Winchester welcomes wide range of speakers to latest TEDx event

The third TEDx event in the city was held on Saturday June 17 at Winchester University's West Downs Campus.

Ten speakers, from a broad range of backgrounds, gave 15-minute talks on subjects from geology to AI.

The speakers were: Natalie Welch - Reimagining Labels: The Impact on Self and Others; Stuart Evans - The Distance Between Things; Georgie Palmer - How to talk to Tell; Prof Chris Jackson - The secret life of a geologist; Lauren Ingram - How to build a better internet; Rebecca Smith - Food, People and Packaging - challenging the hospitality norms; Shadi Ganjavian-Connor - Dare to be different; Onyinye Udokporo - How Neurodiversity Enables Phenomenal Entrepreneurs; Dale Lane - Education in the age of AI and Simon Terry - Spring Awakening.

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BBC journalist Georgie Palmer, who lives in Twyford, spoke about how her life changed after a terrifying experience in Spain. She said: “I'd been out on a walk with a friend and just got back to her apartment when I felt a tap on my shoulder. 

“I turned around and there was a man with a rolled-up newspaper. The next thing I knew, he ripped out a 12-inch knife and was holding it to my throat demanding money.
"I froze to the spot, paralysed with fear. Luckily my friend screamed as loud as she could and he fled the scene. But the emotional fall-out would last a lifetime. But I later realised it was the catalyst for positive change in my life.”

Event organiser Jan Carlyle said: “Our theme is 'Reimagine' which is something we stumbled across as we started to come out of the Covid-19 pandemic. People were looking at every part of their life. For example our work, travel and time we spent with friends and family. 

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“We felt that a lot of people were using this phrase. It's an opportunity to flip something on its head and make something new. The talks are wildly different which is part of the TEDx experience. They are emotional and challenging. 

“We also had scientific talks, so the hope is that people learn something and gain some new knowledge about the energy crisis. I also hope people come away with connections and share new ideas. 

“As soon as you start to scratch below the surface in Winchester, you find that there are so many interesting people. Around 70 per cent of our speakers are from Winchester and the surrounding area. There is so much going on and people are involved with so many projects.

“TEDx is an opportunity to highlight local people with local ideas.”

For information about future events, visit tedxwinchester.com.