TEDxGlasgow is returning to the SEC Armadillo on the 1st of June with a five star lineup – Showcasing some of the most captivating ideas being generated both here in Scotland and across the globe.

BBC Radio Scotland presenter Clare English joins TEDxGlasgow alumni Jason Leitch as hosts at the event which is set to attract over 2000 delegates in its’ sixth consecutive year. The global audience reach for this event could be huge, with former speaker Gary Wilson having achieved over 4 million views.

Famous faces such as Kirsty Wark, Karen Dunbar and Dr Adam Rutherford will join a host of experts to explore a range of topics such as gender identity, the future of robotics and and mysteries of the universe. In addition to familiar faces, there will be several rising stars speaking at the event such as Rachel Woods, Year of Young People Ambassador and Victoria Heaney.

TEDxGlasgow 2018

TEDx events regularly feature a broad range of subjects for attendees to choose from and the TEDxGlasgow event is no different. Here are a few of the speakers to look out for:

David Webster

David Webster is a Partner at global design and innovation company IDEO, and is currently exploring the benefits of augmented intelligence; which can be used to extend and complement the capabilities of a human being, rather than replace them with that of an AI.

David is passionate about using design to humanise technology, using their creativity and innovation to create new users experiences for global brands and tech giants. His talk will delve into the optimism of design and how technology can be used to improve the human experience.

Catherine Heymans

Catherine Heymans is a Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh and holds the 2017 Darwin Lectureship from the Royal Astronomical Society. Catherine specialises in observing the dark side of our universe (not that dark side, for all you Star Wars fans) and has used some of the worlds most powerful telescopes to map out invisible dark matter in the universe; regularly confronting what we think we know about our place in the cosmos.

Her presentation is sure to be a captivating journey through the mysteries of the cosmos, delving into the unknown areas of our universe and providing attendees with a new understanding of physics.

Sethu Vijayakumar

Professor Sethu Vijayakumar is the founder of the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics and is a pioneering figure within his profession. He holds the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering – Microsoft Research Chair in Robotics at the University of Edinburgh and his groundbreaking work in robotics has pioneered the use of large-scale machine learning techniques.

His work includes the real-time control of a number of innovative and iconic robotic platforms, including the SARCOS and the HONDA ASIMO humanoids.

In his talk, Professor Vijayakumar will explore pioneering ideas that could change the face of robotics and human life in years to come. Looking at smart cities and how robotics will aid human exploration of Mars, his talk is definitely worth attending.

Nick Earle

Nick Earle has spent over 30 years working in the tech industry, overseeing the billion dollar cross-company transformation programs of IT giants, co-authoring acclaimed books and is now leading Virgin Hyperloop One’s Global Field Operations organisation.

Virgin Hyperloop is at the forefront of transportation innovation in 2018, developing high speed travel that is two to three times faster than conventional rail travel. In his TEDxGlasgow talk, Nick will explore how super-fast rail networks can radically alter our day-to-day lives; saving commute times, optimising supply chains and boosting economic productivity.

A full list of ALL the speakers can taking part in 2018 be found at TEDxGlasgow.

DIGIT attended the 2017 TEDxGlasgow event and it was one of the most inspirational, fun and useful events we’ve seen in Scotland. Based on the speakers, 2018 is set to eclipse last year. We hope to see you there!