Brilliant talk!
Barry Schwartz - PopTech 2004 from PopTech on Vimeo
Barry Schwartz, Author, "The Paradox of Choice"
What makes us happy? Societies flourish and people are most content when they are faced with fewer choices and more constraints, argues psychologist Barry Schwartz. We are tortured by the idea of having it all – “Impossible!”, he says.
Richard Alley, Geologist
Get inspired by Richard Alley’s optimistic view on global warming. This world-renowned paleoclimatologist does have some bad news about climate change, although he’ll convince you that we not only have the tools to solve the problem, but we can make money doing it too.
Eloma Barnes, Orator
With a voice that could move a mountain, orator Eloma Simpson Barnes practically channels Martin Luther King, Jr., as she performs one of his speeches. She emulates King’s cadence, intonation and enunciation in this inspirational reminder to stand up for what you believe in.
Janine Benyus, Science writer, innovation consultant, conservationist
Champion of the Earth honoree and biomimicry pioneer Janine Benyus has transformed the way we think about innovation and design. Benyus challenges us to study nature’s best ideas, then imitate its designs and processes to solve some of our greatest human challenges.
David Bornstein, Author, "How to Change the World"
New projects in Brazil and India; David Bornstein talks about a project to bring electricity to poor people in Brazil: single wires going to houses, grounded in the soil, low voltages. The project is also bringing solar panels to rural areas.
Frans B. de Waal, Primatologist & author
Renowned primatologist, psychologist and ethologist Frans de Waal wants to convince us we’re all basically apes, saying we’d be much happier if we paid attention to some of the basic principals of cooperative social behavior that even primates.
Brian Fagan, Archaeologist
If you think this is the first time humans have grappled with climate change, you weren’t paying attention in archeology class. Join world-famous archeologist Brian Fagan as he travels back in time to teach us a lesson that ancient civilizations learned the hard way: adapt or die.
Ben Saunders, Arctic explorer
Follow explorer Ben Saunders’ solo, unsupported journey across the frozen Arctic Ocean and grasp the true limits of human potential. At 26, he’s the youngest person to ski to the North Pole and only the fourth in history to accomplish the feat. He’s also witness to climate change at work.
Other speakers:
John Sculley, Partner, Sculley Brothers
Joe Trippi, Political strategist
Spencer Wells, Genographer
Adrian Wooldrige, Washington correspondent, The Economist
Andrew Zolli, Founder, Z+Partners
Ethan Zuckerman, Founder, Global Voices
Richard Florida
H. John Heinz III, Professor of Economic Development, Carnegie Mellon University
Joel Garreau, Writer and consultant
Malcolm Gladwell, Author
Michael Hawley, Artist and digital media researcher
Philip Longman, Demographer
Bruce Mau, Designer
Grant McCracken, Anthropologist, blogger and author
Andrew Rasiej, Founder and publisher, Personal Democracy Forum
Alexis Rockman, Artist
Douglas Rushkoff, Author and media theorist
Jim Rygiel, Visual effects supervisor
Edward Castranova, Associate Professor of Telecommunications, Indiana University Bloomington