Following last year’s success, TEDx is about to return to Chiang Mai this month. Through the highly credited international creativity and idea forum, TEDx, Chiang Mai’s theme this year will explore the concepts around “Creating Connections”. With over twenty Thai and International speakers and artists already signed up, this is one TEDx event not to miss.
TEDx, which has been likened to a “spa treatment for the brain and soul” focuses on creativity and new ideas. In the form of a forum, mixed with entertainment, workshops and other interactive activities, it aims to help people connect with one another and put ideas into action. TEDx has become a global phenomenon with events being held worldwide. TEDx events are independently organised TED (www.ted.com) style events that focus on either local or international ideas and issues. All talks will also be simultaneously translated into Thai and English to accommodate all listeners.
Similar to last year, this year’s event will focus on short (no longer than 18 minute) presentations aiming to inspire ideas and dialogue. Under the framework of Creating Connections, it will focus on a large number of topics ranging from education, human trafficking, effective work within local communities to creative tourism, arts festivals, photography and science. You will not only get a chance to listen to the ideas of over twenty guest speakers, but be able to explore other features available ranging from informative interactive booths to fun activities including a slackline, paintings, and music.
This year boasts a solid line up of over twenty inspiring speakers including Christina Jordan, a social innovator living in Chiang Mai with over 25 years’ experience in international development, Haresh Khoobchandani CEO of Microsoft Thailand, Kitikong Tilokwattanotai founder of Chiang Mai Art on Paper and Pirada Techavijit, Thailand’s first astronaut. Other guests included Boom Bean and Police Captain Apichart Hattasin, Hossein Farmani, Joe Sidek, Luke Cassady-Dirion, Ooi Geok Ling, Dr. Panuwan Chantawannakul and many more.
TEDx events are famed for creating a “launch pad” for new ideas, and this year TEDxChiang Mai makes no exception. This year’s event will again reach out to the youth with participation from students, schools and universities (TEDxYouth and TED ED) in Chiang Mai.
If you want to know more about the upcoming event, you can visit their website www.tedxchiangmai.com and purchase tickets from www.amiando.com/tedxchiangmai2014. Standard ticket prices start at 1,500 baht and with only 600 seats available, get in there fast so not to be disappointed. Tickets include access to the event, refreshments, gifts, programme and access to the post event party in the evening – a great place to network.
TEDxChiang Mai will be held on 27 September 2014 at Le Meridien Chiang Mai, from 8:45am-6pm. Special hotel room rates are available at selected partner hotels for visitors to the event.
TEDx is a programme of independently organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. TEDx is the branding for such events with the “x” being a common theme, where x = independently organised TED event.
Contacts:
Jirawan Wongdokmai
Chiang Mai Creative City Coordinator
Secretariat of the Chiang Mai Creative City Development Committee
Science and Technology Park, Chiang Mai University (CMU STeP)
Tel: 08 8268 5369 E-mail: jirawan@step.cmu.ac.th
Martin Venzky-Stalling
TEDxChiangMai, License Holder and Curator
Member of Creative Chiang Mai Development Committee
Senior Advisor, Chiang Mai University Science & Technology Park (CMU STeP)
E-mail: martin@creativechiangmai.com