With less than a month to go until Cornwall’s first TEDx event, the final speaker has been revealed.
Sam Amps, a freediving instructor and former UK team freediver, completes the line-up for TEDxTruro, which will take place on September 9 in Truro’s Burrell Theatre.
In a talk entitled ‘Under pressure and under control’, Falmouth-based Amps will explain how the tactics that freedivers use to survive can also help the rest of us make it through when pressure is high and time is tight.
Inspired by the TED conference, where some of the “world’s best thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives”, TEDxTruro’s theme is ‘Time and Tide’, with inspiring talks from speakers on topics ranging from marine conservation to searching for life in space.
Mandy Reynolds, TEDxTruro curator and licensee, commented: “We are delighted that Sam is joining our lineup and I look forward to hearing her share her passion for freediving and how its techniques can help us all cope under pressure.
“Our first TEDxTruro event looks set to be memorable, with a great selection of speakers to get us thinking and sharing ideas.”
Other speakers will include Dr Heather Koldewey from the Zoological Society of London, whose talk ‘Optimistic Oceans’ will put the case for a more positive approach to promoting marine conservation.
Overcoming tragedy and making the most of the time you have will be the focus of Victoria Milligan’s talk. Victoria’s life was torn apart in 2013 when she was involved in a speed boat accident in Padstow, which claimed the lives of her husband and eight-year-old daughter.
Chris Williams from the New Economics Foundation will focus on fishing and the need for fresh thinking to ensure that the industry reaps the greatest benefits for society, while clinical psychologist and software designer Dr Craig Newman will look at the potential for technology to empower patients of chronic illnesses.
Dr Jess Tyrrell from the University of Exeter will ask: “Is life tougher for short men and overweight women?” She will use “big data” and genetics to provide the answer.
Divorce and separation will be the focus for Herve G Wery, who will talk about the need to make a parent’s love for their child the priority during family breakdowns.
Nathan Mayne, a senior lecturer of astrophysics at the University of Exeter will focus on the search for life in distant solar systems.
Olivia Lowry, a Cornish writer and performer, will talk about the inspiration for her play The Coastguard’s Daughter, which is based on true events which unfolded in and around her family home in Pentewan.
TED began in the USA in 1984 and is devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks of 18 minutes or less. Today TED covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. TED has become a viral video phenomenon and global community, with millions of people around the world watching and sharing TED talks online. TEDx events are inspired by TED, but are independent and self-organised.
For more information about TEDxTruro, click here.
