NSU’s Associate Professors Leanne Boucher and W. Matthew Collins will direct the annual TEDxNSU with the theme “The Little Things.”
TEDxNSU is an event that features engaging lectures, videos, visual arts and interactive experiences. The goal of this event is to showcase “ideas worth spreading” to and from members of NSU’s diverse university community.
“This event is one of my favorite things to do on campus. People come to learn and are excited to engage in conversation with other people,” Boucher said.
Even though this event carries the famous media organization’s name, TED, TEDx is an independently organized TED-like event.
Collins said, “The way it works is that if you are interested in hosting a TEDx event, you have to apply for a license and go through a series of steps with the TED organization where they will give you a license to run a TEDx event. TEDxNSU is a completely independent organized event that every single year we [Boucher and I] apply for a license and host.”
TEDxNSU’s theme changes annually. Last year’s theme was “Stop, Drop, and Roll,” which centered around simple advice we are all given as school children. This year’s theme will focus on exploring the little things and how little and seemingly unimportant things can trigger many of life’s big moments.
For Collins, the main inspiration for this year’s theme was Boucher.
“I think in this case, she was thinking about how important the little things are in life and we really like to come up with sort of broad themes because it really allows people that are thinking about submitting to TED to think about that theme and say ‘how can I fit this [idea] into a little things kind of theme,’” he said.
Collins added, “Whether you are coming from a more academic talk perspective, whether you want to tell a personal story or one of the many different ways that you have seen in different TED talks, there’s something for everybody.”
This year’s speakers will discuss popular topics of interest to the NSU community.
So far, there are nine confirmed speakers that will share their ideas, experiences and tips. One of the speakers, Aline Silva, business development specialist at NSU, will talk about the little steps that led to her applying to become a foster parent and how she got to that place. Another speaker, Ashwin Kalyandurg, senior medical student and world record holder for hand walking, will speak about how he gained that title and how you can turn your dreams into reality.
Domestic Violence Defense Attorney and NSU Alumna Devika Carr, will talk about the different aspects of life and perceptions of the world. She will discuss how the secret to life may not be finding happiness but rather finding something that inspires you, and the little things in her life that led to her perception of the world.
“All are very interesting unique stories and that’s why it’s different every single year. Because it all depends on who the speakers are,” Collins said.
Katie Goodroad, graduate assistance for the Office of International Affairs, spoke at last year’s TEDxNSU and said, “It was a really good experience. It’s awesome because you don’t just practice public speaking, but you tell your own story and you tell someone that it’s unique and that you want to share it.”
“About half the audience comes from the community so it’s great to see how NSU can contribute to the larger conversation about a variety of topics,” Boucher said.
Collins said, “It’s a really great event, an entire afternoon of, hopefully, really really stimulating, reflecting kinds of talks.”
The event will be held Saturday, March 17 from noon-5 p.m.in the Performance Theatre in the Don Taft University Center. Tickets are $20 and include lunch, snacks and admission to all the talks.
“That’s the great thing about this. You will find something you can learn, something inspiring, whatever it is that you are looking for,” Collins added
Tickets are already on sale and, as Boucher said, “About half of the tickets are sold so if you want to go, get your tickets soon.”
For more information, contact Leanne Boucher at lb1079@nova.edu or W. Matthew Collins at wc292@nova.edu or visit the official page nova.edu/tedxnsu.
