Monday, July 4, 2011

Speak about your Passion

Most have heard about TED; their slogan is "Ideas worth spreading, riveting talks by remarkable people, free to the world." They hold several conferences a year, videotape the speakers' twenty minute speeches, and promote the exchange of vital ideas.

In a similar format Ideacity is ‘Canada’s Premier Meeting of the Minds’, and is "an eclectic gathering of artists, adventurers, authors, cosmologists, doctors, designers, entertainers, filmmakers, inventors, magicians, musicians, scientists and technologists."

Each June "fifty of the planet’s brightest minds" converge in Toronto for a three day conference to speak to a highly engaged audience of 600 invited people. Each speaker has 17 minutes to talk about whatever they're passionate about.

For example, Dickson Despommier, a Columbia University professor, spoke recently about 'Building up instead of out: the rise of the vertical farm.' These farms are built within urban areas to maximize environmental efficiencies.