TEDxGlasgow is looking for speakers for its 2018 event. The organisers are looking for interesting, inspiring, exciting, educational, fascinating and fun speakers from all walks of life, focusing on the broad theme of Rethink.

According to the organisers: “Rethink… will challenge the status quo, ask guests to consider new perspectives, inspire them to reimagine the way we address our world and all things in it.”

The 2018 TEDx will take place on Friday 1st June at the iconic SEC Armadillo in Glasgow

In addition, as part of the Year of Young People, announced by the First Minister, TEDx Glasgow has announced a dedicated youth event in addition to the main TEDx conference.

TEDxYouth@Glasgow

The new standalone TEDxYouth@Glasgow event has been launched to showcase the amazing talents of young people in Scotland, and provide them with a unique platform upon which they can share and discover a diverse array of revolutionary ideas.

As well as giving young delegates opportunities to network and learn from, the new TEDxYouth@Glasgow will be co-designed and delivered by a team of young people including students from Glasgow Clyde College. It will take place on the 31st May, the day before TEDxGlasgow 2018 at the SEC, with 2000 12–26 year olds invited to take part.

Since the first event in 2012, TEDxGlasgow has grown to become one of the most established TEDx events in Europe. In 2017, over 1,800 visitors flocked to Glasgow’s SEC to explore the theme Lead or Follow with an incredibly diverse range of speakers, including world record-breaking rocket man Richard Browning, BBC war correspondent Quentin Sommerville, fitness guru Jessie Pavelka and elite athlete Lee Craigie. In 2018, the organisers are looking forward to welcoming well over 2000 guests to listen, discuss, learn and explore the 2018 topic: Rethink. 

In the past few years TEDxGlasgow has not only highlighted innovative ideas, but provided a platform for actual change. In the recent past Laura Beveridge’s talk on social care Jamie Cooke’s basic income discussion have directly influenced the implementation of new policies in Scotland.

Jamie Cooke, the Head of RSA Scotland told DIGIT: “This enthusiasm for the talk, has been a sign of how useful it has been as an educational and introductory resource for the topic. It has been used in talks and conversations, shared widely across Twitter, and used by a senior journalist to explain what Nicola Sturgeon was talking about when she launched the Programme for Government. The TEDx brand, and particularly the reputation of TEDxGlasgow, carries a prestige and seriousness with it that helps to open doors, that is recognised globally, and which connects you as a speaker into a wider community of thinkers.”

Join us!

Gurjit Singh Lalli, the founder and curator of TEDxGlasgow said: “The city and country has embraced our presence and I’m proud to say that TEDxGlasgow has provided a platform to share ideas that have had a tangible impact on our lives. As we go into a new year, we’re looking to reach even more people across the globe and shout about the incredible achievements of those around us. So, get applying and join us on the day!”

John Rafferty, the assistant principal faculty of health and wellbeing at Glasgow Clyde College, said: “This is a phenomenal project for the city of Glasgow, its young people and for our students to be involved in. We are proud of the talent and skills that our young people have and bring with them every day to Glasgow Clyde College.”

“Being involved in TEDxYouth@Glasgow provides an opportunity to work on a live project, develop organisational, communications and event and project management skills.   It’s an exciting time for the young people of Glasgow to attend an event that’s created for them, by their peers.”

For full details of the 2018 main and youth events and speaker applications visit www.tedxglasgow.com.