TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas. TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.
Rohan is the organiser of sevenTEDx events.
In 2015, because of his “unique personal and professional accomplishments” and because of his “demonstrated excellence as an innovative thinker and doer”, Rohan received a special invitation from TED to attend TEDGlobal>Geneva. The conference brought together extraordinary people from around the globe and facilitated the exchange of ideas, experiences, and vision.
See below for details of the TEDx events Rohan has organised over the years.
Organiser:
Rohan Roberts
We’ve put a man on the moon, we've got rovers on Mars, sent space-crafts to comets, probes to the outer planets, and Voyager 1 has just left our solar system.
Today, not only do private companies launch spaceships but we are also discovering exo-planets at a staggering rate. What implications will this broadening of our cosmic horizons have on our species – and what impact will it have on our educational system and our economic institutions?
Organiser:
Rohan Roberts
As Terence McKenna points out, we currently face a crisis of two things: “of consciousness and conditioning. We have the technological power, the engineering skills to save our planet, to cure disease, to feed the hungry, to end war; But we lack the intellectual vision, the ability to change our minds. We must decondition ourselves from 10,000 years of bad behavior. And, it's not easy.”
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The world has changed dramatically as a result of the novel coronavirus. A vaccine will start to ease our collective anxiety, but the reasons why Covid-19 hit the world so hard will not be going away.
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Do we want to go back to how things were or do we see this as an opportunity to create a new normal and reinvent ourselves? We now have a chance to fix many of the challenges facing humanity. What new mindsets do we need for a new beginning? What do we need to unlearn and relearn as a species?
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This conference explores what we need to do differently in a post-pandemic world.
Organiser:
Rohan Roberts
If we wish to live in a 21st century world that is compassionate, creative, and scientifically literate then we need to encourage the youth to start challenging old notions and questioning traditional ways of doing things.
The system needs repairing, and the best people to fix it are the youth.
The young speakers at this event approach the theme from any angle: economics, art, literature, science, personal experience etc. They speak with passion, sincerity, and conviction to entertain, educate, and enlighten the audience.
Organiser:
Rohan Roberts
We are now at the dawn of the Augmented Age when humans will increasingly use computational systems to enhance how we think, robotic systems to enhance how we create, and digital-biological systems to enhance our bodies and nervous systems.
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The human species is poised for an upgrade.
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However, this new and better version of ourselves will require more than a biotechnological upgrade, we will need a concomitant upgrade in our ethico-moral, spirituo-intellectual, politico-economic, and visuo-aesthetical systems as well.
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The 2022 TEDxGEMSWellingtonAcademyAlKhail conference will explore all the different ways in which we can be better and how we can address some of our pressing challenges of today to prepare for a happier, healthier, more prosperous, and more equitable future.
Organiser:
Rohan Roberts
Humanity is making rapid progress. An exciting future awaits us in which artificial intelligence, robotics, digital manufacturing, synthetic biology, and other exponentially growing technologies will enable us to make greater gains in the next two decades than we have in the previous 200 years.
We will soon have the ability to meet and exceed the basic needs of every person on the planet. Equity and Abundance for all may well be within our grasp.
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The 2023 TEDxGEMSWellingtonAcademyAlKhail conference will view the future from a techno-optimistic lens and explore what the future might look like based on some of the incredible innovations being carried out by our best and brightest minds today.
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The theme, Fast Forward, encourages speakers to explore what’s happening that’s exciting today and present their vision for a hopeful tomorrow.
Organiser:
Rohan Roberts
In our ever-evolving world, the pressing need for sustainable urban development has never been more critical. Join us at TEDxGEMSWellingtonAcademyAlKhail as we delve into the captivating realm of Eco Urbanism.
This series of talks will explore the innovative ideas, groundbreaking technologies, and inspiring stories that are shaping the future of our cities.
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The various speakers will shed light on the intersection of ecology and urbanism, highlighting the ways in which we can transform our urban landscapes into thriving, environmentally conscious hubs. From green architecture, deep ecology and circular economies to renewable energy, biomimicry and carbon neutrality, we'll explore how Eco Urbanism can pave the way for a greener, cleaner, and more resilient urban future.