Western Kentucky Department of Biology instructor Dr. Michael Killen (left) explains the different organs in a synthetic cadaver to a group of Barren County students during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Edythe J. Hayes Middle School seventh grader Logan Phillips tests out weather instruments to blow out a line of candles at the Western Kentucky University Meteorology Department’s booth during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Western Kentucky University’s Center for Gifted Studies hosted more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth for the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Potter Gray Elementary School third grader Parker Cannon flexes his arm to test neuroscience readers at the Western Kentucky University Department of Biology’s booth with Professor Michael Smith (right) during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Students take turns painting parts of a mural alongside local artist Andee Rudloff during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Students take turns painting parts of a mural alongside local artist Andee Rudloff during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Students map out pathways to code robots to follow at the Kentucky Science Center’s booth during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Students build structures at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s booth during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Aviation Heritage Park Board Member Bob Pitchford guides a student through flying a plane with a flight simulator during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Students build structures with foam blocks at the Warren County Public Library’s booth during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Owen Morris and other area students take turns using 3D printing pens at the Center for Gifted Studies’ booth during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS

Students examine and build an anatomy figure at the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine Bowling Green campus booth during the 12th annual IdeaFestival Bowling Green in WKU’s Downing Student Union on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The event, which was hosted by WKU’s Center for Gifted Studies and welcomed more than 850 middle and high school students from across the Commonwealth, provided a mix of speaker sessions and hands-on activities for the students to explore different career fields. GRACE MCDOWELL / DAILY NEWS