ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL 2013 Aspen, Colorado JUNE 26 – JULY 2
Entering its ninth year, the Aspen Ideas Festival will gather some of the most interesting thinkers and leaders from around the US and abroad to discuss their work, the issues that inspire them, and their ideas. Presented by the Aspen Institute and The Atlantic, the Festival is unique in its dedication to dialogue and exchange, and in its commitment to bringing ideas to the public at large.
Why an “Ideas Festival”?
For over 60 years the Aspen Institute has been the nation’s premier gathering place for leaders and individuals across the globe to explore the ideals and ideas that define a good society. It continues to provide a neutral and balanced venue for discussing and acting on critical issues. Since 1857, The Atlantic has shaped national debate on the defining issues of our times, and now, 150 years later, serves as the leading destination for brave thinking and bold ideas. Both institutions are focused intently on ideas in the world of policy and politics, business and organizations, the arts and creativity, science and discovery, values and culture. Partnering together, we strive to convene a large and global public and foster a “commons” for the 21st century, a gathering for diverse, intellectually curious people to learn, listen, debate, and question what we can do to make our world — and our children’s world — a better place.
How to participate?
The Ideas Festival is divided into two overlapping four-day sessions in 2013: June 26 – June 29 (Wednesday to Saturday), and June 29 – July 2 (Saturday to Tuesday). Attendees register as pass holders for one session or the other, and are offered a substantial array of lectures, presentations, debates, and panel discussions that span a vast range of such critical topics as economics, policy, environment, science, education, arts, global affairs, and philosophy. Individual tickets are available for any number of programs that are offered in the town of Aspen and at night on the campus of the Aspen Institute. Additionally, talks and presentations as well as corresponding interviews with individual presenters are available at an array of broadcast and online venues during the Festival and thereafter, starting at aspenideas.org and theatlantic.com.
From early in the morning and late into the evening, one will meet leading writers, public officials, artists, scientists, business executives, scholars, economists, foreign policy specialists, entrepreneurs, and leaders of all kinds. Pass holders and other attendees will meet other concerned and curious participants on footpaths and sidewalks, over lunch on the lawn and at the coffee bar, in seminar rooms or larger venues.
The Months Ahead
As we plan the Festival and specific details emerge, we will share news and updates at aspenideas.org and through e- newsletters, Twitter feeds, and on our Facebook page. We’ll introduce you to presenters, link the topics at the Festival to timely issues in the news, and offer insights to the Festival agenda. Please check your email in the weeks and months to come for news and program updates.
- Why are so many issues in America divisive?
- What do the latest scientific discoveries mean for your health?
- Why is the Middle East the most important region in the world?
- Will we escape the fiscal cliff?
- How do children – and adults – learn in the 21st century?
- What are the disruptive ideas that will shape how we navigate the globe?
The 2013 Ideas Festival will address these questions and more as we bring thinkers and actors across a variety of fields to engage the audience and each other. Tutorials, lectures, debates, performances, and other events promise enlightening and robust intellectual exchange.
What’s New?
Traditional daily forums will combine with new presentation and discussion formats:
- Show and Tell: Really cool stuff, all week long — with inventors, designers, and innovators.
- Great Debates: Civil discourse at its best, in our signature neutral setting.
- The Aspen Challenges: Exceptional young people take a crack at some of our toughest problems.
- Plenary sessions offered daily: panels, one-on-one interviews, and presentations.
- Multiple, concurrent tutorial sessions daily, where attendees pick and choose from a menu of discussions across the programming spectrum.
- Casual conversations, book signings, exhibits, and presentations on campus between attendees and speakers, offering further opportunities for exchange.
- Evening Exchanges and in-town events in venues around Aspen that will bring Aspen Institute moderators, Atlantic editors, and other prominent national journalists together with presenters for substantive conversation.
- Dine Arounds! Share a meal and exchange ideas with fellow speakers and attendees.
- Films and performances.
The Festival is designed around a series of program “tracks," each of which offers a variety of discussions relevant to a certain topic area. The tracks offer participants the opportunity to focus on a particular area of interest during their time with us, or cover a lot of ground with a menu of diverse ideas across a number of topics.