There will be two official TED Talks conferences in 2017—one in Canada and one in Tanzania—and attending will run you about $6,000 to $12,000, assuming you pass the application process. If that’s not realistic for you, but you still can’t get enough of those short on-stage chats on topics of design, innovation and big ideas, a TEDx conference, like the upcoming TEDxLA, might be just the ticket.
Independent organizers take on the TED concept to throw dozens of events each year under the TEDx brand. In 2016, we’ve seen TEDxUCLA, TEDxManhattanBeach, TEDxHollywood and more, each taking their own niche spin on the concept.
For December’s TEDxLA, the theme of the day is “imagine.” The roster of speakers and performers who will be engaging with the idea of imagining the future includes actor Harry Hamlin (you’ll recognize him from LA Law or Mad Men, if not from his numerous starring stage roles in New York, London and beyond) who, in addition to his Hollywood career, is a co-founder of clean fusion energy tech startup, Tri Alpha Energy.
A keynote address will be delivered by entrepreneur and business leader Peter Diamandis, the founder of the XPRIZE and Singularity University, as well as 17 different startup companies (and he just happens to have his face on Greek postage stamps). Also on the schedule are Maria Klawe—a mathematician and computer science researcher who became the first female president of Harvey Mudd College—and composer and pianist Tara Kamangar.
There are more speakers yet to be announced to fill the full day-long event with talks on subjects ranging from space travel to gender equality and public education.
TEDxLA takes place at the Dolby Theater, 6801 Hollywood Blvd, on December 3 from 9am to 6pm. Tickets are on sale for $250.
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