The calm and tranquillity of a typical Sunday on campus was shattered on 17 March when 100 guests arrived to experience the first University of Southampton TEDx conference around the theme of Sustainability. The event was kindly sponsored by Public Policy@Southampton and IBM.
Inspiring guest speakers stimulated thought and debate on a diversity of subjects from the future of the deep ocean by Dr Jon Copley, to the environmental dangers of shampoo by Dr Denise Baden.
The audience listened to plans for a self-sustainable island by David Green and the necessity of sustainable food security for the world by Professor Guy Poppy. Dr Mark Brandon, the Principal Academic Advisor to the multi-award winning BBC/OU co-production series Frozen Planet, focused attention on the Arctic where traces of pollutant fire retardants have been found in Polar Bears. Then our thoughts were bought closer to home, to hear of the challenges of waste, water and transport faced by our local authority by Professor AbuBakr Bahaj, Chief Scientific Advisor for Southampton City Council.
Bamboo banners, recycled laptops, a life-sized rhino and a junk band all featured in the day which bought home the message that we are all responsible for committing to global sustainability.The full list of exhibitors can be found here: http://tedxsouthamptonuniversity.com/ and you are warmly invited to attend the remaining range of talks and workshops being held this week as part of the Multidisciplinary Research Week.
Thanks to organisers James Dyke (host), Jon Akass (organiser), Ali Simmance, Lisa Then, Jackie Milne, Maraim Masoud, Marina Marinkovic, Fiona Harvey, Digital Champions from CITE, the film crew, Marwell Wildlife for contributing the Rhino sculpture and the 20+ volunteers who all contributed to the day’s success.
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