Throughout London people are flocking to hear debates with top speakers

Forget dusty lecturers coughing through three-hour papers. Many of today's presentations have the wit and energy of stand-up comedy. Production values couldn't be higher.
Last week the coolest conference on the academic circuit hit Oxford. The invitation only, TED Global conference, saw 50 motivational and keynote speakers each take an 18 minute slot over 4 days. TED was set up in the States as a not-for-profit venture to get wealthy power brokers thinking about projects that can improve the world.
In the States, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Bono, fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi and filmmaker JJ Abrams, creator of TV's Lost, have all given presentations, alongside violinists, political prisoners, novelists and brain scientists. Bands including They Might Be Giants and jazz pianist Elew have also performed at the conference.
The speakers for 2009 included comedian Rory Bremner, actor and author Stephen Fry, philosopher and Keynote Speaker Alain de Botton, mathematician and motivational speaker Marcus du Sautoy, novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and astrophysicist Garik Israelian.

Intelligence Squared organizes witty, provocative and exciting debates on the crucial issues for today. Upcoming events include a discussion on the World in 2050, where Ian Goldin, global futurist and Director of Oxford's James Martin 21st Century School will be part of the panel, and a debate on the role of the Catholic Church in today's society, where Ann Widdecombe and Stephen Fry will be speaking.
Quarterly magazine Contagious hosts events on new media and advertising. And at the School of Life on Marchmont Street, you can enjoy secular sermons, pilgrimages, talks and courses on love, work and family.
The organisers of these events are hoping that ideas streaming - meaning sharing your deepest thoughts with like-minded people becomes the new way to network. Not only do you get to meet intellectual titans and cross-pollinate ideas, it's also a clever way of checking out a new dating partner - without any of the embarrassment!

A leading speakers bureau sourcing after dinner speakers, motivational speakers, keynote speakers and conference speakers for corporate events around the world