Theme: A matter of perspective - It's all in the mind

For the sake of the future of humanity, a number of misconceptions need to be dispelled. Almost all of us confuse teaching with learning. And we also confuse medical treatment with healthcare. Police protection is mistaken for safety. Material wealth is mistaken for happiness. A countless number of frames in our minds control our daily behaviour. And many of them are based on obvious delusions. It’s a matter of perspective. That's the crucial point that TEDxMaastricht will address this year. Our speakers will show new insights, knowledge and effective ways to make our society a better place by reframing some key issues that concern us all. We want to challenge you to take "A matter of perspective" as our new catchphrase; because in the end, it's all in the mind.

Theater aan het Vrijthof
Vrijthof 47
Maastricht, Limburg, 6211 LE
Netherlands

Arnaud Collery

Having spent most of the past 20 years working and performing around the world, especially in the US and Asia, the French multitalented innovator, storytelling coach, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and filmmaker says he is “extremely happy” to go back to Europe as a speaker at TEDxMaastricht on 17 October: “Europe is a big deal for me. I am very grateful. People have said it’s one of the best TEDx events around so I hope I can bring my best game and make you proud.”

Edward Slingerland

Edward Slingerland is a Professor of Asian Studies, as well as adjunct in the departments of Psychology and Philosophy, at the University of British Columbia. He holds degrees in sinology and religious studies, and is the author of, most recently, ‘Trying Not to Try: Ancient China, Modern Science and the Power of Spontaneity” (2014).

Esther de Koning

Actress, writer and theater producer Esther de Koning is known for her honest and tragicomic productions for both young and adult audiences. Esther has won several prestigious national awards. From The Hague, Esther has studied and then worked at the Theater Academy in Maastricht. She now lives in Valkenburg. In a castle. True story.

Jeangu Macrooy

Jeangu Macrooy was born and raised in the tropical warmth of Paramaribo. His musical interest was sparked at a young age, resulting in an enrolment at the conservatory of Suriname. After two years, Jeangu decided to continue his musical career at the other side of the ocean, in the Netherlands. A collaboration with producer Perquisite kicked off and last year he was signed to his label Unexpected Records.

Jelmer Mommers

Jelmer Mommers is an investigative journalist specialized in the field of climate change and energy for the Dutch journalism platform ‘The Correspondent’. He focuses on the intersection between sustainability, culture, politics and economics.

Joost Vrouenraets

Joost Vrouwenraedts studied Dance at the Amsterdam School of Art, and continued his study at the Ecole-Atelier Rudra Béjard in Switserland. With dance Compagny M he traveled around the world. In 2005 he founded together with Maïté Guérin the dance company Gotra, and produced several dances for international festivals. Vrouwenraedts is the winner of the Inspiration Prize by the Dutch PBCF and the prize for Upcoming talent by Nederlandse Dansdagen.

Maïté Guérin

Margo de Kock

Margo was born in Maastricht in 1969, graduated from her studies in youth welfare work in 1991. Working with sick children has been a common thread throughout most of Margo’s career. She has worked as a pedagogue and play-therapist at the AZM/MUMC+ for over 10 year including one year as the manager of the children’s television channel, creating television broadcast for- and together with sick children. Since 2005 she started working at the Ronald McDonald house Maastricht, where she aims to create a warm and safe home away from home, close to the hospital, for families with a severely ill child.

Marieke van der Velden

Marieke van der Velden is a renowned photojournalist and documentary maker. NGOs like UNICEF have sent her on more than 40 journeys around the world to photograph their projects and campaigns. Together with her filmmaking husband Philip Brink, she also takes on one documentary project annually.

Mark Kawakami

Mark Kawakami is born in Japan, moved to Hawaii, went to boarding schools in New England, trained as a Buddhist monk, served as a cadet at the US Military Academy, worked as an attorney in New York, and now a PhD fellow at Maastricht University, As a teacher at the Maastricht University Faculty of Law, Mark deeply cares about creating a better dialogue between students and the teaching staff. He firmly believes that education should be modernized and that teachers could learn a lot from listening to their students more.

Michel Huisman

Living and working in Heerlen, Michel Huisman is an artist and self-proclaimed morphologist who has devoted himself to studying the communicative aspects of shape and structure. In his work he examines definitions of love and the human thought process as a whole.

Rianne Letschert

Many characteristics can be used to describe Rianne Letschert. Smart, successful, pioneering, inspiring, and many others. Highly praised in her field, she was recognized as “Top Female Role Model in Science” by her university. Rianne’s accomplishments have brought her to the heights of the academic world. She was recently about to become the dean at the Law Faculty of Tilburg University when she was appointed as Rector Magnificus at Maastricht University, making her the youngest female Rector leading a Dutch university.

Ron Heeren

Pioneer prof. dr. Ron Heeren, University professor at Maastricht University and key player in the Top Research Institute M4I (Maastricht MultiModal Molecular Imaging Institute) is at the forefront of technological breakthroughs in oncology, neurology and cardiovascular medicine. Heeren’s team is developing biomedical applications of Mass Spectroscopy Imaging (MSI), or in other words techniques to photograph molecules.

Roos Vonk

Roos Vonk is a professor of social psychology at Radboud University Nijmegen, a published author of several bestseller books, columnist, coach, and educator. In addition, she is dedicated to improving animal welfare and sustainability. She is not afraid to speak up for what she believes in, even if this has gotten her into trouble on a few occasions. Roos is an idealist, independent and freethinking.

Rudy van Belkom

In regular life Rudy van Belkom is an image expert and lecturer. He is fascinated by changes and trends in our environment. This year his proposal on a possible new electoral system was one of the 10 finalists in the Radical Innovators competition made possible by Kennisland, Vrij Nederland and Kennis Jong.

Samina Ansari

Samina Ansari is born in Afghanistan, then moved to Pakistan, to then emigrate to Norway with her family. After studying Cyber Security Law from the University of Oslo, she spent the following year doing internships with the UN. Afterwards, she found another place to call home, Maastricht. Interested by the focus of the program, she decided to start her master in Globalization Law at Maastricht University.

Sanne Blauw

Sanne Blauw is journalist for De Correspondent. She obtained a PhD degree in econometrics at the Tinbergen Institute and the Econometric Institute of the Erasmus University Rotterdam. Using various quantitative methods, she combined applied micro-econometrics, psychology and development economics. Sanne is convinced that a better understanding of statistics would make the world a better place.

Sofie Winterson