Archive for the ‘2008 Speakers’ Category
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Just three more UP alumni posts before we’re all at UP 2011 meeting another class of great attendees and future alumni speakers. If you’ve been considering attending don’t wait any longer! A limited number of seats are still available, register now!
There has been some pretty incredible, heart breaking and amazing news in the past week. We’re sure there isn’t a single one of you who hasn’t read, commented on and discussed the passing of Apple’s Steve Jobs this past week. Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is also an UP 08 alumni and he has some inspirational words and great memories to share about his friend and colleague in this video.
Fellow alumni from UP 09 David Pogue, tech writer at The New York Times also shared his thoughts on what Jobs career has done to the way we all live and communicate. Future UP alumni, Dan Pink also shared a poignant speech Jobs’ gave at Stanford University’s commencement.
Other UP alumni were receiving their own honors this week. UP 10 alumni Jessica Jackley along with Kiva co-founder Matt Flannery were honored as winners of The Economist’s Innovation Awards for their work in microfinance.
Also this week, UP 10 alumni Michael Eisner‘s The Eisner Foundation established a $100,000 award for those working to bridge the gap between senior citizens and young people, the first recipient is the Intergenerational Center at Temple University.
And last but certainly not least, UP 09 alumni Peter Diamandis and the X Prize Foundation announced the winner of the Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE. The winning team, from Illinois, developed a system that skimmed oil out of water 3 times better than the industry standard.
Labels: Apple, Dan Pink, David Pogue, Illinois, Innovation Awards, Intergenerational, Jessica Jackley, Kiva, Matt Flannery, Michael Eisner, microfinance, oil, Peter Diamandis, senior citizens, Stanford University, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Temple University, The Economist, The New York Times, The UP Experience, UP 08, UP 09, UP 10, UP 2011, Wendy Schmidt Oil Cleanup X CHALLENGE, X Prize Foundation
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2009 Speakers, 2010 Speakers, 2011 Speakers, Current events, Speakers, UP Speakers In The News, Uncategorized
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
Yesterday marked one month until UP 2011. We can’t believe its already here! We’d love to hear which speaker you are most excited to hear this year!
And, while we’re busy with final preparations for this year’s UP Experience, our UP alumni have been busy pushing their initiatives forward. This past week:
John Gerzema at Inc.com took a look at “Why You Should Hire E-lancers,” citing UP 08 speaker Sir Ken Robinson‘s work on learning that takes place outside of the classroom and what these “citizen-teachers” can offer the rest of us.
As always tech companies are making headlines and UP 10 speaker David Pogue is breaking down the details for us. Don’t miss his analysis of Netflix’ recent announcement that it will be splitting off its DVD service into a separate service, Qwikster.
UP 09 alumni Michio Kaku was in the news this week as physicists around the world commented on an experiment that appeared to call into question Einstein’s theory of relativity.
Get UP 09 speaker Dan Ariely's advice on how to pay employees. Image courtesy of flickr/aresauburn
Behavioral Economist Dan Ariely, who spoke at UP 09, took to BusinessWeek.com this week to talk about, “How to Pay People.”
Labels: Behavioral economics, BusinessWeek, Dan Ariely, David Pogue, DVD, E-lancers, Einstein, Inc, John Gerzema, Michio Kaku, Netflix, Pay, physics, Qwikster, Sir Ken Robinson, Technology, The UP Experience, theory of relativity, UP 08, UP 09, UP 10, UP 2011, UP Alumni
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2009 Speakers, 2010 Speakers, Current events, Speakers, UP Speakers In The News
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
It’s been a busy week at UP! We hit 100 followers on Facebook this week, posted so many past UP talks on YouTube and dove into all the details that need to be ironed out with The UP Experience just over a month away!
We imagine our UP alumni and UP 11 speakers have also been busy, here are some of their activities making headlines this week:
Learn how to improve your memory skills from expert Ron White at UP 11. Image courtesy of Flickr/therichbrooks
UP 11 speaker and memory expert Ron White was featured in SUCCESS Magazine this week. White had an MRI taken at the University of Texas this week, while he memorized information. The results showed that White uses 35 percent more of his brain when memorizing than the average person! Don’t miss him at UP 2011 when he shares his tips and tricks!
UP 08 speaker Craig Kielburger took to the Huffington Post to talk about the incredible difference education can make for a child in their article, “An Education Takes Kids from Slums to Schools.”
On a light note, UP 10 speaker and New York Times tech columnist David Pogue took some time to help us all get up to speed on the latest cultural references in his guide, “Internet Memes 101: A Guide to Online Wackiness.”
Labels: Craig Kielburger, David Pogue, Education, Facebook, Huffington Post, internet memes, memory, New York Times, Rob White, SUCCESS Magazine, The UP Experience, University of Texas, UP 11, UP Alumni, YouTube
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2010 Speakers, 2011 Speakers, Current events, Speakers, UP Speakers In The News, Uncategorized, What is UP?
Wednesday, August 31st, 2011
The sun is going down on summer 2011, which means UP 2011 is just around the corner! image courtesy of Flickr/paul+photos=moody
It’s already the end of August. Summer is coming to a close and fall is just around the corner. We’re looking forward to the best of fall, cooler temps and UP 2011! October 27th will be here before you know it. In case you missed it, we’ve started some great registration specials. If you’re not registered yet, now is the time!
Our UP alumni barely took a summer break, here’s what they’ve been up to this week:
UP 08 and 09 alumni, Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis are also co-founders of Singularity University. This summer’s Singularity University class developed solutions to big problems related to world poverty. One solution, The Matternet, was featured in Fast Company yesterday for its potential to triumph over the issue of delivery of medication, food and other critical goods to rural areas.
UP 10 alumni David Pogue took to his blog to address this week’s stunning announcement that Steve Jobs resigned as chief executive of Apple.
Meanwhile UP 09 speaker Shawn Achor took to The Huffington Post to share “5 Ways To Turn Happiness Into An Advantage.”
Labels: Advantage, Apple, David Pogue, Fast Company, happiness, Matternet, Peter Diamandis, poverty, Ray Kurzweil, registration, Shawn Achor, Singularity University, Steve Jobs, The Huffington Post, The UP Experience
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2009 Speakers, 2010 Speakers, Speakers, UP Speakers In The News
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
What a week its been! We announced the last speaker in our incredible lineUP for UP 2011. The days have flown by and it’s time for another UP Alumni In The News post. October 27th is right around the corner!
It’s never a dull week for our UP Alumni! This week:
image courtesy of flickr/Will Clayton http://www.flickr.com/photos/spool32/5045502202/
We wished a happy birthday to UP 08 speaker Steve Wozniak!
Meanwhile, Bloomberg Businessweek, reported on UP 09 speaker Dan Ariely’s research on cheating at Duke University.
UP 10 speaker and sleep expert James Maas was quoted in an article at Inc.com, “Should Your Employees Take Naps?” (Hint: Yes!)
The Business Insider reported on research from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute that has identified UP 08 speaker Malcolm Gladwell’s tipping point - the exact point at which minority-held ideas go mainstream.
Labels: cheating, Dan Ariely, Duke, Happy Birthday, Inc.com, James Maas, Malcolm Gladwell, napping, Rensselaer Polytechnic, Steve Wozniak, The UP Experience, tipping point, UP 09, UP 10, UP 11
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2009 Speakers, 2010 Speakers, Current events, Speakers, Uncategorized
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
Happy Wednesday UP blog readers! We took a great end of summer vacation last week but are back with lots of UP alumni news today! This past week:
UP 08 speaker Craig Kielburger took to The Huffington Post’s Canadian website to discuss the importance of long term action over one time aid in solving the problems of East Africa.
image courtesy of Flickr/Blyzz (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blyzz/4133624072/)
Blogs buzzed this week as it was announced that UP 09 speaker and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is joining with Seth MacFarlane to produce a new version of Carl Sagan’s popular mini-series “Cosmos.” MacFarlane might be more easily recognized as the man behind the hit Fox television series, “Family Guy.”
Meanwhile The Independent spent time examining the question, “Is David Eagleman the cleverest man in America?”
UP 09 speaker Robert Ballard, best known for his discovery of the wreck of the RMS Titanic, will be returning to the site of the shipwreck to photograph the ship’s stern for a new attraction dedicated to the Titanic in Belfast.
And, as everyone wraps up the summer travel season, UP 10 speaker David Pogue shares, “Five (and Then Some) Tech Tips For Travel.”
Have a great rest of the week!
Labels: Belfast, Carl Sagan, Cosmos, Craig Kielburger, David Eagleman, David Pogue, East Africa, Family Guy, Fox, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, Robert Ballard, Seth MacFarlane, The Huffington Post, The Independent, The UP Experience, Titanic, travel technology
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2009 Speakers, 2010 Speakers, Current events, Speakers, Uncategorized, conference
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011
This week UP 08 speaker, Craig Kielburger and his brother Marc wrote about a group with an interesting plan for peace in the Middle East. Friends of the Earth Middle East is working to save deteriorating and polluted water resources in the region, including The Dead Sea, while setting the framework for a plan for long term peace.
Sal Khan, a speaker joining us in October for UP 2011, and his Khan Academy are featured in the latest issue of Wired, in “How Khan Academy Is Changing the Rules of Education.” Do you think his method of teaching can change education in third world countries as we know it?
UP 08 speaker, Ray Kurzweil, who is well known for his quest to stop aging and merge humans with machines was recently featured in an article on “Biotrackers,” a movement whose participants track what once where thought to be qualitative characteristics of the body.
Manhattanhenge image courtesy of Tim Burke Photography http://www.flickr.com/photos/tburke/5779465576/sizes/l/in/photostream/
Meanwhile, UP 09 speaker and astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson was included in a BBC article on “Manhattanhenge” a term he has coined to describe a unique phenomenon that allows New Yorkers to experience Stonehenge without leaving home.
Labels: BBC, Biotrackers, Craig Kielburger, Friends of the Earth Middle East, Khan Academy, Manhattanhenge, Middle East, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, peace, Ray Kurzweil, Sal Khan, Stonehenge, The Dead Sea, Wired
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2009 Speakers, 2011 Speakers, Current events, Speakers, UP Speakers In The News, Uncategorized
Wednesday, July 13th, 2011
This past week, UP 10 speaker, David Pogue featured a guest post on his blog from Nasahn Sheppard, director of industrial design at Smart Design, the company that designed the Flip cam. As many of you know, Cisco discontinued the Flip cam a few months back and many, including Pogue, were quite upset about it. In Sheppard’s post he examines the elements of a “hot product” and makes a compelling case for “single-purpose” gadgets in our lives.
image courtesy of Flickr/AJC1
Many of you probably saw the four-page ad in the New York Times this past week commemorating IBM’s 100th birthday. The ad generated sharp commentary from UP 10 speaker Kevin Kelly on “long-termism” , which then drew additional comments from Steve Denning at Forbes. There’s no doubt “short-termism” is a dominant force in many companies, but what are the lessons to be learned from “long-termism?”
The press continues to be filled with stories on the end of Nasa’s space shuttle program. UP 09 speaker and astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson spoke with NPR on the end of the shuttle program and its achievements including, “the largest global collaboration outside of waging war.”
Sir Ken Robinson, one of the speakers during the first UP Experience in 2008, is in the press again for the release of a new edition of his book, Out of Our Minds: Learning To Be Creative. He spoke with Fast Company recently to share his thoughts on the changing climate of business and the expanding value of creativity.
Labels: Cisco, Creativity, David Pogue, Fast Company, Flip camera, Forbes, gadgets, IBM, industrial design, Kevin Kelly, long-termism, NASA, Nasahn Sheppard, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, New York Times, NPR, Out of Our Minds, short-termism, Sir Ken Robinson, Smart Design, space shuttle, Steve Denning, The UP Experience
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2009 Speakers, 2010 Speakers, Current events, Speakers, UP Speakers In The News, Uncategorized, What is UP?, conference
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
Is having the next big idea the key to success? Or is "tweaking" an idea better? Image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazik/395792175/
UP 08 speaker Malcolm Gladwell got quite a bit of press in business and marketing media this week for his presentation at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. His most talked about comments were about why it might be better for business leaders to “tweak” instead of innovate.
Fellow UP 08 speaker Ray Kurzweil has also been all of late night talk and news shows discussing his vision of The Singularity, blogger Jason Silva at The Huffington Post declared, “The Singularity is here,” this. Meanwhile 60 Minutes posted several outtakes from their interview with Kurzweil.
The UP 08 speaker news continues with Shawn Achor who was also featured in The Huffington Post discussing the connection between happiness and weight loss.
UP 09 speakers Peter Diamandis and Michio Kaku were both included in Big Think’s panel at SAP’s Sapphire Now event in Florida to present there visions of the future. Diamandis predicts an “Age of Abundance” while Michio Kaku described his version as “perfect capitalism.” Read more here.
Labels: 60 Minutes, Age of Abundance, Big Think, business, Cannes, Cannes Lions, Florida, future, happiness and weight loss, innovate, Jason Silva, Malcolm Gladwell, marketing, Michio Kaku, Peter Diamandis, Ray Kurzweil, SAP, Sapphire Now, Shawn Achor, Singularity, The Huffington Post, The UP Experience
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2009 Speakers, Current events, Speakers, UP Speakers In The News, Uncategorized, What is UP?, conference
Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
Welcome to June! We are just five months away from UP 2011. The speaker lineup is almost set and we can’t wait to announce the rest of the amazing individuals that will take the stage on October 27th.
This week some of our 2011 speakers and UP alumni highlighted the biggest stories making headlines.
David Eagleman is in the news again, this time for the U.S. launch of his latest book Incognito. Congratulations go out to David, this morning his book was already at #10 on Amazon’s best seller list. Visit NPR.com for a great story on his work and the new book.
Chef Jeff Henderson, who we announced as part of the UP 2011 speaker lineup earlier this month, made a preview appearance in Houston at a luncheon benefiting the Living Forward Alliance, highlighting how he turned around his own life to become a renowned chef.
UP 08 speaker Craig Kielburger‘s latest project Me to We is honoring socially conscious youth, adults and educators for their work to better their communities and the world. See the amazing nominees and vote here.
Image Courtesy of NASA http://www.flickr.com/photos/oursolarsystem/5199475364/
David Pogue, who amazed us with the latest technology at UP 10, reported for CBS News this week on the end of NASA’s shuttle program. While his fellow UP 10 speaker, Richard Florida, examined the changing geography and dynamics of NBA dominance as the league heads into its final games of the season.
And, Kevin Kelly, who also took the UP stage in 2010, shared the challenges of publishing an ebook. Good lessons for us all as technology continues to change our daily lives.
Enjoy!
Labels: 2011 speakers, Amazon, CBS News, chef, Chef Jeff Henderson, Craig Kielburger, David Eagleman, David Pogue, ebook, Houston, Incognito, June, Kevin Kelly, Kindle, Living Forward Alliance, Me to We, NASA, NBA, NPR, October, Richard Florida, shuttle, speaker lineup, The UP Experience, UP 10, UP 2011, UP Alumni
Categories: 2008 Speakers, 2010 Speakers, 2011 Speakers, Current events, Speakers, UP Speakers In The News, conference
