Grade levels: Adult

Writer Mark Abley gives discusses how languages survive and adapt.

Artist Gunther von Hagens, who invented the plastination technique for his travelling corpse museum, brings samples from real human heads on stage with him.

Alan Hirsch, a neurologist and psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of smell and taste loss, speaks about the relationship between smell and behaviour.

Photographer Rick Smolan.

Musician Adam Cohen, son of famous poet and musician Leonard Cohen, performs.

Gord Downie, frontman for the legendary Canadian rock Band The Tragically Hip, talks about and performs songs about his love for Canada.

Ergonomic designer Bryce Rutter talks about good design, criticizes everyday use products and explains what product design should take into consideration.

Journalist Scott Taylor draws gasps from the audience with his stories of being held hostage in Iraq.

Dr. Guy Miller and polar explorer Ben Saunders present their 4-month expedition in Antarctica dedicated to children with inherited energy impairment diseases. They also talk about the Human Energy Project, which researches a cure to these diseases.

Mark Liponis, a holistic health care specialist, explains his unique way of approaching health by presenting American poet and essayist John Perry Barlow’s treatment as an example.