By Brian Ray
Dozens of the world’s greatest minds were gathered in Louisville for last week’s 2007 IdeaFestival.
The three day event, which took place Thursday-Saturday in downtown Louisville, included a roster of international, national, and local speakers and performers who addressed the power of ideas in an array of categories ranging from the arts, to business, to science and technology.
The University of Louisville sponsored a presentation by psychiatrist and musician Dr. Richard Kogan. He delivered a lecture on the life and work of composer Leonard Bernstein entitled “West Side Story at 50: The Mind and Music of Leonard Bernstein”
“We were very fortunate that we chose a man that bridges two worlds: science and the arts,” said Manuel Martinez-Maldonado, executive vice president for research at U of L.
“Exposure to persons like Dr. Kogan and other invited guests to the Festival is a stimulus and role modeling experience for all at U of L,” Martinez-Maldonado said.
Nicholas Kristof, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for The New York Times, said “It’s great that you have people here wrestling with a lot of these tough issues like Darfur and the middle east.”
Kristof, whose event was titled “Darfur and…”, was one of many speakers who presented at the Idea Festival, which held events at the Kentucky Center, the Kentucky International Convention Center, and other downtown locations.
The IdeaFestival has taken place in Kentucky since its inception in 2000. The event was originally held in Lexington, but has since relocated to Louisville.
For more information visit http://www.IdeaFestival.com.
