As with every year, three winners are picked who share a dream, a passion, and a wish for something they wish to see happen. It is my pleasure to allow you the opportunity to meet the 2009 TED Prize winners: astronomer Jill Tarter, deep-ocean explorer Sylvia Earle, and maestro Jose Antonio Abreu. Each of them is a leader in his/her chosen field of work, with an unconventional viewpoint and a vision to transform the world. Each wins $100,000 plus "One Wish to Change the World." Their wishes will be unveiled at TED2009 on February 5, 2009.

Jill Tarter, director of the SETI Institute's Center for SETI Research and holder of the Bernard M. Oliver Chair for SETI. She has devoted her career to hunting for signs of sentient beings elsewhere, and almost all aspects of this field have been affected by her work.

" 'Are we alone?' Humans have been asking [this question] forever. The probability of success is difficult to estimate, but if we never search, the chance of success is zero."

Her wish...

I wish that you would empower Earthlings everywhere to become active participants in the ultimate search for cosmic company.

Sylvia Earle, called "Her Deepness" by the New Yorker and the New York Times, "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress, and "Hero for the Planet" by Time, is an oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer with a deep commitment to research through personal exploration.

"We've got to somehow stabilize our connection to nature so that in 50 years from now, 500 years, 5,000 years from now there will still be a wild system and respect for what it takes to sustain us."


Her wish...

I wish you would use all means at your disposal — films! expeditions! the web! more! — to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas, hope spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.

Jose Abreu, a retired economist, trained musician, and social reformer founded El Sistema ("the system") in 1975 based on the conviction that what poor Venezuelan kids needed was classical music. After 30 years and 10 different political administrations, El Sistema is now a nationwide organization of 102 youth orchestras, 55 children's orchestras and 270 music centers.

"Music has to be recognized as an ... agent of social development in the highest sense, because it transmits the highest values -- solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion. And it has the ability to unite an entire community and to express sublime feelings."

His wish...

I wish you would help create and document a special training program for at least 50 gifted young musicians, passionate for their art and for social justice, and dedicated to developing El Sistema in the US and in other countries.

http://TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader. The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). www.ted.com
  As with every year, three winners are picked who share a dream, a passion, and a wish for something they wish to see happen. It is my pleasure to allow you the opportunity to meet the 2009 TED Prize winners: astronomer Jill Tarter, deep-ocean explorer Sylvia Earle, and maestro Jose Antonio Abreu. Each of them is a leader in his/her chosen field of work, with an unconventional viewpoint and a vision to transform the world. Each wins $100,000 plus "One Wish to Change the World." Their wishes will be unveiled at TED2009 on February 5, 2009.    Jill Tarter, director of the SETI Institute's Center for SETI Research and holder of the Bernard M. Oliver Chair for SETI. She has devoted her career to hunting for signs of sentient beings elsewhere, and almost all aspects of this field have been affected by her work.    " 'Are we alone?' Humans have been asking [this question] forever. The probability of success is difficult to estimate, but if we never search, the chance of success is zero."    Her wish...  

I wish that you would empower Earthlings everywhere to become active participants in the ultimate search for cosmic company.

    Sylvia Earle, called "Her Deepness" by the New Yorker and the New York Times, "Living Legend" by the Library of Congress, and "Hero for the Planet" by Time, is an oceanographer, explorer, author, and lecturer with a deep commitment to research through personal exploration.    "We've got to somehow stabilize our connection to nature so that in 50 years from now, 500 years, 5,000 years from now there will still be a wild system and respect for what it takes to sustain us."      Her wish...  

I wish you would use all means at your disposal — films! expeditions! the web! more! — to ignite public support for a global network of marine protected areas, hope spots large enough to save and restore the ocean, the blue heart of the planet.

    Jose Abreu, a retired economist, trained musician, and social reformer founded El Sistema ("the system") in 1975 based on the conviction that what poor Venezuelan kids needed was classical music. After 30 years and 10 different political administrations, El Sistema is now a nationwide organization of 102 youth orchestras, 55 children's orchestras and 270 music centers.    "Music has to be recognized as an ... agent of social development in the highest sense, because it transmits the highest values -- solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion. And it has the ability to unite an entire community and to express sublime feelings."    His wish...  

I wish you would help create and document a special training program for at least 50 gifted young musicians, passionate for their art and for social justice, and dedicated to developing El Sistema in the US and in other countries.

    
    TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from those three worlds. Since then its scope has become ever broader. The annual conference now brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes). www.ted.com