Speaker Sessions

During our speaker sessions, IdeaFestival Bowling Green participants listen to innovators from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines as they talk about their big ideas, their passions, and their visions. Participants also have the chance to ask questions. 

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The 2026 Speakers

Erin Burba

Lead Software Engineer at Eyebot

Erin Burba is the lead software engineer at Eyebot, a startup dedicated to expanding vision care access through technology and automation. She attended The Gatton Academy at WKU before studying computer science and engineering at Northeastern University. Through experiences at various startups, Erin has created a career of endless curiosity, collaborative problem solving, and tech projects ranging from embedded kiosk software to cloud services. She is originally from Paducah, KY, and now lives in Boston, MA. She enjoys travel, movies, and birdwatching.

 

Blakesley Burkhart

Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers University

Blakesley Burkhart is an Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Rutgers University and a Research Scientist at the Flatiron Institute’s Center for Computational Astrophysics. Her research spans interstellar turbulence, star formation, and the baryon cycle. A Packard and Sloan Fellow, Burkhart integrates analytic theory, large-scale simulations, and multi-wavelength observations to understand how galaxies evolve. She is also deeply committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and public engagement through innovative science-art partnerships.

 

Kirker Butler

Emmy-nominated Writer/Producer and Author

Kirker Butler is an Emmy nominated writer/producer and author who has worked on Family Guy, Only Murders in the Building, and, most recently, Ted. In 2025, Kirker’s debut novel, Pretty Ugly, was sold to Hulu as a series starring Hilary Duff, and his second novel, 7 Handfuls of Simeon Luck is being developed into a film. Kirker is also developing Whatever Happened to Huey Lewis for Fox as well as a secret animated project yet to be announced. Kirker has also worked for Illumination, Walt Disney Animation, and Lucasfilm. He recently received his MFA from NYU and completed his third novel. He lives in Los Angeles with his family.

 

Scott Johnson

Kentucky Elementary School Teacher Who Developed a 3D-Printed Hand Prosthetic

Scott Johnson has been a Kentucky elementary school teacher for 23 years. He currently teaches STEAM at Red Cross Elementary in Barren County, where he works with students from preschool through 6th grade. His ultimate goal is to show students that true education transcends school walls, and that by authentically applying their learning in their communities, they can in fact change the world. When he is not in the classroom, Mr. Johnson enjoys spending time with his wife, Michelle, who is an English teacher at Barren County High School, and their two children, Presley and Nolan.