The fourth-annual University of Michigan TEDxUofM conference takes place Friday at the Power Center on central campus.
Organizers expect more than 1,200 attendees and have a line up of 20 speakers. Tickets to the event are sold out.
The theme is "untapped."
Speakers include: U-M instructor Kathryn Clark, an expert on human spaceflight who spent two years as chief scientist for the International Space Station; James Robert, an Ann Arbor teacher who encourages high-schoolers to develop their own life philosophy; and Mary Heinen, an advocate who helps recently-released prisoners enter back into society.
Notably, Chris Armstrong, U-M's openly gay former student body president who won a civil settlement against the former state assistant attorney general for defamation, also will be speaking.
Although tickets are sold out, you can still watch a live stream of the event, which takes place from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., online.
TEDxUofM is an offshoot of a popular national series by nonprofit Technology, Entertainment and Design, where speakers offer 18-minute presentations on their ideas or work.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.