About the Event

For the third time since 2011, the University of Waterloo will be arranging an independently organized TEDx event. A satellite project of the popular TED movement, TEDx is designed to bring the experience of TED’s unique conference format to smaller communities, putting them in contact and conversation with the 300 million-plus viewers who comprise TED’s global audience.

The students of the University of Waterloo will play the leading role in producing the event. A cross-disciplinary team from a variety of academic backgrounds will combine efforts to organize what promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking conference.

It is difficult to imagine a more appropriate setting for a TED event. The University of Waterloo has long been recognized worldwide as a giant in the educational arena. It lays claim to the largest faculty of engineering in Canada, the number one psychology department in Canada (by citations), the largest actuarial science program in North America, as well as one of the largest concentrations of quantum information scientists in the world. In the twenty-two years that Maclean’s magazine has been ranking Canadian Universities, Waterloo has been rated “Best Overall” 18 times, and “Most Innovative” 22 times. Its international reputation is certainly well-deserved, and makes it a compelling site from which to promote “Ideas Worth Spreading”.

The University’s status as a leader in innovation comes with the responsibility that accompanies all leadership: to continue pushing forward, creating new spaces for sustainable growth and encouraging others to do the same. This year’s TEDx conference will provide another opportunity to do just that. For more information on TEDxUW, or to join our team as a volunteer, get in touch at info@tedxuw.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter