Leading Experts and Innovators Share “Ideas Worth Acting On” at TEDxNewEngland 2012

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TEDxNewEngland returns for a second year. The independently organized event, licensed by TED, is being hosted at the studios of Boston public broadcaster WGBH on Wednesday, October 24, 2012.

“We are thrilled that this event is almost full to audience capacity, but anyone can catch all of the action live from the comfort of their own home or office as the event will be streamed live on October 24th on the TEDxNewEngland homepage.”

Created in the spirit of the hugely successful TED conferences’ mission of, “Ideas Worth Spreading”, the goal of TEDxNewEngland – and its unique and captivating combination of presenters and performers – is to bring a thought provoking and invigorating experience to the residents of New England and offer “Ideas Worth Acting On”. This year’s theme will offer a nod to change, and focus on “Reimagining America”.

“With an impressive array of speakers discussing topics ranging from analyzing body language to accomplishing explorations in space, TEDxNewEngland will inspire people of all industries and ages to take action for positive change in our community,” said TEDxNewEngland Host Betsy Myers, founding director, The Center for Women & Business, Bentley University. “We are thrilled that this event is almost full to audience capacity, but anyone can catch all of the action live from the comfort of their own home or office as the event will be streamed live on October 24^th on the TEDxNewEngland homepage.”

“The mission of TED and of public media are very much aligned, so we’re pleased to offer our facilities in support of this day of ideas,” said WGBH President and CEO Jon Abbott.

The event is free and can accommodate 300 participants, but those wishing to attend must apply via an online application by 11:59 p.m. ET Friday, October 19^th and be accepted to be eligible to participate.

For those who cannot attend, live streaming of the entire event will be available through the TEDxNewEngland website. To be part of the online audience go to: http://www.media-server.com/m/p/9944gqxk

When: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 | 11:00 a.m. ET – 7:00 p.m. ET

Where: WGBH Studios | One Guest Street, Boston, MA 02135

Engage with TEDxNewEngland on:

• Twitter: @TEDxNewEngland | #TEDxNE | #ReimaginingAmerica
• Facebook: TEDxNewEngland
• flicker: TEDxNewEngland's Photostream
• YouTube: TEDxTalks - TEDxNewEngland

Speaker line-up:

• Adam Steltzner, American NASA engineer; lead engineer of the Mars Science Lab
• Betsy Myers, founding director, The Center for Women & Business, Bentley University – Host
• Calvin Olsen, poet
• Christopher Probyn, Ph.D., chief economist, State Street
• Don Khoury, human communication expert
• Gerard Senehi, mentalist, mindreader, entertainer
• Jacqueline Salit, president, IndependentVoting.org; former manager of NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s campaigns
• Jeffrey L. Bradach, co-founder & managing partner, Bridgespan Group
• Jimmy Tingle, comedian, fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government
• Juan Enriquez, author, entrepreneur, founding director, Harvard Business School Life Science Project; managing director, Excel Venture Management
• Kurt Andersen, American author and public radio host of Studio 360
• Mark Drela, aerodynamicist
• Nicholas Burns, professor, Diplomacy and International Politics, Harvard University
• Nilofer Merchant, CEO, author and strategist; “The Jane Bond of Innovation”
• Raj Sisodia, educator, author, consultant, professor of marketing, Bentley University
• Robert Hildreth, founder & chairman, Families United in Educational Leadership (FUEL)
• Rohit Deshpande, professor, Harvard Business School
• Steven Pinker, experimental psychologist, cognitive scientist, linguist, author

To learn more about the event, please visit: http://www.tedxnewengland.com/

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.

(Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 26 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. At TED, the world’s leading thinkers and doers are asked to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Benoit Mandelbrot, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Two major TED events are held each year: The TED Conference takes place every spring in Long Beach, California (along with a parallel conference, TEDActive, in Palm Springs), and TEDGlobal is held each summer in Edinburgh, Scotland.

TED’s media initiatives include TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily; the new TED Conversations, enabling broad conversations among TED fans; and the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide.

TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

For information about TED’s upcoming conferences, visit http://www.ted.com/registration

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED