Contact:
Beth Stefanik
Associate Director of Communications & Media Relations
434.296.5106 (o)
434.282.4371 (c)
bstefanik@stab.org
www.stab.org

News Advisory
Dr. Sugata Mitra Speaking in Charlottesville October 15 & 16

Charlottesville, Va., Oct. 9, 2015 - TED Prize winner Dr. Sugata Mitra will give two public talks on October 15 and 16. Coverage of these events is encouraged. 

Professor of Educational Technology at Newcastle University, UK and previously a visiting professor at MIT, Dr. Mitra is currently working on the School in the Cloud, the culmination of over a decade of research and observations from all over the world. His "Hole in the Wall" experiments have shown that in the absence of supervision or formal teaching, children can teach themselves and each other if they're motivated by curiosity and peer interest. This experiment also inspired the book and subsequent Oscar-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire. At TED2013, he was honored with the TED Prize for this project -- a $1 million award given to an individual with a creative, bold vision to spark global change. 

Dr. Mitra will be available for three five-minute, one-on-one interviews beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 16. Please coordinate interview requests with Beth Stefanik.

LOCATION: The Jefferson Theater, 110 East Main Street, Charlottesville
DATE: October 15, 2015
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
PRESS CONTACT: Beth Stefanik, contact information above
MORE INFORMATION: www.stab.org/inspirationspeaks

LOCATION: St. Anne’s-Belfield School, Conway Convocation Center, 799 Faulconer Drive, Charlottesville
DATE: October 16, 2015
TIME: 11:00 a.m.
PRESS CONTACT: Beth Stefanik, contact information above
MORE INFORMATION: www.stab.org/inspirationspeaks

Credentials are not required, but you are asked to notify Beth Stefanik before 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14 if you plan to cover either event. Please be in place no later than 6:15 p.m. on October 15, and 10:45 a.m. on October 16.