TED Talk comes to WSU

The series that’s featured Steve Jobs, David Blaine and Jane Fonda, among others, is coming to WSU.

TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) talks are viewed by millions worldwide, and on April 26, the renowned lecture series will make a stop in the CUB Senior Ballroom.

Fifteen faculty members will deliver 15-minute speeches on the theme “Seeds for tomorrow: Sharing ideas and experiences and sparking innovation.”

In addition to the speakers, the talk will feature five videos from TED.com. Keynote speakers will include Mike Flood, the vice president of communication for the Seattle Seahawks; DJ Lady Auds; and Rueben Mayes, the chief development officer for Pullman Regional Hospital.

“I wanted to do TED talks mainly because I love connecting people, especially sharing thoughts and ideas,” said Vi Tran, the lead organizer of TEDxWSU. “This is going to be one of the greatest things WSU has, and really connecting the different sides of campus and allowing us to really share everything we’ve got… and that’s what TED’s all about.”

Tran said the TEDxWSU is a great way to unite professors from various departments who might otherwise never meet. TEDxTalks are branches of the original TED talks that are held at universities.

WSU is in the middle of the sticks and there are a lot of stigmas about us, Vhonda McElroy, the director of sponsorship for TEDxWSU said. But the greatest thing about this is that we will be able to show the rich history of WSU, McElroy said.  

One of the largest sponsors for TEDxWSU is the Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneur Institute, which connects WSU engineering, business and communication majors to generate new ideas, Tran said. Tran and McElroy are members of the institute.

Director Howard Davis said many of the universities with which WSU collaborates hold these talks, and that was a catalyst for TEDxWSU.

The budget for the event is $10,000 for video production and space, Tran said. None of the speakers are compensated.

McElroy said the idea to bring the series to WSU has been brewing for more than a year, and Davis said he’d like the talk to become an annual event.

The talk will be the first of its kind at WSU and inspiration for future development, Tran said.

“I left (the theme) very vague so people would be able to really identify what it was that inspired them, whether it was thoughts, research or ideas, or something in their past that inspired them to get where they are today,” he said. “Or any thoughts, research or ideas they are doing today that will influence the world tomorrow.”

Ninety tickets went on sale April 4, but all have been sold. The event will stream live on TEDxWSU.org as well as locations on campus, including room 203 of the Smith building.