I’m just getting back from my fourth-annual trip to PopTech in Camden, Maine, where I help out covering all the amazing speakers, break-out sessions and other goings-on. This year’s event was as impressive as ever: I re-connected with old friends, witnessed some amazing presentations and generally enjoyed being around smart people who are out doing Big Things in the world of social innovation and tech.
Here are a few of the talks I covered and links to interviews I managed to squeeze in. Sadly, I didn’t bring my camera this year (it was the first time I had to fly to get there!) but there are some great photos up on the PopTech Flickr account.
- Interview with Vaishali Sinha on her documentary film Made in India, about Westerners outsourcing surrogacy to India.
- Interview with Shima’a Helmy on the future of revolution
- Bryan Doerries‘ amazing “Theater of War” session introducing U.S. vets to Greek theater
- Iceland’s President Ólafur Grímsson inspirational talk on how Iceland rebuilt itself after the financial crash of 2008
- A visit and bread-making with the locavore chefs at Salt Water Farm
There’s always so much happening over the five days that it’s a bit of a blur. But I have to say, I think my favorite part of PopTech is the all-you-can-eat oyster bar at the closing party. Ice-cold, fresh Maine oysters shucked right in front of you taste exactly like the sea. It’s what brings me back every year! Well that and my fellow PopTechers.
The next stop for PopTech is going to be…Iceland! Will I be going? I guess it depends on if they have oysters.
Images by Kris Krüg and Thatcher Cook for PopTech
