TED is an annual conference dedicated to the dissemination of knowledge and ideas. Curated by a nonprofit organization, the conference originally focused on the worlds of technology, entertainment, and design (hence the acronym), but in the quarter-century since its founding, its thrust has become more diverse. Its tag line, "Ideas Worth Spreading," has also been applied to the many smaller regional get-togethers known as "TEDx" events. These conferences, while following the TED mold, are conducted by independent communities and organizations across the globe and are often themed.
TEDxCaltech, to be held on the Caltech campus January 14, 2011, is titled "Feynman's Vision: The Next 50 Years." The day-long conference pays homage to Nobel laureate and longtime Caltech professor of physics Richard Feynman, who was famous for the sheer pleasure he took in learning things—anything. Its illustrious roster of speakers includes four Caltech graduate students, who will address the audience on topics as diverse as using science to create art and programming robots to behave autonomously.
To learn more and to register for the event, go to TEDxCaltech.com.