University to hold town's first TEDx event

The University of Suffolk has been awarded a licence to host Ipswich's first TEDx event.

It will take place on Thursday, 1 October and showcase work from six different speakers across a range of subjects.

TED, which stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design, is a non-profit organisation that encourages people to share ideas through talks, with names such as Bill Gates and Elon Musk having taken part since it began in 2009.

Organisers are currently looking for speakers for the Ipswich event, which will be chosen from the university, its alumni, former staff and external researchers.

The TEDx programme allows communities to apply to host their own TED talks and experiences.

The licence for the event in Suffolk has been awarded under the broad theme of building a better Suffolk, and the university said any research with the potential to deliver positive change to individuals or communities would be considered.

A panel chaired by the university's pro vice-chancellor for research and knowledge exchange, Prof Emma Bond, will select the six speakers, who will find out if they have been successful in May.

During the event, individuals will be limited to 15-minute talks and the event is limited to 100 tickets costing £10 each and going on sale in August.

"Hosting a prestigious TEDx event is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the fantastic research taking place in Suffolk and for our speakers to share their ground-breaking work to show how it is making a real difference to people's lives and the world we live in," Bond said.

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