2007 Festival Overview

In this, its third year, Aspen Ideas Festival will once again gather scientists, artists, politicians, historians, educators, activists, and other great thinkers around some of the most important and fascinating ideas of our time. As these thinkers present their provocative ideas, they engage a sophisticated and highly motivated audience.

The event is rich with intellectual exchange through a variety of daily forums:

• Large plenary sessions are offered three times a day, taking the form of panels, one-on-one interviews, or presentations on the dais.
• Multiple, concurrent tutorial classes are offered in the mornings and afternoons each day, focusing on narrow topics with broad impact.
• Casual conversations, book signings, and action-oriented discussions happen throughout the Festival, offering further opportunities for exchange between attendees and speakers.
• Evening Exchanges and daily events in venues around Aspen will bring Atlantic Monthly editors and other prominent journalists together with presenters for debates and discussion.

Over the course of the Festival, program tracks offer discussions arranged along specific themes. Program tracks allow participants to focus on a particular area of interest each day, though attendees may attend events in any track.

Four program tracks will extend the duration of the Festival, July 2 – 8, 2007:

• Global Dynamics
• Arts and Culture
• American Experience
• Media and Community

In addition, a number of four-day program tracks will cover important issues and questions:

July 2-5:

• Science and Society
• Education
• China
• The City
• Energy Futures

July 5-8:

• Business and Society
• Global Economics
• Health
• America's Children
• The State of the Environment
• Your Brain and Yourself (1-2 mornings, TBD)