Local TED Talk event FOR THE CURIOUS

NAPERVILLE, IL – On Saturday, November 9th, hundreds of people will converge on Naperville’s Yellow Box theater to explore disruptive ideas from the area’s most visionary and unique speakers. With a theme of “For the Curious”, they’ll discover the unexpected results of a NASA astronaut’s lifelong pursuit, engage with a new nano material, “singularity black”, which is one of the darkest substances in the world, and Participate in a life experiment on creating a collective mind by one of the world’s leading neuroscientists.

From a famous model and actress to an ER doctor and a sensory historian, 15 speakers and performers will share powerful ideas at the popular conference beginning at 1 pm Saturday, Nov. 9th, in the auditorium of the Yellow Box, 1635 Emerson Lane, Naperville.

“Our goal is simple,” says TEDxNaperville founder Arthur Zards. “We want to explore how curiosity can inspire one person, to explore an idea, and to take action. We go deep into what happens when you give in to curiosity, so there are some big surprises this year.”

This year, TEDxNaperville celebrates its 10th anniversary. Its talks since 2010 have generated over 10 million views across more than one hundred speakers.

“Donald Roy Pettit is NASA's oldest active astronaut and he’s presenting a fascinating talk this weekend,” Zards said. “He’s been very curious about something for over 30 years, and for the first time ever, he will publicly share what it is, and it’s not what you think. He’s just one of many original thinkers at TEDxNaperville this year.”

Speakers available for media interviews prior to or at the event include NASA astronaut Don Pettit, model and actress Jennifer Gimenez, neuroscientist Moran Cerf, performance expert Diane Allen, community organizer Channelle Bell, criminal defense attorney and author Leigh Bienen, carbon nanotube artist Jason Chase, elite coach Fergus Connolly, artist and musician Todd Fink, Chicago Sinfonietta CEO Jim Hirsch, ER doctor and TV personality Dr. Darria Long Gillespie, award-winning author Patrica Anne McNair, and sensory historian Carolyn Purnell.

Performers include a group of Romeoville High School students whose offbeat sound must be witnessed in person to believe.

Additionally, conference attendees will enjoy interactive experiences between speaker sessions hosted by the twenty companies that have partnered with the conference, from an astronaut led lecture on how to take photographs in space and experiencing simulated 5G remote VR to demoing pediatric VR therapies, Attendees will also feast on incredible food ranging from sparking water, nitro coffee, BBQ ribs and steak.

Tickets are still on sale to the public for the all-day conference for $95 and can be purchased online at https://tedxnaperville.ticketspice.com/tedxnaperville2019. The ticket price includes access to the entire event, interactive activities, snacks throughout the day, and a buffet dinner during the reception. The event ends at 7:30pm.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TED Talks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, often in the form of short talks delivered by leading thinkers and doers. Many of these talks are given at TED conferences, including our annual gathering in Vancouver, as well as TEDWomen, intimate TED

Salons and thousands of independently organized TEDx events around the world. Videos of these talks are made available, free, on TED.com and other platforms. Audio versions of the talks from TED2019 will also be published to TED's podcast TED Talks Daily, available on Apple Podcasts and all other podcast platforms.

TED's open and free initiatives for spreading ideas include TED.com, where new TED Talk videos are posted daily; TEDx, which licenses thousands of individuals and groups to host local, self-organized TED-style events around the world; the TED Fellows program, which selects innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities; the Audacious Project, which surfaces and funds critical ideas that have the potential to impact millions of lives; TEDSummit, which gathers the most engaged members of the global TED community for brainstorms, discussions, performances, workshops and an eclectic program of mainstage talks; and the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED also has a library of original podcasts, including The TED Interview with Chris Anderson, Sincerely, X, and one of Apple Podcasts’ most downloaded new shows of 2018, WorkLife with Adam Grant.

Follow TED on Twitter at http://twitter.com/TEDTalks, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TED, on Instagram at https://instagram.com/ted and on Snapchat at tedtalkshq.

For press inquiries and press tickets, contact:

Lab Z

Email: info@labz

Cell: 630.327.7107

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