Frequently Asked Questions

TED is a world-renowned organization built around the mantra “ideas worth spreading”. Using a mixture of live speakers and events, the conference has attracted celebrated figures from across all disciplines to speak to audiences on just about anything. TED launched the TEDx program to help individuals, schools, and organizations create and host their own local, TED-style events that use a mix of TED videos and live speakers - and in doing so, release TED free to the world. The TEDx program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

TED conferences are organized and run directly by TED. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently on a community-by-community basis. The goal of TEDx is to inspire a passion for spreading ideas from within local communities.

To learn more about TED or to view past TED Talks at other conferences, we recommend that you visit www.ted.com.

Our very first conference was held back in 2011 and was referred to as TEDxUWO at the time. Since then we have held four more TEDxWesternU conferences in 2013, 2015, 2018,2023 and most recently in 2024. Our upcoming conference is being held in February 2025!

In accordance with official TEDx rules and regulations, the TEDxWesternU conference is only able to accommodate 400 in-person guests. However, we also welcome a wider online audience to tune in during the conference day through a livestream.

The conference is a full-day event that runs from approximately 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The exact timing is currently tentative.

There are a limited number of media passes for each years conference. Be sure to follow our social media channels or sign up for our email newsletter to know when our next conference will be.

We are always open to collaborating on sponsorship opportunities! Please email us at tedx@uwo.ca to explore partnership opportunities for our upcoming TEDxWesternU conferences!!

Our organizing team consists of students, alumni, and staff members. The student and alumni based executive team are a group of dedicated and passionate volunteers that work closely with various Western University staff members to help plan and coordinate the conference.

Stay tuned for more detailed information by following our social media channels or sign-up to our email newsletter.

Yes! In addition to our core executive team and collaboration with Western staff members, we also open up a limited number of volunteer positions for each year’s conference. These volunteer positions are different from the executive team positions in that these roles involve less time commitment and will contain duties that are more specific to activities on the day of the conference.

Applicants must be a current Western University student in order to be eligible for one of our additional volunteer positions. This opportunity is open to all full-time, part-time, undergraduate, and postgraduate students at Western University.

Volunteer applications for our next conference are currently to be determined. For more exact details and to be the first notified you can follow our social media channels or sign-up to our email newsletter.

Opportunities for speaker nominations may be open for future conferences, so be sure to stay connected through our social media channels or sign-up to our email newsletter to be the first to know.

Our executive team is works closely with Western University staff members to create a shortlist of speakers. The focus is on creating a speaker program that highlights the achievements of individuals at Western University and the London and greater Southwestern Ontario communities, while showing diversity in fields of interest.

TEDxWesternU aims to host a diverse group of speakers from the Western University and the London and greater Southwestern Ontario communities. This includes Western University professors, alumni, and students, along with influential community members who are leaders and visionaries creating impact in their fields of expertise.

No, all of our speakers participate on a voluntary basis as per the official TEDx rules. However, travel and accommodations are covered.

TEDxWesternU gathers change-makers, go-getters, thought leaders and curious minds of all ages at Western University and within our greater communties. Our attendees, both in-person and virtual, all come together to share ideas worth spreading and explore how we can spark meaningful change. We encourage you to also experience TEDxWesternU via the videos that will be uploaded online to the TEDx Talks YouTube channel after the event.

As TEDxWesternU is a non-profit organization, charging a fee helps to ensure that we can sustain this event in the future. Our goal is to continue to grow TEDxWesternU to reach new and broader audiences each year. The money collected from ticket fees is allocated back to the conference to support such growth. However, we will not turn away accepted applicants who are unable to afford tickets to the event. A portion of tickets have been set aside for this circumstance.

Delegate applications for our next conference are currently to be determined. For more exact details and to be the first notified you can follow our social media channels or sign-up to our email newsletter.