TEDxUC Asunción will bring eleven Paraguayan speakers to the Puerto de Asunción on 26 September 2026. The first university TEDx event in Paraguay will run from 14:00 to 21:00. Organised by the Federation of Students of the Universidad Católica (Catholic University), the event holds a TED licence. Under the theme “Exploring the Peripheries”, speakers will share ideas from different fields.
TED is an American nonprofit organisation that began as a conference on Technology, Entertainment, and Design. It is best known for short “TED Talks” that share ideas across science, culture, business, and more.
Exploring ideas beyond the centre
TEDxUC Asunción grew from a group of students who wanted to create a space for Paraguayan ideas. Their proposal focuses on ideas that emerge between disciplines, experiences, cultures and perspectives. Therefore, “Exploring the Peripheries” looks beyond established centres of knowledge and conversation. The programme explores four areas: knowledge, existence, culture and personal perspective.
The concept of the periphery can describe what remains outside public attention or established systems. However, TEDxUC Asunción uses the concept to examine boundaries and possibilities. The programme asks what people can discover beyond familiar ways of understanding the world. Consequently, the speakers represent fields ranging from science and business to music and humour.
Eleven voices, different perspectives
The programme brings together professionals from several areas of Paraguayan society. Alicia Pavetti will represent science and technology, while Rubén Mujica will speak from the business sector. Alejandra Mendoza will bring her experience in human rights and work with women at Buen Pastor. Meanwhile, Gustavo Cabaña will represent humour, drawing on his career in radio, television and theatre.
The programme also features Maggie Leri, an ambassador for UNESCO’s Fit for Life initiative. Philosopher and educator Alexis Cubells will contribute a perspective from philosophy and education. Carla Fernández, a cognitive psychology doctor, will bring her experience in research and project management. Macarena Martínez, founder of Lamaca Studio, will represent communication and design.
Music will also have a place through Daniel Meza, leader of Tierra Adentro. Journalist and lawyer Benjamín Fernández Bogado will join the programme alongside journalist, sociologist and writer Carlos Martini. Together, the eleven speakers will present ideas shaped by different professional and personal experiences.
A new university TEDx in Asunción
During the TEDxUC Asunción launch, FEUCCA president Mateo De Oliveira welcomed the initiative and thanked those involved. Rector Cristino Bohnert Bauer also addressed the university community during the presentation. Coordinators Miguel Rojas and Sofía Feltes then introduced the event and its programme.
The Puerto of Asunción will host the event across its main stage and outdoor spaces. The historic setting will connect the programme with a place once central to Paraguay’s international trade. Moreover, activities will take place around La Recova and the Puerto promenade throughout the day.
Tickets currently cost ₲200,000 (approximately US$30) for the first tier, while later tickets will cost ₲250,000 (approximately US$38). The organisers have released 100 tickets through the official TEDxUC Asunción website. After the event, the talks will also be published through the official TEDx Talks channel.
For more information follow the TEDxUC event on Instagram.
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