Volunteer Eunice OreOluwa Fasan at Inspirefest 2017. Image: Conor McCabe Photography
You only have until 24 December to pick up a Super Early Bird ticket to Inspirefest 2018. Here’s why you won’t want to miss out.
Now in its fourth year, Inspirefest has become an unmissable date on the European events calendar.
Each summer in Dublin’s Silicon Docks, the event shines a spotlight on more than 50 bright minds in science, tech, entrepreneurship, arts and innovation, and sparks new and refreshing conversations on emerging trends and pressing issues.
Super Early Bird tickets are on sale right now but prices change on 25 December so time is running out to get your ticket to the sci-tech event of the year at the low price of €225.
If you’re yet to be convinced why you need to be in the audience in June 2018, read on.
This event is focused on quality, not quantity
Rather than a sprawling event the size of a small city, with a competitive schedule of events vying for your attention, Inspirefest puts its focus squarely on one stage in one killer venue: the stunning, theatrical surrounds of the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.
Ann O’Dea opens day two of Inspirefest 2017 at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. Image: Conor McCabe Photography
Speakers you’ve never heard from before
This unique format depends entirely on the event’s carefully selected line-up, so it helps that Inspirefest is run by a team with decades of experience in content editing and curation. This conference promises a line-up worthy of your undivided attention, which is why they spend a year sourcing the best and brightest science and tech innovators from across the globe.
Arlan Hamilton at Inspirefest 2017. Image: Conor McCabe Photography
At Inspirefest, you’ll hear from industry superstars alongside newcomers you’ve never heard from before – and this event has proved itself in bringing new voices to the fore. Backstage Capital founder and all-round investment rockstar Arlan Hamilton turned down countless speaking engagements before signing up for Inspirefest 2017. Inclusive design advocate Sinéad Burke took to the Inspirefest stage in 2016, then the White House, TED talks and the world beckoned.
New perspectives on the hottest trends
Themes explored at next year’s event will range from the future of digital media, artificial intelligence and fintech, to blockchain uncovered, space research and environmental science. As always, there will be an invaluable dose of leadership lessons, networking tips and professional development, whatever your career path or level.
These are the trends making headlines daily in tech, but you can expect new perspectives, frank discussion and an inclusive twist when it comes to Inspirefest.
No shying away from the big issues
Sexual discrimination, domestic violence, online harassment, trans visibility, news media in crisis, financial inclusion, the ethics of data collection – all of these hard-hitting issues have been hashed out at Inspirefest with frank and honest discussion since year one.
This year, with the first of the 2018 speakers announced, we’re expecting environmental science to enter the fray for the first time with Dr Easkey Britton, a five-time Irish national surf champion who holds a PhD in marine environment and society.
Investment opportunities
Inspirefest is where Soapbox Labs founder Patricia Scanlon secured Ireland’s second-largest funding round for a female founder. The lunchtime investor masterclass will return in 2018 and you can expect plenty of investor insight from speakers Niamh Given, chief growth officer at Nest.vc, and Claire Lee, managing director of early-stage banking at Silicon Valley Bank.
Learn how to lead in a new era
Chances are you already know that diversity and inclusion lead to more effective teams, more innovative thinking and better financial returns for organisations. However, it can be hard to cut through the ‘expert’ clutter, and execution can be the greatest challenge. At Inspirefest, tips on building an effective, collaborative and creative workforce will be dispensed by progressive leaders such as Katie Burke, the chief people officer at HubSpot, which has been named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.
Researchfest returns
Get ready to be impressed by the science communication skills that will be on display at Researchfest, the annual contest that forms part of the main event. Finalists at Researchfest have just three minutes to present their research to the audience of international attendees and an esteemed panel of judges, and, for two years running, the standard has been impeccable.
The Fringe benefits
Taking place in the evenings after the conference wraps up, the Inspirefest Fringe has become legendary in its own right. Over the years we’ve had music from Little Green Cars, Lisa Hannigan, Wyvern Lingo and Udagan Universe. We’ve enjoyed theatre about Ada Lovelace and laughed at scientists doing stand-up. We’ve toyed with crafty science and fun photo booths, and made a splash while wakeboarding in Grand Canal Dock.
Your Super Early Bird ticket price includes free access to these top evening events and we can reveal that the 2018 Fringe festival will include a superb theatre performance on the extraordinary talents of actress and inventor Hedy Lamarr.
We’ll be celebrating Hedy Lamarr at #inspirefest 2018. Watch this space https://t.co/6V1fU9v85m
— Inspirefest 2018 (@InspirefestHQ) December 4, 2017
Networking? More like community-building
With the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere Inspirefest invokes, networking comes naturally. You can’t put together so many like-minded fire-starters without new sparks of innovation flying, and we’ve seen many new connections formed and ideas take shape among speakers and attendees alike.
Inspirefest’s community of wonder-women includes (from left) Monica Parker, Dr Sue Black and Kelly Hoey. Image: Conor McCabe Photography
Letting off STEAM
Inspirefest isn’t just science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). Since day one, this conference has advocated for bringing the arts into the mix, and what happens on stage reflects this ethos. This year saw a Scissor Sister, a space performance artist, a video-game composer and a science poet all contributing memorable moments to this event. Put simply, no other event fuses STEM and the arts quite like this one.
Inspirefest is Silicon Republic’s international event connecting sci-tech professionals passionate about the future of STEM. Join us in Dublin, 21-22 June 2018, and get your Super Early Bird tickets now!
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