Buffalo Unconference: Self-organizing conference turns attendees in to presenters

Buffalo Unconference powered by AT&T is an event created specifically for the collision of ideas; hundreds from Western New York will spend April 18 teaching each other new skills

Buffalo Unconference powered by AT&T is an interactive event built to bring together a diverse group of people so they may share their knowledge on topics they are passionate about through presentations, demos and open discussions. Buffalo Unconference is taking place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Thomas R. Beecher Jr. Innovation Center at 640 Ellicott St., Buffalo.

The conference is free to attend, but all attendees must register at http://buffalounconference.com.

Attendees are encouraged to participate by presenting on topics such as technology, programming, art, music, volunteerism, writing or virtually any subject. Anyone with something to contribute or the desire to learn is welcome to join.

When registering online for the event, attendees can propose a talk they'll present during the event. The Unconference organizers will curate the talks and categorize them into tracks. On the day of the Unconference, five different tracks of speakers will run concurrently. Attendees will choose which talks they'd like to attend.

The event already has 130 attendees and 25 proposed talks. There are 170 tickets remaining.

Complimentary refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

The event hosts a wide range of topics from the technical to the artistic. A sampling of subjects attendees have registered to present include "Becoming an International Freelance Journalist," "The Bitcoin Ecosystem," "Effective Team Building," "Android Operating System Development," "Conquering the Employment Skills Gap" and "Taking Better Photos with your Smartphone."

When the day's programming is finished, The Public, Buffalo's newest alternative weekly, will keep the discussion going with a reception for Unconference attendees from 5-7 p.m.

"Innovation happens when you bring people together from different backgrounds, with different experiences, and encourage conversations about the concepts they care about," event organizer Clark Dever said. "Buffalo Unconference is designed to support entrepreneurship by creating a critical density of people, causing the collision of ideas."

"AT&T is proud to partner with Buffalo Unconference to provide this unique opportunity for Western New Yorkers to share their creative passions and collaborate on transformational ideas to elevate the local entrepreneurial community," said Marissa Shorenstein, New York president of AT&T. "Our support for this event grows out of our commitment to foster local innovation by encouraging technologists, makers and developers to create new technologies that could positively impact their communities. We are proud of Buffalo's burgeoning renaissance, and we remain dedicated to helping the community restore its historic reputation as an innovative leader in New York and across the country."

Organized by a team of technologists and entrepreneurs, Buffalo Unconference is supported by companies that want to foster technology innovation and entrepreneurship in the region.