Aug 20

Aug 20 5 things to know about next spring's TEDx event in Rochester

After months of quiet planning, organizers revealed on Thursday that Rochester will host its first-ever TEDx event next spring. Coined "TEDxZumbroRiver," the one-day event will feature about 20 live speakers, each with a unique and innovative idea.

What is a TEDx event?

The difference between a TED conference and a TEDx conference is the "x," which indicates the event is independently organized. The TEDx conferences feature live speakers, as well as video recordings of other TED Talks. The mission of TED is to generate thought and discussion on topics likes science, education and business.

Why Rochester?

The idea for a local TEDx event sprung up a few months ago. Since then, a team of about a dozen volunteers has been meeting once a week to make TEDxZumbroRiver a reality. The team was recently granted a license from TED's national office, giving them the go ahead to start raising money and promoting the event. TEDx events have been held in more than 1,200 cities across the world, including Minneapolis and Fargo.

How many people are expected to attend?

Since one of the leader organizers, Barbara Spurrier, had already been involved with TED, the organization waived the normal restriction limiting first-time events to 100 people. As a result, TEDxZumbroRiver will be able to welcome up to 1,000 people. The cost to attend the event will depend on how much money is raised in sponsorships; however, individuals tickets will not exceed $100.

Organizers are still in the process of determining an exact date and location.

Who will the speakers be?

Organizers anticipate having about 20 speakers at TEDxZumbroRiver. Some will be from the area, while others will travel here from other parts of the country. TED rules require that each event has a wide range of speakers, so don't expect this event to be dominated by conversations on health care. If you would like to speak, or know someone who might, you can fill out a form here.

What if I can't attend?

You're in luck. Just like all TED events, the speeches will be recorded and published online. All TED videos are distributed under the Creative Commons license, meaning they're free to share. The full TEDx library is available here.

Tonight we're at Thursdays on First at 6:45! Join us at the stage on 1st Street! #TEDxZumbroRiver #TEDxZR #RochMN pic.twitter.com/a1N22Jknai
— TEDxZumbroRiver (@TEDxZumbroRiver) August 20, 2015

About Sean Baker: Sean is the founder and editor of the Med City Beat. Under his direction, the site has transitioned from a small news blog to one of the most widely-read publications in the city. Prior to launching the site in 2014, Sean spent about two years producing television news in Green Bay and Rochester. His office is above a brewery, so please excuse any typos. Twitter.