Entirely student run event attracts over 400 audience members

Doha, 19 January, 2014

This past Saturday (January 18th), 450 people turned up at the second edition of TEDxEducationCity conference organized by Hamad Bin Khalifa University students and held at the HBKU Student Center Ballroom.

The student-run event featured six speakers from a myriad of professions and disciplines: Susan Pak, a screenwriting professor at Northwestern University in Qatar; Eyad Masad, Assistant Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at Texas A&M University at Qatar; Mark Stehlik, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar; Sara Al-Saadi, a documentary filmmaker and NU-Q alum; Omar Chatriwala, journalist and co-founder/publisher of Doha News; and Memoonah Zainab, a lawyer and community educator.

During the three-hour event, the speakers offered the eclectic audience distinct interpretations of this years theme of Branch Out. Jaimee Haddad, Curator of TedxEducationCity explained along the sidelines that, Branch Out is both a call to action and a signal post to the audience to think about and actively engage with their own experiences an attempt at asking people where they stand today, and where they hope to go.

Pak spoke about her journey of failure and the way she found her passion. Our success is not defined by other people's hateful reactions, or by how we can humble brag at cocktail parties, she said in her talk.

"We need to create a model for success, for people to think behind their job, and their degree," said Masad in his talk about retaining scientists in Qatar.

Mark Stehlik, associate dean for education and teaching professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon Qatar, spoke at the event, challenging attendees to consider the need to branch out in today's global world.

"Theres no better place for the exchange of ideas that TEDx conferences stimulate than Education City, where branch campuses of six American universities come together in a unique environment that encourages students and faculty to work collectively and collaboratively across disciplines," Stehlik said. I hope my talk on how to overcome ones natural reluctance to branch out, even as today's global world increasingly demands it, provides food for thought as students consider the next steps in their academic careers and beyond.

One of the attendees of Saturdays event, Uzair Mohammad, an avid TED-ster, noted that, The audience turnout was absolutely amazing. Seeing a litany of people from all walks of life lining up outside the hall waiting for the doors to happen is a clear indication that the message of TEDx is seeding itself within Qatar, not to mention the high regard people hold the TEDxEducationCity event in. The speakers were amazing too I loved their energy and the depth of their message I think resounded well with the audience.

Northwestern University in Qatar, also a second time sponsor of the event, applauded the success of the student initiative. The passion for creativity and innovation that is the signature of TEDx has great benefit for our students and also for professionals in the media community in Doha, said NU-Q Dean and CEO Everette Dennis.

 TEDxEC first came into fruition completely by a group of students from around HBKU and partner universities, said Campus Life Officer Mohammed Fakhro from HBKU. The legacy now continues with a new group of students who have taken it upon themselves to ensure that the second installment of the event is nothing but bigger and better in all aspects.

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For more information about TEDx Education City please contact Penny Yi Wuang yiwang2015@u.northwestern.edu or visit http://www.tedxeducationcity.com/.

Press Release 2014