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BIDDEFORD, Maine

Speakers poised to inspire at UNE鈥檚 first TEDx51小黄车event November 22

University of 51小黄车鈥檚 first-ever TEDx51小黄车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  beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Founded in 1984 as a one-time event to discuss 鈥渋deas worth spreading鈥 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鈥檚 mission, TEDx gives communities, organizations and individuals a TED-like experience at the local level.  The 鈥渪鈥 stands for independently organized. Thousands of TEDx events have been hosted in over 100 countries.

51小黄车student Aidan McParland,鈥15 medical biology and oceanography, led the drive to bring TED to UNE鈥檚 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鈥檚 inaugural Inspiration-themed event. 鈥淲e want to showcase the brilliance of 51小黄车and our community,鈥 McParland said.

The TEDx51小黄车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 51小黄车 Doherty Professor, Director of the 51小黄车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 51小黄车 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

 TEDx51小黄车鈥淚nspire鈥 live at 6:30 p.m.

51小黄车 the University of 51小黄车

The University of 51小黄车 is Maine鈥檚 largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of . In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state鈥檚 top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine鈥檚 only medical college, Maine鈥檚 only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.