HURST, Texas - Marylandian -- American Mensa's Annual Gathering is a five-day meeting of the minds, Mensa-style – equal parts social and intellectual pursuits. The public is invited to take the official Mensa Admission Test to qualify for membership and receive a one-day event pass. Media may arrange to take the test for free or cover programming. Besides testing, the public is invited to Colloquium 2024, Giftedness Across the Lifespan: Giftedness in the Workplace – a Mensa Foundation symposium that features a distinguished panel of advocates and expert researchers delving into the real experiences of gifted individuals in the workplace, providing valuable insights for both employees and employers.

WHEN/WHERE: July 3-7, 2024, Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Colloquium is July 2.

WHO: About 1,300 Mensa members will connect with friends and enjoy dozens of unique programs. Highlights include Gala Dinner speaker Alton Brown, Peabody Award-winning cook, bestselling author, TV personality, and filmmaker. A two-time James Beard Award winner, Brown combines humor, science, history, and a nerdy personality to showcase his passion for cooking. His Good Eats program ran on the Food Network for 16 seasons. Other notable programs at this event include:

• Look through NASA's James Webb Telescope with Professor Allison Kirkpatrick to see the first luminous glows after the Big Bang and the formation of life-supporting solar systems.
• Join the co-founders of Simple Mischief Studio for a behind-the-scenes look at puppetry and world-building as well as what it's like to actually live and work on Sesame Street.
• Hear former U.S. diplomat Barry Rosen describe his 444 days imprisoned and tortured in Tehran as one of 52 Americans described by the Iranians as "Guests of the Ayatollah."
• Learn from today's social media voice of Albert Einstein about how our favorite genius got into our cars, our bathrooms, and our minds.

DETAILS: The Annual Gathering is exclusively for members of American Mensa and their guests, but the public is invited to take the official Mensa Admission Test at a 50 percent discount. Test sessions are 6 p.m. on July 3 and 10 a.m. on July 6. Test-takers will receive a free one-day admission to the Annual Gathering. Journalists are welcome to take the test or cover programming.

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American Mensa is an organization open to anyone who scores in the top 2 percent on an accepted, standardized intelligence test. Learn more about American Mensa at americanmensa.org or call (817) 607-0060.

The Mensa Education and Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that unleashes intelligence by providing scholarships, promoting research, championing gifted youth, and empowering educators. Learn more at mensafoundation.org.