Ted x conference 2014
The Carmel High School TEDx Club organized and hosted a TEDx Conference that took place on April 19, 2014. This conference was based upon the official TED layout with multiple speakers talking for 18 minutes or less. A portion of these talks and videos discussed environmental sustainable living and how to implement simple practices in daily life to minimize one’s environmental impact.
TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.
In their final project report, CHS TEDx Club students note, “It was meaningful to see the effects of the conference as illustrated in the post conference survey we gave all attendees as per TED rules. We genuinely made a difference, and it was overwhelming to realize the large amount of inspiration the conference provided for the community.”
During the six hour event, a dozen speakers presented thought-provoking short talks to over 90 participants. Speakers included innovators in science and business from the Indianapolis area, as well as area teachers and students. In addition to hearing live presenters, conference participants viewed many TEDx prerecorded videos like this one by Joe Smith which describes how US residents can save over a half billion pounds of paper per year by simply knowing how to use paper towels more efficiently when drying one’s hands.
The CHS TEDx Club brainstormed ways to help green their event. They chose to: register online vs. via paper forms, have a flip chart to show the program agenda vs. individual programs, use reusable cups instead of disposable cups and bottles, and more.
Inspired by the idea that “things don’t have to be complicated,” speakers shared ideas about life, medicine, business, music, athletics, the environment, and more.
Twenty-six Carmel High School students in the CHS TEDx Club worked to make this event a success.
Student Charles Liang, president of the CHS Environmental Club, presented a talk about Vampire Energy , including recommendations for everyday actions people can take to avoid wasting both money and energy.
To make their event greener, and to illustrate how small changes effect big improvements, the CHS TEDx Club borrowed the cooler and cups purchased with the 2010 Carmel Green Teen funded Coolers are Cooler with Cups project for use at break times instead of using disposable cups or bottled water.