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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Speakers poised to inspire at UNE’s first TEDxUNE event November 22

University of New England’s first-ever TEDxUNE event this evening will explore the theme "Inspire" through a range of speakers and videos, including author Linda Greenlaw, Hope Elephants' Andrew Stewart, and UNE's own Ed Bilsky, Barry Costa-Pierce and David Livingstone Smith. The event is by reserved seating only and is at capacity, but the public is invited to watch it via a live-stream beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Founded in 1984 as a one-time event to discuss “ideas worth spreading” in 1984, TED evolved into an annual conference in 1990 with talks addressing topics in Technology, Entertainment and Design.  TED speakers provide entertaining, informative content within an 18-minute time limit. To date, more than 1,500 TED talks have been viewed more than a billion times around the world.

Created in the spirit of TED’s mission, TEDx gives communities, organizations and individuals a TED-like experience at the local level.  The “x” stands for independently organized. Thousands of TEDx events have been hosted in over 100 countries.

UNE student Aidan McParland,’15 medical biology and oceanography, led the drive to bring TED to UNE’s campus via TEDxUNE.  McParland completed the lengthy application process earlier this year and was accepted as an official organizer, and he and his fellow student organizers lined up the presenters for tonight’s inaugural Inspiration-themed event. “We want to showcase the brilliance of UNE and our community,” McParland said.

The TEDxUNE event will combine live presenters and TED Talk videos. Speakers include:

  • Linda Greenlaw, the author of three New York Times bestselling books about her life as a commercial fisherman
  • Andrew Stewart, director at Hope Elephants, the Maine-based organization that provides care for injured and aging elephants, as well as conservation outreach and education
  • Barry Costa-Pierce, Ph.D., University of New England Doherty Professor, Director of the UNE Marine Science Center, and an expert on ecological aquaculture. He has authored over 150 publications, including 25 peer-reviewed books and monographs in aquaculture, fisheries and aquatic ecosystems, and sustainability science
  • David Livingstone Smith, Ph.D., University of New England Professor of Philosophy and the author of Less Than Human: Why We Demean, Enslave, and Exterminate Others and Why We Lie:  The Evolutionary Roots of Deception and the Unconscious Mind. Less Than Human won the 2012 Anisfield-Wolf award for non-fiction

Watch TEDxUNE “Inspire” live at 6:30 p.m.