“We’ve spent all year working to put this conference on, and naturally, you want it all to come together perfectly. However, the imperfections and last-minute changes are part of what makes planning something like this so fun, and it's why having a great team like we do makes this all the more rewarding,” explains VP of Logistics, Arjun Rao. 

There are only five days until TEDxUTAustin’s 2023 conference: How & Why, and with the conference less than a week away, we wanted to share how our team is feeling and what to expect on conference day. 

Located at the Lady Bird Johnson Auditorium, the conference will run from 9:45 am - 3:30 pm CST, with doors opening at 9 am. Conference day will be comprised of nine cutting-edge talks, two performances, and the opportunity to see the best of what UT has to offer through a vibrant and interactive showcase.

Tickets can be purchased online through our Eventbrite or website. General admission tickets are $65 and UT student tickets are $35. All tickets include lunch from Fajita Pete’s and T-shirts.

Our speaker lineup includes innovators such as content creator and research technician Darrion Nguyen, Forbes 30 under 30 health entrepreneur Dana Le, Professor and Researcher Dr. Nanshu Lu, and other distinguished individuals! Callie Brady, a member of the Finance and Logistics committee, says she “looks forward to seeing how much everyone else loves hearing all the amazing stories that will be shared throughout” the day. For the full speaker line-up, check out our website.

At the showcase, there will be a variety of student organizations, initiatives, and startups. You’ll get to check out some projects they’re working on and find organizations that share your passions and interests. The showcase will run before the conference, 9:00-10:00 am, and during the lunch break.

Our conference will also include performances from Wednesday Kid and Dance Action! Wednesday Kid is an Austin-based musical project from singer-songwriter, Will Derden. Combining indie pop and folk rock influences, he has released two singles and a debut EP, “Elephant” with more projects in the works. Grace Lai, VP of Operations, is excited about Wednesday Kid because “all of the songs they will be performing are originals” and bring out nostalgic feelings of the old Austin live music scene. In addition, Dance Action will perform a contemporary piece that attempts to portray the struggles of relationships and the emotional intensity they can create. “This specific performance has so much emotion you can feel while watching, and I love it,” Grace elaborates. 

With speakers ranging from innovative researchers to students advocating for change, TEDxUTAustin is proud to give you a live TEDx Talk experience you won’t forget. 

Be sure to stay up to date on all things TEDxUTAustin and “How & Why” by following @tedxutaustin on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook.