What is Big Ideas for Busy People?

Since 2014, the Wisconsin Science Festival has incorporated a unique event called Big Ideas for Busy People which features timed flash talks about various science concepts/topics, informal presentation styles, audience interaction, and artistic components. This is adult-facing event has been held in a variety of venues and formats over the last decade.

In 2024, the WiSciFest team took over the Majestic Theatre in Madison and brought together 4 scientists, 2 dance performers, 1 emcee, and 1 fiddler player to cover the topics of climate journalism, nuclear power, AI and agriculture, and parasites, as well as dazzle the audience with music and artistry. Each science presenter was given a short time to introduce their topic and captivate the audience before being cut off by the evening’s resident fiddle player, Daithi Wolfe. In between these bite-sized lectures, the festival’s partnership with the UW-Madison Division of the Arts brought two live dance performances related to the festival feature of agriculture.

Check out the recap of the 2024 Big Ideas for Busy People below or browse full recordings of each talk and performance in our YouTube playlist!

Videography by Aaron Granat. Recap video editing by Jonas Tangen.