On Jun 25, 2009, at 5:21 AM, Udhay Shankar N wrote:
On Thu, Jun 25, 2009 at 12:31 PM, Tom Rielly <[email protected]>
wrote:
I understand it is proper protocol to introduce myself. I'm a
friend of Reuben Abraham's and am hard at work on our upcoming
TEDIndia Conference in Mysore Nov 4-7, 2009. My job at TED
encompasses several aspects: the TED Fellows program, the TED Book
Club, Membership,
and working on producing the conferences. I am also the
conference's resident satirist, making fun of the speakers at the
end of the conference.
Right now we're in the process of selecting 100 Fellows for
TEDIndia from hundreds of applicants.
Fascinating, say more about this?
Oh, and welcome aboard.
Udhay
--
((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
Thanks Udhay,
People apply for the Fellowship, or have been nominated by another, at
which point we invite them to apply. They need to fill out an online
form that attempts to get to know the candidates beyond the usual
statistics about academic tests and degrees achieved. We're looking
for accomplishments over potential, achievement over credentials,
though many folks chosen will have strong bona fides. We select a
heterogeneous group of leaders from technology, entertainment, design,
science, humanities, the arts, NGOs and entrepreneurship. You'll find
authors, filmmakers and bloggers. Our target age is 21-40, though
anyone 18-20 or 41+ is welcome to apply, too. We focus on people from
five regions of the world: Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Caribbean, Latin
America and the Middle East.
TEDIndia is unusual in that we're bringing 100 Fellows, rather than
our usual 25. We also did this at our TEDAfrica conference held in
June, 2007 in Arusha, Tanzania. Approximately 80% of the fellows will
be from the subcontinent. In addition to India, you many see folks
from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet.
How do we choose? We get asked this question a lot. Nearly all the
applicants are high achievers. The shortest way to explain what we're
looking for: "Be interesting." Many of our fellows have started an
organization or company made a film, written a book, invented a
product, or done novel and interesting scientific research. Most have
incredibly interesting stories that leap off of the screen at you.
What aren't we looking for? Academic success alone, without
achievement. Many promising students would make great Fellows later
after they have begun their life's work (though other students have
achieved an amazing amount in addition to their studies). Folks who
are already so far along in their career that a fellowship might not
prove transformative. Folks who could afford to pay to attend TED
themselves. And, finally, not only candidates from NGOs, though we
will have many amazing ones.
Judging from the applications we've reviewed to date, we're going to
have a great group.
Let me know if I can answer more questions.
I apologize in advance if there is a delay, as we are T-minus three
weeks from TEDGlobal and must select our TEDIndia Fellows before we
leave.
Cheers,
Tom
Tom Rielly Community Director
TED Conferences LLC
55 Vandam St. 16th Floor NY NY 10013
new mobile number: 646.256.7419
Tel: 212.346.9333 Fax: 212.227.6397 [email protected] www.ted.com
TED2010 Long Beach CA SOLD OUT. Simulcast in Palm Springs CA now
open. A few seats remain for TEDGlobal in Oxford, UK July 21-24,
2009. Watch for TEDIndia registration opening soon.
