Prince George, B.C. – Engaging the broader community on topics that will affect them now and in the future is the goal of the next TEDx event at the University of Northern British Columbia.

With the theme Past the Future, TEDxUNBC returns to Prince George for a second time in three years, slated for Oct. 5, 2019 in the University’s Canfor Theatre.

“This year’s conference is centred on the idea that is mixed with both dreams and dread: the future,” says TEDxUNBC co-organizer Kirk Walker. “Humans are not the only species to think in terms of the future. But, we are obsessed with it, from the realities of climate change to the still fanciful flying cars.”

“The TEDx platform is a great avenue to disseminate thought and knowledge from within the University community and beyond,” said UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks. “TEDxUNBC is an outstanding opportunity to get the northern region involved to highlight individuals with specializations and innovations outside the academic setting.”

A call for speakers is now open until June 7 for those who wish to potentially speak at TEDxUNBC 2019.

All shortlisted candidates will then be asked to take part in phase 2, auditions in front of the TEDxUNBC 2019 Speaker Selection Committee. All auditions will be recorded. All successful applicants will then be contacted shortly after auditions have been concluded. More details of the selection process are available on the TEDxUNBC website.

TEDxUNBC 2019 is encouraging all community members to put forward an idea for a talk and be part of making TEDxUNBC 2019 a huge success.

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. 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.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or fewer) delivered by today's leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED's annual conference in Vancouver, British Columbia, and made available, free, on TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Monica Lewinsky, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman.

TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from thousands of volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed; the annual million-dollar TED Prize, which funds exceptional individuals with a "wish," or idea, to create change in the world; TEDx, which provides licenses to thousands of individuals and groups who host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; and the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.