TEDxAuckland 2014 Continues to Add to Impressive Line up
She can speak seven languages, has published two books, her autobiography is part of a high school curriculum and she is
the youngest column writer in New Zealand.
She is 14, was born prematurely with a hole in her heart, under developed lungs, weak eyesight and partial hemiplegia -
an injury to her brain.
She is Muskan Devta, and both of those statements stand true. Yet her adversities are no match for her courage, proving
determination and the will to triumph is more than enough to ascend even over the highest peaks.
Muskan, along with four more inspiring speakers have been confirmed for the second round of TEDxAuckland 2014. Designed
to stimulate Aucklanders through storytelling, sustainable-thinking and innovation, the event will celebrate the
resilience and courage of individuals who are making the world a better place through the theme of Ascending.
TEDxAuckland will be host to Muskan’s powerful story as the third annual event continues to hear from voices that have
new ideas to share. Joining Muskan in the second round is David Downs and Jon Bridges of No.8 Re-Wired, Richard Easther,
Vivian Maidaborn and Riley Elliott. The event is sure to create an environment of ideas worth spreading.
The full descriptions of speakers in the second round is:
David Downs and Jon Bridges – Co-authors of No.8 Re-Wired, a compendium and celebration of New Zealand inventions.
Muskan Devta – Born with a medical condition called partial hemiplegia, Muskan has proved challenges are no obstacle to her, and at
the age of 14 has accomplished plenty: column writer and author of two books, including her autobiography ‘I Dream’, now
a part of her school’s Year 9 curriculum.
Richard Easther –Cosmologist Professor and Head of Physics at Auckland University whose work includes the study of the "primordial dark
ages": a period between the end of inflation and the nucleosynthesis era, a few minutes after the big bang.
Riley Elliot – Zoologist and Marine scientist, the self-proclaimed “Shark Man” uses high-tech science and stimulating visual imagery
to explain the damaging loss of sharks to conservation.
Vivian Maidaborn – Co-Founder of Loomio Cooperative who is passionate about working with other people to find scalable solutions to the
wicked problems of our time: poverty, equal access to education and sustainable local economies.
TEDxAuckland will be at the Aotea Centre on Saturday August 16, 2014 between 10:00am-6:00pm.
For ticketing information, please visit: TicketMaster or TEDxAuckland. com
-ENDS-
About TEDx
x = independently organised event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a programme of local, self-organised 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-organised events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organised TED event. The TED
Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx programme, but individual TEDx events are self-organised. (Subject to
certain rules and regulations.)
About TED
TED is a nonprofit organisation devoted to ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’. Started as a conference in California 1984, TED has
grown to support those world-changing ideas with many initiatives.
At a TED conference, the world's leading thinkers and doers are asked to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or
less. TED speakers have included Roger Ebert, Sheryl Sandberg, Bill Gates, Elizabeth Gilbert, Benoit Mandelbrot,
Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Brian Greene, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
On TED.com, talks from TED conferences are shared with the world for free as TED Talks videos. A new TED Talk is posted
every weekday. Through the Open Translation Project, TED Talks are subtitled by volunteers worldwide. Through our
distribution networks, TED Talks are shared on TV, radio, Netflix and many websites.
The TEDx initiative grants free licenses to people around the world to organise TED-style events in their communities
with TED Talks and live speakers. Selected talks from these events are also turned into TED Talks videos.
The annual TED Prize grants $1 million to an exceptional individual with a wish to change the world. The TED Fellows
programme helps world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help,
amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities. TED-Ed creates short video lessons by pairing master
teachers with animators, for use in classroom instruction or independent learning