Florida State University will host the annual TEDxFSU conference, highlighting the innovative talents and ideas of FSU students, faculty and alumni.
The event will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in the FSU Alumni Center Ballroom.
Speakers from a wide variety of backgrounds, including advocacy, robotics, medicine, art and research will talk at the free public event, which also will feature three musical performances from members of the university community.
"TEDxFSU is an opportunity to celebrate the innovative, creative and sometimes just plain wild ideas that come out of our great university," said Scott Shamp, TEDxFSU license holder and faculty adviser. "Students, faculty and alumni all work together to spread the ideas that can change all of our lives-and maybe the world."
TEDxFSU is associated with the global nonprofit organization TED and is independently organized almost completely by students within FSU's Center for Leadership & Social Change, College of Fine Arts and Alumni Association.
"The FSU Alumni Association has been crucial in strengthening TEDxFSU's connection to alumni and is thrilled to sponsor the TEDxFSU again this year," said Julie Decker, president and CEO of the FSU Alumni Association. "This event showcases our students and faculty doing incredible work at Florida State, as well as two outstanding alumni changing the world right now. It demonstrates the value of a degree from FSU."
For nine years, students, faculty and staff have organized this event through the support of campus and community sponsors, in addition to the students' creative visions. TEDxFSU has become a unique event for discovering the wide range of expertise and opportunities that can be found at Florida State.
"TEDxFSU pushes you to explore creative solutions to complex problems and to expand your own self-imposed limitations," said Madison Finley, speaker director for TEDxFSU's 2022 conference. "TEDxFSU ultimately encourages you to think critically and challenge your own perspectives in the wake of new ideas."
This year, the conference includes an outdoor reception where attendees can engage with one another - and the speakers - about the ideas presented on the TEDxFSU stage.
"The exploration of ideas is a crucial part of the TEDx experience," said Paige Rentz, staff adviser for the program. "Our goal for the reception is to provide even greater networking opportunities for different segments of the FSU community and the broader Tallahassee region. We want to encourage them to interact with one another in new ways and hopefully find common ground over shared interests and ideas."
