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TED Global Idea Search application form

We’re hosting a global idea search with a mission: to hear big, bold ideas from every corner of the world! This application form is the first step. If you’re selected to proceed to the next step, you’ll be invited to a virtual event to talk more about your ideas. Finalists will be invited to give a TED Talk, either virtually or in person. Before filling out your application, we highly recommend you read the "tips for success before applying" at go.ted.com/ideasearch. Applications without videos or applications with videos that exceed two minutes will not be considered. The deadline for this round of submissions has been extended to January 31, 2021 (11:59pm EST).

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What is your talk idea?
What is the unique idea that you want to share in your TED Talk? In a few sentences, please describe the core of your talk idea, and what makes the talk idea new. Before answering this question, we highly recommend you read the "tips for success before applying" at go.ted.com/ideasearch.


What are the main takeaways for the audience?
If the idea is about something that can be implemented, what would the impact be — what would change? If the idea is about an experience, what lessons came from that experience that could be valuable to others?


Why you?
We want to make sure you’re the right messenger for your unique idea! So please share a brief biography that includes information about your connection and experience with your idea worth spreading, and what makes you uniquely qualified to share this idea.


More about you
Please share links to your website or any other places online where we can learn more about you. Please only share links that are public.


Please make a two-minute video following these instructions. Please read through these instructions fully and carefully before starting your video. Applications without videos will not be considered, nor will applications with videos that exceed two minutes. VIDEO SETUP: - Film yourself using good lighting angled towards your face rather than coming from behind you. Do not use a green screen as your background. - Use a stable camera oriented in horizontal framing (this does not need to be a fancy camera -- it can be a computer or phone camera), set to the highest resolution. (On most phones, the resolution you want to use is 4k, 1080.) - Make sure your sound is clear and audible (avoid filming outside, and prevent objects from rubbing on the microphone).  - Your combined answers to the four questions (see below) should not exceed two minutes. A good way to plan for two minutes is to write out a script that is around 280 - 300 words. - When you are done, upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and title the video, “your name - TED Global Idea Search”. Make sure the video is listed as “public” or “unlisted” so that we won’t need a password to view it. Please paste the full link (including https://) below. VIDEO QUESTIONS: Please answer these four questions in your two-minute video. QUESTION 1. Who are you and what are your credentials? - This can be short -- a couple of sentences based on your answer to the brief biography question above. - For example, “My name is Ken Lacovara. I am an American paleontologist and geologist at Rowan University and fellow of the Explorers Club, and the founder of the Edelman Fossil Park of Rowan University in Mantua Township, New Jersey.” QUESTION 2. What is the idea you want to share? - You can use your written answer to the question, "What is the unique idea that you want to share in your TED Talk?" above as a foundation for this answer. Just make sure that your talk idea comes through clearly in this video without also needing to read your application. State your idea, and describe it. Be specific! - For example, “The idea for my TED Talk is how hunting for dinosaurs showed me our place in the universe. When I unearthed the Dreadnoughtus -- a 77-million-year-old sauropod that was as tall as a two-story house and as heavy as a jumbo jet -- I realized that it was amazingly improbable for me, a tiny mammal living in the cracks of the dinosaur world, could evolve into a sentient being capable of understanding these magnificent creatures.” QUESTION 3. What insights will you leave the audience with? - Be specific! - For example, “I will show the audience how studying the ancient past gives us perspective and humility. Dinosaurs died in the world's fifth mass extinction, snuffed out in a cosmic accident through no fault of their own. They didn't see it coming, and they didn't have a choice. We, on the other hand, do have a choice. And the nature of the fossil record tells us that our place on this planet is both precarious and potentially fleeting. Right now, our species is propagating an environmental disaster of geological proportions that is so broad and so severe, it can rightly be called the sixth extinction. Only unlike the dinosaurs, we can see it coming. And unlike the dinosaurs, we can do something about it. That choice is ours.” QUESTION 4. Why should we invite you to give a TED Talk? - You can say whatever you'd like here! We suggest a brief answer to this. - For example, "You should invite me to speak at TED because of my recognized contributions in the fields of exploration, scientific research, and the welfare of humanity. And because no previous TED speakers have talked about how dinosaur extinction can inform our future as a species!” UPLOAD YOUR VIDEO: - Please upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo and title the video, “your name - TED Global Idea Search”. - Make sure the video is listed as “public” or “unlisted” so that we won’t need a password to view it. - Please paste the full link (including https://) below:
How did you hear about the TED Global Idea Search?
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • TED.com homepage
  • TED email newsletter
  • TED Talks Daily podcast
  • TED Radio Hour podcast
  • TED Business podcast
  • Word of mouth
  • Other
Before submitting your application, please review how TED processes the personal information you provide to us
- We will evaluate your application and will share the information with staff members and third parties selected to review speaker applications. - Your information will be processed in accordance with TED's privacy policy: ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/privacy-policy - Please reach out to privacy@ted.com if you have any concerns with TED managing your data. By checking this box, I consent and agree to TED processing my information as defined above.

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