TED Simulcast Recap: Friday, February 6th
I was extremely fortunate to attend a local simulcast of the TED Conference today, and it was incredible, I had such a great time! Here are a few words about each TED Talk I watched today.
Session 8: Discover
Thelma Golden Curator of the Harlem Studio Museum
Made me feel good about museums. How can a museum revitalize a neighborhood? Museums need to be turned over to artists to show how they work, curation creates conversations between pieces and provokes thoughts in the viewer. Telling stories through the work of others.
Jennifer Mather Psychologist
Made a case for octopus intelligence. Defined intelligence, 3 Ps: personality, play, [I forget the third one]. Mom: “I feel bad that we have one in the freezer.”
Nalini Nadkarni Tree Researcher
Preserving forests is important! People don’t really care. Marketing to a young demographic by sending out “Tree Researcher Barbie.” Engages prisoners in time-consuming work restoring mosses. They love it, it requires no sharp tools, and it benefits the environment. Brilliant.
Bonnie Bassler Molecular Biologist
I thought I had no interest in bacteria, other than the fact that it grosses me out. Turns out bacteria is actually good for you and necessary. Bacteria speaks in a chemical language both within its species and with all bacteria. We are running out of antibiotics, but by understanding how bacteria interact we can, using similarly shaped synthetic receptors, block the feedback loop that causes them to grow. We can also stimulate positive bacteria, “make their conversations better.” Absolutely TERRIFIC presenter. Great use of powerpoint to make herself understood.
Nathan Wolfe
Wolfe is tracking the spread of diseases from animals to humans by collecting blood samples in the jungle. Fascinating.
Session 9: Grow
Natasha Tsakos
WOW. What an amazing presentation, I want to see her performance. Interested in the intersection of technology and performance. Kinda like a mime that performs perfectly alongside music, sound effects, and 3D projections. Absolutely stunning and captivating. Fun to watch! I wish her good luck with her Zero character.
Rosamund Zander Therapist and Coach
LOVE the chair. “I feel so much more secure in my chair.” LOVE LOVE LOVE her manual for adult life! “Nobody wrote it, so I decided to start it.” Brilliant.
Dickson Despommier
Thinks high-rise hydroponic farming will save the world. Beautiful renderings. He seems slightly off his rocker. Something didn’t sit right with me about his plan.
Willie Smits
Not only presented the most comprehensive, working plan to create sustainable economies that respect the environment that I’ve ever heard, but accomplished it in the most unforgiving area in the world AND he controls weather! Is there anything he didn’t think of? A true genius.
Session 10: Dare
Capacitor
Reminded of Artists in Action class from this summer with the amazing Judy. These dancers/acrobats moved slowly to strange music on beautiful, kinetic, sculptural supports. Collaborating with a system. Limiting yourself to movement inside a shape or system can force you to move in ways you never expected.
Ray Zahab
I must’ve been in the bathroom for this one?
Mary Roach
Author of Stiff. Talked about the science behind orgasms. Except not really science, more like funny stuff. Funniest talk of the day, had me cracking up. I want to read her book, she’s a riot. Answered the question: can legally dead people have orgasms? (yes)
Lena Maria Klingvall
Born with no arms and one deformed leg. Doesn’t ask for sympathy. Loves her disability. Does everything with her feet and mouth. Extremely capable. Happy! Great parents. Great personality. Inspiring and not cheezy. Great handwriting with her foot!
Ueli Gegenschatz
THE DUDE IN THE WINGSUIT VIDEO ON YOUTUBE. OMG. So funny and exciting.
Herbie Hancock
Feeling the music! Awesome bassist.
Other Things
Chris Anderson
Was really boring, uncharismatic, and occasionally rude. I really appreciate the work he does putting TED together, but it doesn’t make him a good MC. Next year, replace him with June Cohen, his #2 who has the biggest smile in the world!
Evan Williams CEO of Twitter
Had some interesting things to say about Twitter. I am warming up to the service. I follow John Maeda, Jenny Holzer, and the historical line-by-line diary I posted about a few days ago. Still no biz model? Getting worried!!
Eric Lewis
Gave a RAPTUROUS piano performance. He looked possessed. IN-CRED-I-BLE. Made me think of The Gift/Whitman.
New TED.com
Cool new feature with translation into many uncommon languages and searchable interactive transcripts. They are doing good things.
Ben Zander & Imogen Heap @ Pop!Tech
Watched two talks after TED from Pop!Tech by Ben Zander (Husband of Rosamund Zander) he gave a cello lesson to his student in front of the audience. He’s an amazing teacher/person. Imogen heap did improv/jammed with herself through loops.
The Food, The Dogs, The Hosts, The People
All amazing. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
