'Expert Minds' Provide Food For Thought

Experts in the fields of environmental policy, engineering and public health, among others, convened at the Westport Arts Center on July 14 to engage in "a meaningful dialogue with the greater community."

The program, called “Expert Minds,” was like a series of “speed dating” sessions for the mind. Over the course of the evening, attendees who purchased tickets for the event were able to engage with four of the ten hand-picked local experts during intimate 15 minute "round-table" style conversations.

The event, which was conceived of by the Arts Center’s new Executive Director, Peter Van Heerden, was desgined to facilitate and exchange of knowledge between these environmental experts and the community. Through these shared conversations, the audience was to develop "a collective knowledge of diverse topics that inform our actions as human beings."

The featured 10 guest experts included:

Michael Aitkenhead, Staples High School science teacher and steward at Wakeman Town Farm; former CT House Representatives and Environmental Policy Reformer Julie Belaga; Deepika Saksena, a “zero waste manager” for locations around the globe; David Brown, a public health toxicologist for Environment and Human Health, Inc.; Maxine Bleiweis, Westport Library Director; Architect and Innovator John Fifield; Watts Wacker, one of the most celebrated and influential minds in modern business and one of the world's most respected futurists; Chef/Owner of Le Farm, Bill Taibe; Eden Werring, Executive Director of Tauck Foundation and Arts and Education Advocate; and John Solder, member of the Staples High School World Robotics Team, who recently became world champions.