Last Saturday I've had the pleasure to attend a TED conference: TEDxRoncade. The leading argument was the biodiversity but the interventions have been very various: computer science, technology applied to health care, art, history, psychology, and obviously nature and our interactions with it.
Spokesmen (and spokeswomen) were all at high level and the format of this kind of events (fifteen minutes to everyone) is ideal to avoid boredom and to provide only main points to the audience. I have to congratulate with the promoter of this event Luca De Biase[1] for his excellent work!
Do yourself a favor: locate the next TED event near you and take part. It will be worth it!