Discompatible competences, the importance of loneliness for development, analysis of suicide letters, the use of algorithms in the law or the capabilities of space radiation particles – these are one of the topics that appeared during this year's edition of the TEDX Warsaw conference. This is a popular intellectual and cultural event that attracts more and more interested parties – both speakers and listeners. The reason is the formula of short, 18-minute, i.e. specific speeches on inspiring ideas. Every year, around 3,000 are held around the world. such events.
Ted – Technology, Entertainment and Design (technique, entertainment and design) – is a brand of regularly organized scientific conferences, at which the speakers have a maximum of 18 minutes to present their ideas, experiences and history. TEDX, in turn, is an independently organized event under the TED license, which aims to spread inspiring ideas in local communities – according to the slogan “Ideas Worth Spreading” (ideas worth disseminating).
The popularity of TEDX is growing rapidly – currently over 3,000 takes place every year. events, including in Poland. One of the largest in our country is TedX Warsaw organized since 2010, which took place this year on June 6.
– The TEDX Warsaw brand attracts more and more interested people. This can be seen even after the number of speakers' applications and candidates for the speech – in this edition we had 900 of them. So there was a lot of work on our part to choose the dozen of the most interesting speeches. What is important, we first choose the topic, and only then we look at who presents it – says Newseria agency Ewa Turek, curator TEDX Warsaw.
Not only scientists and world leaders, but also local activists, teachers, artists and entrepreneurs can speak to the voice. Each event, regardless of scale, works in the spirit of community, education and openness to new perspectives. The most important in events are people – often from very different environments, which are connected by the idea, experience or story that they want to share with others.
– A very important slogan that guides TEDX organizers is diversity when it comes to topics, gender or age. Therefore, we want to ensure that various topics will sound throughout the day. Of course, what is a certain guiding line, because we also have modern time is technology, but we try to make the topics really different, that it complements the whole – explains Ewa Turek.
As the organizers emphasize, TEDxWarsaw 2025 is an event that did not look for easy answers, but asked bold questions important for modern man and society. During this year's edition, Marcin Sarzyński reminded about disappearing professions and skills and appealed to study handicrafts from the masters before they disappear.
Aleksandra Mae Orlikowska argued that loneliness could be the driving force of development – during the pandemic she moved alone by bicycle through 12 European countries. Dr Kamil Rudol, in turn, shared his reflection on the condition of the courts and considering whether the law still needs the truth in the era of algorithms.
Himalar Leszek Cichy also performed on the Warsaw stage, who spoke about the measurement of every man with his own Mount Everest, and Dr. Halsk Witkowska, who presented her conclusions after analyzing over 800 farewell letters of suicides.
Mick Griffin talked about fear of failure, Noemi Zabari – what Mions are for, i.e. molecules made of space radiation, Ewelina Gdaniec – about the use of VR and AR in the science of history. Kamil Sołdacki demonstrated how Conversational AI transforms reading into interactive dialogue with literary characters.
– Topics that are related to technology today resound as very important, and we have speakers who speak about this topic from different sides. It was also important for me that the technology would not change man if a man does not allow it. This is of course good information, but also a signal to include mindfulness, creative thinking, observing yourself and space – reminds the curator Tedx Warsaw.
TEDX appearances often last only 8-12 minutes. This is the time that the average person is able to maintain full focus without losing concentration. Participants speak concisely, specifically and without digression. Essentiality and accessibility make TEDX events so popular. Most of the speeches go to social media – the TEDX channel on YouTube was launched in June 2009 and since then exceeded 43 million subscribers. 237 thousand The films have been displayed over 8 billion times, and their popularity attracts more and more people to organized events.
– The room where this year's Tedx Warsaw took place has 750 places and it is not enough for us. Very often tickets diverge within a few minutes – says Ewa Turek. – We are waiting for spaces that will accommodate more people in the formula of such a theatrical setting, so if such a room is found for us in Warsaw, we will be happy to show more opportunities.
