We’ve written about TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) before, a forward-thinking ideas conference that invites the world’s brightest minds to discuss the problems of the day, the challenges of the future and the foibles of the past.
The conference has attracted the likes of Al Gore, Bill Clinton and Bill Gates but TED’s scope is far wider than its acronym might imply. Anthropologists speak alongside Economists, Psychologists, World Leaders, Graphic Designers and Comedians about topics as diverse as black holes, social inequality, cognition and branding. And for the most part speakers are remarkably eloquent leaders in their field. It’s sickening how successful and driven these people are and by sickening I mean “I’m mad jealous of”. Just imagine those intolerable over-achievers from high school and add 35 years, hundreds of PhD’s, more drive and millions of dollars.
Anyway, in keeping with their “Ideas Worth Spreading” mantra the conference awards an annual prize “designed to leverage the TED community’s exceptional array of talent and resources. It is awarded annually to three exceptional individuals who each receive $100,000 and, much more important, the granting of “One Wish to Change the World.””
This year the TED Prize has been awarded to the naked chef Jamie Oliver in recognition of his work to change dietary attitudes in the British public school system. As a result Jamie will receive $100,000 and one wish – which we assume will involve saving school children from crisps, le snacks and muesli bars.
Check out 2008 TED Prize recipient, Dave Eggars, discuss his “one wish” below.
