TEDxBasel 2016

On the 28th of May 2016, TEDxBasel took place in the Musical Theater Basel. With an audience of over 500 people, the day was packed with a fascinating range of speakers, live performances and opportunities to interact. Our 17 live talks covered a wide range of subjects and great ideas, from comparing a body to a musical instrument to an Auschwitz survivor story and an interactive Virtual Reality performance, a hugely entertaining day was had.

In addition to the live talks, one audience member was given the chance to talk onstage along with the speakers and share their own idea. This person was chosen by fellow audience members who voted for the best pop-up talk.

We want to thank everyone who participated in TEDxBasel 2016.

Our 2016 TEDxBasel event would not have been possible without the generous support, encouragement and of course contributions from our speakers, our volunteers and partners.

If you missed the event, check out some of the highlights from the day below.

Speakers

Talks

Below you will find some of our 2016 talks - see more talks on our Youtube page.

Star Trek: The Next Generation's holodeck is fast becoming a reality. Samuel Vonäsch demonstrates how new technology is creating a more accessible virtual reality experience and how his team is developing a free, web based platform for people like us to create their own.
Good music overcomes the limits of language to express itself; it is a gift. Jazette - Joël Bernhard (vocals), Tony Manias (guitar) and André Schornoz (bass) - share their joy of music through a musical medley of Georges Brassens and Serge Gainsbourg followed by an original composition "Jeanne."
Should a cauliflower be valued like the Mona Lisa? What would it mean to us if we lost the cauliflower as a species? The world has experienced a 75 percent decrease in horticultural diversity in the past 150 years.
Why, when our own lifespans are increasing is the lifespan of our structures decreasing? Marco Serra scrutinizes modern architecture's dilemma and examines beauty as a fundamental cultural value. The intro animation was produced as a collaboration between TEDxBasel and the Hochschule Luzern. The animation was created by Bianca Caderas, Helen Bosand and Zea Schaad.
It takes a village to raise a child, but few of us live in villages anymore. Liz Lian tackles the isolation of modern parenting and encourages us to create modern villages to help us be happier parents. The intro animation was produced as a collaboration between TEDxBasel and the Hochschule Luzern.
What would you do if you were provided with an unconditional basic income that covered the costs of your necessities? Enno Schmidt discusses the possibilities, and explains how rethinking income distribution is not only necessary in our developing digital economy but also the next giant step in human history.
Why is a double bass called a double bass? Bret Simner shares his history with the instrument and beautifully plays a piece by Johann Baptist Vanhal on his classical double bass - both music and instrument were created around 1760. The intro animation was produced as a collaboration between TEDxBasel and the Hochschule Luzern.
What do you do when you realize you have a bias, even against yourself? Kristen Pressner is the Global Head of Human Resources at a multinational firm, and a tireless advocate for, and promoter of, women in the workplace. In this enlightening talk, Kristen explores how we can recognize our own hidden, irrational biases - and keep them from limiting us.
In our world, data is gold, but who owns all the health data we are generating and to whom are they sharing it? Did you give consent to the creator of your exercise tracker to share personal data with your insurance company? Reto Schegg explores why we need a citizen-owned health bank.
Don't have time to go to the bank? Don't worry - a global financial revolution will replace your visits to the bank with a quick look at the phone in your pocket. Daniel Drummer explains how Fintech is reinventing the way we deal with money.
"I have to help myself". Shlomo Graber, a Holocaust survivor, recounts the horror of being a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp. He shares his experiences and memories and how hope was the only way forward. Interviewed by Urs Bucher "Ich muss mir selbst helfen".
What if something we throw away every day could save 35,000 children every week? Dorothée Schiesser describes the program she set up that does exactly that - recycling luxury hotel soap to help protect children living in unsanitary conditions. The intro animation was produced as a collaboration between TEDxBasel and the Hochschule Luzern.
How often do you check your smartphone during the course of a day, an hour? What might you be missing out on if you don't check it? Barbara Krieger explores how digital technology is influencing our daily lives, and how our curiosity can still extend beyond the smartphone The intro animation was produced as a collaboration between TEDxBasel and the Hochschule Luzern.
Why are conflicts seemingly increasing at a time when the international community is engaged in a multitude of peace initiatives around the globe? Laurent Goetschel discusses a different approach to conflict resolution- the Light Footprint Approach. How the victims of conflicts can be better served by local activists than foreign organisations with imported experiences.
What does playing Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child" on guitar have to do with your gym workout? In this funny talk, Chris Darwa explains how building musical proficiency and building one's body are similar tasks. Just don't mention Zumba. The intro animation was produced as a collaboration between TEDxBasel and the Hochschule Luzern.

Photos

Press

Newly Swissed writer Idit, also know as Kobrini, joined our audience and perfectly summed up the day in this article.

Hochschule Luzern Design & Kunst's Master Academy (HSLU) Animations

Every year, the students of Hochschule Luzern Design & Kunst's Master Academy of Animation create animation videos for TEDxBasel. Every year we are astounded by them. You can watch them here:

Dreams: Zaide Kutay and Christelle Serrano

Flow: Bianca Caderas, Helen Bosand and Zea Schaad

Abstract Creature: Fabian Schaeublin