Every year, nonprofit TED (Technology, Teaching, Design) hosts a global conference featuring a curated program of speakers and performers from around the world. The theme of this year’s conference is “The Stuff of Life,” and raises the questions, “What is life?” and “How can life be better lived?”
The conference is being held in Edinburgh, Scotland, but Silicon Valley residents looking to enrich their lives can watch a free live stream of the TEDGlobal conference on July 13 at Santana Row in San Jose. The stream will cover a two-hour portion of the four day conference, focusing on “The Dark Side” of contemporary life.
“The Dark Side” lecture series tackles topics such as fraud, torture, and organized crime. In true TED style, each speaker will present an 18-minute speech on their topic. Social media expert Pamela Meyer discusses truth, deception, and how to detect a liar. Author Ben Goldacre unpicks the bad science propagated by pharmaceutical corporations, PR companies, privately supported think tanks and quacks. Misha Glenny, journalist and author of McMafia, investigates global organized crime. Karen Tse believes it is possible to end the too-common practice of torture in her lifetime, and discusses why.
Cybersecurity expert Mikko Hypponen’s lecture may resonate with the techies in Silicon Valley. His lecture asks, “As computer access expands, what’s the next killer virus? And how will the world cope with it?” Hypponen has done classified briefings on the operation of a hugely complex worm designed to sabotage Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities and is currently the chief research officer at F-Secure Corporation in Finland.
The series is rounded out by singer Eddi Reader, formerly of the pop band Fairground Attraction. Her soulful tunes call the listener to think about war and peace and consider their place on Earth.
The live screening of the lecture series is free, but seating is limited so pre-registration is required. The screening will take place outdoors in Santana Row’s Park Valencia.
