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• 2000 delegates heard from 14 speakers on 11^th November at Colston Hall
• The event trended UK wide on Twitter reaching over 2.7million accounts
• Highlights included a talk via Bob, the robot avatar – a TEDx talk first
• Talks now launched online – click here to watch mine… and do thumbs up & share if you like it 🙂 Kim Ingleby

The talks from last month’s sell out TEDxBristol are now available online at YouTube. TEDx events, which are independently organised in the format of TED talks are global events and this Bristol edition was the biggest the UK has ever seen.

Around 2,000 delegates descended on Colston Hall to see 14 speakers provide original talks centred on the theme, ‘Great Expectations’.  Speakers included Dr Dawn Harper from Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, who talked about the strain type 2 diabetes puts on the NHS and Dr Paul Bremner, from Bristol Robotics Laboratory, who delivered a talk via Bob, the robot avatar, in what was a TEDx first. The packed out auditorium gave a standing ovation and deafening applause after the talk from Al Crisci MBE of The Clink Charity, who told his story about setting up his prestigious ‘Clink’ restaurants in prisons around the country, which give prisoners the chance to gain qualifications and a second chance in life.  Lynne Elvins, Dr Kate Pullinger, Meabh Quoirin, Kim Ingleby, Tom Savage, Kirsty Cockburn, Daniel Edmund, Jess Ratty, Jane Evans, Patrick Aryee and David Sloly completed the line-up. BBC DIY SOS presenter, Mark Millar, compered the day.

The feedback from the audience was positive throughout the day, and the online buzz was unprecedented, with the event’s hashtag, #TEDxBRS, trending 7^th in the UK. Over 2.7 million user accounts were reached on the day.  Engaging question and answer sessions took place after both the morning and afternoon speakers, with questions sent in from the audience via Twitter, giving delegates the opportunity to find out more about the subject of the talks.

This TEDxBristol was keen to be as green as possible in a nod to the city’s European Green Capital status. A paperless programme was delivered through a brand new app built by Bristol based Rockpool Digital, and First Bus provided free transport from Cabot Circus to Colston Hall using their world renown Poo Bus and from Bristol Temple Meads on the number 70 & 71 hybrid buses. Delegates received a KeepCup, a reusable hot drinks receptacle, thanks to partners Ecosurety, to limit the number of single use cups throughout the day.

Alongside the talks the day was full of interactive areas throughout Colston Hall, from the Innovation Zone which hosted Bristol Robotics Laboratory, to the Mind, Body & Soul Zone where delegates enjoyed free laughter yoga, meditation and Indian head massage taster sessions. The OggaDoon selfie booth gave delegates and speakers alike to share their great expectations for the future. Delegates could also get a sneak peek of the TEDxBristol talks shaping up in their online form, as Floating Harbour Films and Bath Spa University students edited the talks as they happened.

The event’s success was delivered through collaboration of several individuals and Bristol businesses worked together to produce the event, with 22 delivery partners and sponsors in total. RockPool Digital developed the app, CPL, Flat Earth and Floating Harbour Films oversaw the technical production and Aspect TV and Film are producing the behind the scenes film content, whilst OggaDoon PR & Media delivered the media and communications with Bath Spa University assisting on social media and filming.

Mel Rodrigues, curator of TEDxBristol 2015 said:

“We could not have hoped for a more successful TEDxBristol. Our speakers wowed the receptive and engaged audience throughout the day, and our team of volunteers worked tirelessly behind the scenes to deliver a professional event. Having this TEDxBristol at the Colston Hall meant it was on a scale bigger and better than ever before, and we’re really pleased with the overwhelmingly positive response we have received from delegates, partners and the speakers.  If you missed out on attending the event, you can now join the crowd by watching the films online.”

The organisers behind TEDxBristol are keen for the talks to get the attention of TED.com.  Mel continued:

“We are now calling on Bristolians and TEDxBristol fans to view and like the films on YouTube freely.  This way our talks will increase in popularity and get spread further putting Bristol truly on the map in the TED.com world.”

All talks are available on YouTube; click here to access.

For interviews, please contact Caroline Macdonald:

OggaDoon

Guerrilla PR and Media

07970 233490
caroline@oggadoon.co.uk  

TEDxBristol is an independently organised TED event. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organised events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection.

TEDxBristol is sponsored by Newicon, AWW and Just One.

Our partners are Rockpool Digital, Floating Harbour Films, Ecosurety, OggaDoon Flat Earth, CPL, Aspect Film and Video, Bath Spa University, Gumption, Boston Tea Party,  Bristol Post, Love the Future, Hodos Consultancy, House of Junk, Wriggle, Bristol 2015, Clifton Hotels, Kolor Skemes and First Group.