TED, the nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading, today announces it is opening submissions for the next round of TEDGlobal Fellows. Launched by TED in 
February 2009, the Fellows program handpicks world-changing innovators from around the globe, and brings them to the TED stage - literally and figuratively - to raise international awareness for their remarkable work. The next round of Fellows will participate in the TEDGlobal 2011 conference in the extraordinary city of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Fellows hail from 58 countries, six continents and many endeavors including technology, entertainment, design, science, humanities, the arts, entrepreneurship and the NGO world. Examples include a Chilean primatologist who works with bonobos in the Congo, an Israeli clean-energy designer, a world-class Indian-American violist who brings classical music to the mentally ill, a Nigerian presidential candidate, an Australian underwater performance artist, two Kenyan co-creators of a website for crowd-sourced crisis information, a Spanish architect who bases his buildings in part on fractals, and an Indian scientist using computation to create artificial life.
"We're seeking amazing people who have demonstrated phenomenal achievement in their chosen fields and who have the potential to have a huge and positive further impact," said TED Fellows Director Tom Rielly. "The Fellows program aims to slingshot each Fellow's eye-opening ideas and projects."
The TED Fellows program seeks candidates who demonstrate remarkable achievement in their field of endeavor, focusing on individuals from five regions: Asia/Pacific, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Middle East. The program focuses on candidates from 21-50, though anyone over the age of 18 is eligible.
As part of the Fellowship, TEDGlobal Fellows receive conference admission, round-trip transportation, and room and board for TEDGlobal 2011, July 11-15, 2011, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Fellows participate in a two-day pre-conference where they can present a short talk about their work that may be considered for TED.com. Other benefits include skill-building courses taught by world experts, social opportunities and world-class coaching and mentoring.
Fellows who have attended past conferences have reported validation of their work, emotional and creative recharging, powerful relationships, and a chance to step outside their disciplines. Tangible results include public nonprofit and startup funding, grants, arts projects, board members, book deals, scientific papers, new laboratories, other fellowships and honors, and inter-fellow collaboration, among a myriad of other concrete outcomes.