Best-selling American author of "The New Cool" addresses T4G's innovation showcase Geekfest

Neal Bascomb's latest book is about the cultural shift to intelligence and inspiration in the modern world

TORONTO, March 6, 2012 /CNW/ - Once upon a time the cool kids were the jocks and the tough guys. The nerds were the outcasts, often the loners. How times have changed.

And that is what Geekfest is all about - a celebration of brains over brawn, a showcase for invention, innovation, intelligence and entrepreneurialism. The fifth annual Geekfest is tomorrow March 7 at the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto beginning at 6 p.m.

The keynote speaker, Neal Bascomb, will address this cultural change as relating to his runaway hit The New Cool: A visionary teacher, his FIRST robotics team, and the ultimate battle of smarts.

The message of the book is "cool is what you make it," Bascomb says. It is also a guide to what the future of education needs to be and how we can marshal our young in the fields of science, technology, math, and engineering.

"What a compelling story of inspiration, perspiration, intelligence, dreams and drive," says Geoff Flood, President of T4G Limited, the company hosting Geekfest.

"Rightly or wrongly, here at T4G we believe we can change the world by using technology to deliver government services better, building green energy solutions, finding better healthcare solutions and more," Mr. Flood says."

Geekfest is where T4G employees bring their ideas and prototypes for tomorrow's solutions, and lay it all on the line for critique - often harsh critiques, too - by other scientific minds and those with consumer marketing backgrounds.

At the end of the evening, creators of the best three prototypes present in detail to a counsel of "Supreme Geeks" and the audience votes for the winner, this includes a $10,000 cash prize for the winning Geek.

"Great ideas come out of Geekfest that are turned into real products and services," Mr. Flood said. "In fact, we have exciting news about one idea from two years ago that will be highlighted at this year's event."

In some ways, Geekfest is like The New Cool, a true story chronicling an inexperienced, yet passionate, group of high school students, inspired by their teacher, who built a robot in only 49 days in 2009 and go on to win an international science fair against 1,800 other teams. Year after year, T4G employees are inspired to dream big ideas and come up with marketable ideas at Geekfest.

Geekfest is an invitation-only event open to T4G employees, customers and special guests. For more information about Geekfest, or to request an invitation, check out http://geekfest.t4g.com/

ABOUT T4G
T4G is a national, project-based, full-service professional services company founded in 1996 with operations from coast-to-coast. We believe in building high-performing teams and breaking conventional wisdom. We believe in our people and true participation in each and every project we undertake. We believe in The Intelligent Application of Technology™ where less can be more, where innovation leads to opportunity, and where a culture of commitment always strives to exceed customers' expectations. For more information: www.t4g.com

Media Contacts:

Paul Barter 
Vice-President,
Research
T4G Limited
416-462-4211
[email protected]

Bob Brehl 
abc2 communications
416-994-1470 
[email protected]