About the Festival
A speaker series such as the David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas is at the heart of what a university represents—the free exchange of ideas and knowledge, and the discovery of new and exciting ideas and possibilities.
Throughout the fall and spring semesters, a diverse cast of internationally noted innovators, thought leaders, and experts (along with some of WVU’s very own philosophers-in-training) will visit our campus. They will open the doors to thoughtful discussions about important issues.
The Festival of Ideas lecture series was revived by President Emeritus David C. Hardesty Jr. in 1995. It was inspired by events he organized as WVU student body president in the 1960s—“The Festival of Ideas reaffirms the proposition that in a campus community, learning also takes place outside of the classroom, not just inside of it.”
Key figures from the fields of politics, business, entertainment, research, sports, scholarship, and culture will travel to Morgantown to share their wisdom. All presentations are free and open to the public.
The series is supported in part by the David C. Hardesty Jr. Festival of Ideas Endowment.
Please check back for more details and visit our Facebook page here.
Questions? Contact: FestivalofIdeas@mail.wvu.edu