The sixth annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green was held at Western Kentucky University on Feb. 13. Hosted by The Center for Gifted Studies at WKU, the festival brought almost 750 participants from over 30 high schools and middle schools, representing 18 school districts. Participants included 110 students from Logan County Schools.
This year’s theme was “The Future Is Now.”
In the morning, after a performance by the Red River Fiddlers, participants listened to talks by representatives of a wide range of fields and had a chance to ask questions. The first speaker session, “Art and Advocacy: Creating a Space for the Future,” included Aria L. Byrd, PhD candidate in the Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology at the University of Kentucky; Paige Halpin Smith, director of development at Fayette Alliance; and Brianna Harlan, multidisciplinary artist and activist from Louisville.
The second speaker session, “Entrepreneurship: Imagining the Future,” featured Sarah Bellos, president and founder of Stony Creek Colors; WKU student Robert Bowden III, founder and CEO of Spartan 4x4 LLC; and Josiah Nelson, co-founder of clean energy company Trolysis.
The festival also featured an afternoon of minds-on, hands-on activities to stimulate participants’ creativity and curiosity and help them generate new ideas.
Participants interested in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics visited makerspaces created by the Warren County Public Library Idea Lab and the WKU Makerspace and generated movie sound effects with the Kentucky Science Center.
In addition, engineering educators Newton’s Attic brought SPINtron, a multi-axis trainer that simulates what an astronaut experiences in a capsule on re-entry; the WKU Small Business Accelerator had 3-D printing pens; video game designer Pang Hartman of Frogdice taught the basics of gaming; and Matt Staggs of Franklin-Simpson Middle School instructed participants in computer programming.
Also, the Bioambassadors of the WKU Department of Biology presented animal physiology and microscopes; the American Printing House for the Blind demonstrated Graphiti, a multilevel tactile graphics display; the Warren County Beekeepers showed what it is like to be a bee; the WKU Office of Conservation turned students into recycling ninjas; and Rico Tyler of WKU’s SKyTeach showed students how to make their smartphones into microscopes.
There were also activities in the arts and creative thinking. Local artist Andee Rudloff facilitated the painting of a mural created specifically for the festival. In addition, Hunter Little, WKU graduate student in creative writing, led a poetry project; the WKU student graphic design association AIGA demonstrated a letterpress; and the WKU Printmaking Club showed students relief printing. Also, the WKU student branch of the National Dance Education Organization led a dance improvisation activity, and the Happy Gas Improv Troupe conducted an improv comedy workshop.
Finally, participants helped create an interactive art installation with festival speaker Brianna Harlan, and they visited the Black History Month art exhibit at the WKU Intercultural Student Engagement Center’s Gallery.
Several activities focused on entrepreneurship. The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the WKU Gordon Ford College of Business presented two activities: an Idea Wall, where participants shared their ideas and received feedback from Idea Mentors; and Entrepreneurial Economics, where they learned how entrepreneurs benefit communities. In addition, Kentucky’s Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs taught participants about designing prototypes.
Major Sponsor for the festival was Vid Monster Productions, which filmed the event. AT&T and the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce were Supporting Sponsors. Additional sponsors included The Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky and the WKU Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
IdeaFestival Bowling Green is done in agreement with IdeaFestival® and supports its mission to “create a dynamic ‘space’ to promote curiosity, disruptive innovation and relevance.”
More information on the festival can be found at wku.edu/gifted/ideafestivalbg or by contacting Erika Solberg at erika.solberg@wku.edu or (270) 745-3015.
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