WKU News

Local educators and parents will have a unique opportunity this summer to learn from the world's leading experts in gifted education, and they won’t have to drive across the country or fly around the globe to do it.

The World Council for Gifted and Talented Children will host its 20th Biennial World Conference, "Celebrating Giftedness and Creativity," August 10-14, 2013, at the Galt House Hotel and Conference Center in Louisville, KY.

Previously, cities such as Barcelona, Spain; Sydney, Australia; Istanbul, Turkey; and most recently, Prague, Czech Republic, have hosted the conference. The U.S. has not held it since 2005 when New Orleans hosted. The close proximity of this year's event provides a rare occasion for area educators and parents, said Julia Roberts, World Council treasurer and executive director of The Center for Gifted Studies and Carol Martin Gatton Academy of Mathematics and Science in Kentucky, both at Western Kentucky University.

"Holding the 20th Biennial World Conference of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children in Louisville provides a remarkable opportunity to learn with scholars and practitioners from around the globe," she said. "I hope many Kentucky educators, parents, and interested citizens will come to this conference and join in the conversations about children and youth who are gifted and talented." A special daily rate for Kentucky residents interested in attending the conference is being offered.

This summer's conference will focus on several areas relating to the overarching theme of creativity in giftedness. These include innovation education; moral education, values, and social conscience; developing future leaders; assessment, screening and identification approaches; and homeschooling and parenting, among others.

World renown gifted education scholars will lead participants through these topics. Keynote speakers include Joseph Renzulli of the National Research Center on the Gifted and Talented, U.S., discussing what factors contribute to high levels of creativity in children; Todd Lubart of the Université Paris Descartes, France, examining how to build a school system that promotes the development of creative potential; and Tracy Riley of Massey University, New Zealand, explaining how to enhance creativity through competition.

All presentations and workshops will be in English. However, participants will come from all around the world to exchange ideas with their peers, noted WKU President Gary Ransdell.

He previously met members of the World Council’s Executive Committee, each serving from a different county, in January 2011 when the council’s international headquarters moved to WKU from Winnipeg, Canada. He also greeted them during a special council meeting at headquarters last summer and said he is happy to welcome all conference participants to the Bluegrass this summer.

"I look forward to engaging with participants in this worldwide biennial conference on the importance of education for our best and brightest young minds," he said. "Kentucky hospitality awaits our special visitors."

Hosting city Louisville is Kentucky's largest city and offers numerous cultural and social activities for conference participants to enjoy during their visit. It is home of Churchill Downs racetrack and Kentucky Derby Museum, the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory, the Kentucky Science Center, Actors Theatre, Fourth Street Live!, and more.

"I look forward to welcoming educators and advocates for the gifted and talented to Louisville in August," Ransdell said.

To register for the 2013 World Conference visit www.worldgifted2013.org WCGTC members receive a discount on conference registration. For information about joining the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children visit www.world-gifted.org