Bluegrass 'Bioneers' Beams National, Local Experts

The annual environmental conference Bioneers kicks off this weekend, and the University of Louisville will be hosting its events via satellite.  Speakers include the prominent food journalist Michael Pollan, as well as holistic health advocate Dr. Andrew Weil.  Bioneers founder Kenny Ausubel says that, while Bioneers is typically a meeting about ideas to change the world, some tangible outcomes have emerged.  In 2008, Ecuador revised its national constitution to give nature its own rights.“And that work is work that we’ve been exposing and highlighting since the mid-1990s, and it was through a daisy-chain of connections that we actually made that led to these folks that have been featured at Bioneers many times going to Ecuador and consulting on their constitution," says Ausubel.U of L will also host local presentations for its Bluegrass Bioneersevent.  Presenters include Heinz Award winner and environmental lawyer Tom Fitzgerald as well as local musician Ben Sollee.