SFA to host TED event in April

TEDxSFA is an innovative, thought-sharing event coming to SFA this April. Originating in California, TED’s mission is “ideas worth spreading.” TEDx events take place all over the world and are independently coordinated on a community-by-community basis.

“As a university part of SFA’s mission is to foster critical and creative thinking in faculty and students,” Mark E. Turner, curator of TEDxSFA and associate professor of Music Education, said. “TED is essentially a place where individuals from all walks of life can come and share unique insights, personal stories of change, innovative concepts and other ‘ideas worth sharing.’”

While the speaker roster is still being finalized, Turner emphasized the importance of highlighting the innovation and creativity of SFA’s students and added that there will be several student speakers. The other speakers may range from “those in the military to psychologists to musicians to artists to free thinkers,” Turner said. 

“TEDxSFA will support our faculty and students who want to hear and become inspired by cutting-edge research, powerful stories of change and humorous tales of everyday struggles,” Turner said. With the theme “Perspectives,” TEDxSFA will focus on the broad idea that each discipline offers a slightly different way to solve the world’s problems. 

TEDxSFA is scheduled for April 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Student Center and will include four or five speakers. There will be several long breaks where participants will have the opportunity to engage in activities and talk with speakers one-on-one. 

Students will enjoy TEDxSFA “because TED is cool. TED is visionary. TED is a way forward,” Turner said. This is the inaugural TEDxSFA event, and there are plans to continue it on an annual basis.