experimental evidence, how the way we dance is related to fertility and pre-natal testosterone. Simon Halsey soon had the entire audience throwing their voices to O Fortuna, closing the day with a loud and invigorating bang.
The photos on Flickr might give you a impression of the day.
All video-talks you´ll find at Speakers 2010
All photos are copyrighted material of © Sebastian Gabsch
