Attendees from across the region, and the nation, flock to Baltimore for largest TEDx conference in the U.S. to date.

Baltimore, Md. (November 9, 2009)—TEDxMidAtlantic, an independently organized TED conference, was considered a major success, according to conference organizers.

The conference, held November 5 at Falvey Hall, Maryland Institute College of Art, TEDxMidAtlantic featured talks from 20 of the region’s leading figures including Chief Technology Officer of the United States Aneesh Chopra, NPR Weekend Edition host Scott Simon, classical guitar virtuoso Ana Vidović, National Geographic photojournalist Karen Kasmauski, and others.

The lineup of speakers drew a full house of nearly 600 attendees, hailing from both the Mid-Atlantic region as well as other parts of the country including California, Illinois and the state of Washington.

Organized along the theme of “The Power of Stories,” speakers used the opportunity to reflect on their lives, careers and their vision for changing the world through innovation, art and creativity.

“We are delighted with the amount of energy in the region that TEDxMidAtlantic has generated,” says Dave Troy, a local entrepreneur who spearheaded the event organization. “Planning for the second TEDxMidAtlantic is already underway, and we expect it to be equally mind-blowing as the first.”

Videos of each of speaker are available online at www.tedxmidatlantic.com/live.

Registration Closed, but Live Stream Available at www.tedxmidatlantic.com/live

TEDx MidAtlantic, an independently organized TED conference, will be 100 percent full, according to conference organizers.

To be held November 5 at the Maryland Institute College of Art, the TEDx MidAtlantic conference is organized along the theme of “The Power of Stories,” and will feature 20 of the region’s leading thinkers, innovators, artists, philosophers and entertainers representing such diverse fields as technology, entertainment, visual and performance art, design, politics, music, ecology, and education, among others.

Due to space constraints, the conference was only able to accept 550 attendees. However, a live stream will be available throughout the day at www.tedxmidatlantic.com/live.

“The positive response TEDx MidAtlantic has received has been tremendous,” says Dave Troy, a local entrepreneur who is spearheading the event organization. “With a line-up of top-tier speakers, attendees and people watching the live stream should prepare to have their mind blown.”

Confirmed TEDx MidAtlantic speakers include the nation’s first Chief Technology Officer, Aneesh Chopra, 2003 Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry Peter Agre, National Public Radio Weekend Edition host Scott Simon, NY Times columnist and economics professor Tyler Cowen, and actress from HBO’s The Wire and activist Sonja Sohn, virtuoso classical guitarist Ana Vidović, among others.

With just days to go before TEDx MidAtlantic, we’re putting the final preparations in place for what’s shaping up to be a day to remember. Because we’re aiming to completely fill the day with amazing moments, we also need you to be prepared. Here’s what you need to know:

Come Rested

It’s going to be a packed day from sunrise to sunset with only a couple breaks for coffee and lunch. Youʼll be sorry if you miss something because you were too tired to stay focused or awake.

Dress Comfortable

Like we said, it’s a long day. Casual attire is absolutely appropriate and encouraged.

The Theater Will be Completely Full

Pretend it’s a flight. Please arrive early to secure a seat and also be sure to fill in every last seat. Make lots of friends. Sit in a few different places. You will find that your fellow TEDx peers are wonderful people.

Leave Your Computer, Phone, etc. in the Car

We know this is a tough one. But for the sake of the live audience (and the video team that will be recording TEDx MidAtlantic), we ask that you not use your computers, cell phones, cameras, recording devices, etc. in the auditorium. The clicking of computer keys and glow from your phone is not pleasant to other attendees. Please note that we are serious when we say that all electronic devices must be turned off before you enter the auditorium and remain off while you are seated. Don’t worry, all of the content will be available online following the event!

Pre-Party at Teavolve on November 4

There will be a pre-party from 6pm to 10pm night before TEDx MidAtlantic (November 4th) at Teavolve in Baltimore. This location is within walking distance of the Marriott Waterfront hotel. We encourage all attendees to join us at the pre-party, as this will be a great opportunity to meet other TEDx attendees, speakers, and the folks who organized this incredible event.

Your Arrival on November 5

Doors to the building at MICA will open at 7:00am and we encourage everyone to arrive well before the 8:30am start time. You must check in with registration upon arrival and retrieve your name badge. Please plan to arrive early enough to find parking. If you are late to TEDx MidAtlantic, you will not be permitted inside the auditorium until there is a break between speakers.

This day is about exploration – meeting new people, hearing new ideas, experiencing the unexpected. There will be elements that will move you, make you think, bring you to tears, give you chills, make you laugh, and perhaps even offend you. Youʼll love some of it, and might hate some of it. But to have any reaction, youʼve first got to show up on time. Transportation and parking details can be found here.

Breakfast, Lunch and Coffee

If you arrive early enough, you will have time to grab some fruit and coffee before TEDx MidAtlantic begins promptly at 8:30am. We will have two coffee and tea breaks throughout the day, along with a longer break for lunch, which is being provided thanks to the gracious TEDx MidAtlantic sponsors. Your lunch ticket can be found on the back side of your name badge.

TEDx MidAtlantic Schedule on November 5

8:30am Introduction
8:45am Session 1
10:30am Coffee Break
11:15am Session 2
1:00pm Lunch
2:15pm Session 3
4:00pm Coffee Break
4:30pm Session 4
6:15pm Closing Remarks
6:30pm TEDx MidAtlantic Reception

Any Questions? Ask Us!

If you need something, just ask us. Our staff and volunteers will be easy to spot with TEDx MidAtlantic t-shirts, and our concierge team will be available all day. We want you to want to come back next year, so let us know if you have ideas or suggestions, and of course ask if you have any questions. We’re also reachable via e-mail.

Wow. Interest in TEDx MidAtlantic exceeded all expectations; nearly 800 people applied to attend the event. I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised considering the absolutely incredible lineup of speakers. Unfortunately, we only have space for 550 people (we are opening the balcony to accommodate beyond our original 450 estimate). The good news is, we’ll have a high-quality live stream of TEDx MidAtlantic so you can watch the event in real-time over the web, even if you can’t be there in person.

Please make sure you check your e-mail regarding the status of your TEDx MidAtlantic registration. If you were approved, you must confirm that you will be attending or your seat will be given away to someone on the waiting list. We expect everyone to arrive in the morning and stay with us the entire day. If you’re only able to come for a few hours, we ask that you give up your spot to someone on the waiting list.

To find out more specifics about TEDx MidAtlantic, including hotel options, parking, as well as the pre-party and reception, please visit the event details page.

We’d like to take a moment to thank our sponsors who have made TEDx MidAtlantic possible. Without them, we’d never have been able to coordinate and support such a complex event filled with incredible speakers and performers — all without charging attendees. It was important for us to keep this event free for you, so please join us in thanking our sponsors in return.

The Visionary Sponsors for TEDx MidAtlantic are The Abell Foundation and EntreQuest, Feats. The Abell Foundation endeavors to give hope by opening the doors of opportunity to the disenfranchised, knowing that no community can succeed and thrive if those who live on the margins are not included. Feats is a full-service experience marketing agency that approaches each opportunity with a focus on creating results for your organization.

The Event Collaborator for TEDx MidAtlantic is Direct Dimensions, located in Owings Mills, Maryland. Direct Dimensions is the world’s leading authority on the application of geometric measurement technology. It delivers the expertise you can trust to digitally “clone” your three-dimensional product with speed, accuracy, and attention to detail.

Event Partners for TEDx MidAtlantic include The Aris Institute, Aveniu Brands, Blue Sky Factory, BOALT, The Community College of Baltimore County, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, Maryland Capital Management, Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Maryland Institute College of Art, Miller Coors, Mind Over Machines, and Prometric.

For the full listing of TEDx MidAtlantic sponsors, including our wonderful Media Sponsors, click here.

We are very honored to announce that Nobel Laureate Peter Agre has joined the TEDx MidAtlantic speaker lineup. Dr. Agre was awarded the 2003 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of aquaporins. Aquaporins are “the plumbing system for cells,” said Agre. Every cell is primarily water. “But the water doesn’t just sit in the cell, it moves through it in a very organized way. The process occurs rapidly in tissues that have these aquaporins or water channels.”

If aquaporins could be manipulated, it could potentially solve medical problems such as fluid retention in heart disease and brain edema after stroke.

Dr. Agre currently leads the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, and serves as the 163rd president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the nation’s largest scientific organization. He was elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences in 2000 and to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2003. He is also a founding member of Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA), and serves on its Board of Advisors.

In 2004, Dr. Agre turned his research attention toward malaria when he was awarded a pilot grant from JHMRI. A major part of the parasite’s lifecycle is in red blood cells, so Agre’s background as a hematologist and red-blood-cell membrane biochemist has the potential to be very useful. Agre is currently examining whether aquaporins within the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium could be utilized to disrupt its lifecycle.

TEDx MidAtlantic is proud to welcome the Federal Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the United States Aneesh Chopra to its roster of speakers.

Chopra was appointed by President Barack Obama as the nation’s first CTO in April 2009. His role is to promote technological innovation to help the country meet its goals such as job creation, reducing health care costs, and protecting the homeland. Chopra previously served as the state of Virginia’s fourth Secretary of Technology. Prior to his government service, Chopra was Managing Director for the Advisory Board Company, a health care think tank for hospitals and heath systems.

TEDx MidAtlantic is the perfect platform for Chopra to share some of his most exciting and inspiring thoughts about technology and policy, and we are greatly honored that he is joining our line-up of other high-caliber speakers.

Chopra joins an already-impressive lineup of speakers including National Public Radio Weekend Edition host Scott Simon, NY Times columnist and economics professor Tyler Cowen, and actress from HBO’s The Wire and activist Sonja Sohn, among others.