New York, NY – At the 2014 TEDxNYIT, the theme of harmonic tectonics was approached from a variety of disciplines, from architecture to medicine, entrepreneurship to music, and more.

"This venue brings together some of the world's most provocative thinkers, leaders, and paradigm shifters to share brilliant creative ideas from a myriad of different fields," said program organizer and Associate Dean of the NYIT School of Architecture and Design Frank Mruk. "The audience not only gained insight and inspiration from the ideas presented, but also from the space between these ideas. That is the real magic of a TEDxNYIT event."

Held yesterday at NYIT Auditiorium on Broadway, 12 speakers, three performing artists, and previously videotaped TED talks sparked "ideas worth spreading":

• Barbara Corcoran (Shark Tank)
• Wolfgang Gilliar, D.O. (Dean, NYIT School of Osteopathic Medicine)
• Harriet Harris (Oxford Brookes)
• Nate Heasley (Goodnikels Founder)
• Michael Loverich (Bittertang Farm)
• Victoria Nizarala (Burning Man)
• Eric Sanderson (Wildlife Conservation Society)
• Jill Sherman (Modalyst Founder)
• Joseph Swensen (Conductor)
• Assaff Weisman (Juilliard)
• Michael Young (Young and Ayata Architects)

NYIT President Edward Guiliano welcomed attendees and noted that universities such as NYIT must fulfill the role of "idea incubators" with events like TEDx. Themes that emerged during the day included the importance of cross-disciplinary approaches in finding creative solutions, having fun in the creative/work process, thinking outside the box, creating community and culture, and more.

Discussions about the link between music and creativity were supported by several musical performances, including Swenson and Weisman as well as Brooklyn Shanti, hip-hop's official cultural ambassador to India and his band; beatbox artist and America's Got Talent finalist Butterscotch; and NYC subway performers Too Many Zooz, described by the New York Post as "the hottest thing in New York City music."

TED conferences, which focus on Technology, Entertainment and Design, have speakers who "give the talk of their lives" in 18 minutes or less. These talks are shared globally on the group's website. Created in the spirit of TED's mission of "ideas worth spreading," the TEDx program is designed to give communities, organizations, and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialog through TED-like experiences at the local level. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis.

This year's TEDxNYIT followed NYIT's inaugural TEDx in 2013 that focused on meta-resiliency and sustainable design.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDxevent, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events arebranded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. (Subject to certain rules and regulations.)

About TED
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 30 years ago, TED has grown to support its mission with multiple initiatives. The two annual TED Conferences invite the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes or less. Many of these talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Sal Khan and Daniel Kahneman. The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Vancouver, British Columbia, along with the TEDActive simulcast event in nearby Whistler. The annual TEDGlobal conference will be held this October in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. TED's media initiatives include TED.com, where new TED Talks are posted daily; the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as translations from volunteers worldwide; the educational initiative TED-Ed. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world get help translating their wishes into action; TEDx, which supports individuals or groups in hosting local, self- organized TED-style events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Follow TED on Twitter at twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at facebook.com/TED.

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About NYIT

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) offers 90 degree programs, including undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees, in more than 50 fields of study, including architecture and design; arts and sciences; education; engineering and computing sciences; health professions; management; and osteopathic medicine. A non-profit independent, private institution of higher education, NYIT has more than 12,000 students attending campuses on Long Island and Manhattan, online, and at its global campuses. NYIT sponsors 11 NCAA Division II programs and one Division I team.

Led by President Edward Guiliano, NYIT is guided by its mission to provide career-oriented professional education, offer access to opportunity to all qualified students, and support applications-oriented research that benefits the larger world. To date, nearly 100,000 graduates have received degrees from NYIT. For more information, visit nyit.edu.

Bobbie Dell'Aquilo
Office of Communications and Marketing
516.686.7851