Bournemouth's first experience of TEDx – the global network of conferences dedicated to science and culture – has been hailed a success.

TEDxBournemouthUniversity featured a dozen speakers ranging from a fashion entrepreneur to a jazz pianist.

The TEDx events are independently run offshoots of TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conferences, where speakers have included the likes of Bill Clinton, Bill Gates and Bournemouth’s Dame Jane Goodall.

They have attracted large followings on YouTube and the Bournemouth TEDx talks should be online later in March.

Elena Dimitrova, licensee and curator of TEDxBournemouthUniversity, said the event had been a big success.

“We got some really good feedback.

“People felt they were inspired,” she said.

“I think people were surprised by the fact that it was a mixture of completely different speeches. This is the main point of TEDx. In one session it was an archaeologist, then someone who comes from a business background talking about completely different things.”

She spent 10 months organising the event on the university’s Talbot Campus.

“I had to go for a licence about a year ago. We were rejected the first time,” she said.

“It took me a month and a half each time I applied. “Everyone can go for a licence but they want to hear your specific ideas. They want to hear exactly what you want to present.”

She said the event had to follow TEDx’s requirements about branding, the look of the hall and the range of speakers.

“All the guests have to come from different backgrounds. You can’t just have artists, for example,” she said.

The event drew a host of compliments from audience members and speakers.

Speaker Neri Karra, a fashion entrepreneur, academic director and author, wrote: “It was a dream come true for me, and I loved all the positivity, inspiration and passion I got to experience.”

Another speaker, Dr Miles Russell, pictured left, the university’s senior lecturer in prehistoric and Roman archaeology, said: “It was a hugely interesting and extremely thought provoking conference and everyone was full of energy and enthusiasm for their subjects.”