The origin of TEDxBasel

TEDxBasel 2015 volunteers

TEDxBasel also started from an idea. Jennifer, the main organizer, felt the need to give something back to the community that has been her second home for about five years now.

She came across TED in 2008 and after having successfully organized several TEDx events in international schools, decided to co-organize along with her husband, Hayes, and close friend, Tessa, the first local TEDxGundeldingen event in Basel in November 2013. The organizers wanted to offer a bilingual platform for sharing unique and cutting-edge ideas in different subject matters that spark dialogue within the local community.

Tickets sold out within two weeks. The success and positive feedback from the community inspired the organizers to expand to TEDxBasel.

Organizing a branded event for 200-300 people with limited budget is a herculean task for three organizers alone. The major call for volunteers was initiated in 2014 through social media to help co-organize the 2015 event. About 15-20 volunteers with diverse backgrounds worked together for a year to plan launch TEDxBasel 2015.

The event with its first set of nine speakers who were all Basel residents took place at the Natural Historical Museum in Basel on May 9, 2015. Talks about a variety of topics such as technology, urban planning, social interaction and personal and local stories centered around the theme Past, Present and Future. It was indeed a fun and hugely informative afternoon attended by 220 guests and inspiring people who represent the diverse community we have in Basel.