Pull up a stool and savour a cool glass of science as some of The University of Western Australia’s brightest minds hit CBD bars for a series of free public talks on Tuesday 27 October.
The annual Raising the Bar event transforms five Perth bars into spaces for big ideas and great chats as 10 top researchers share how they are tackling global, national and regional issues to make the world a better place.
Each venue will host two presentations, but with the event running for one night only, registration is essential.
The speakers, venues and topics include:
Associate Professor Abbie Rogers, The Shoe Bar, 5.30pm
Tumultuous tides faced by WA’s coast: should we harden up or go with the flow?
With our coast under threat from rising sea levels and growing storm impacts, should we try to ‘harden’ the coastline, take a more nature-based approach, or simply retreat?
Dr Wesley Moss, The Shoe Bar, 7pm
Technology helping to feed the world
Discover how autonomous machinery, AI crop monitoring and other surprising tech are transforming how the world produces food – helping farmers grow more with less environmental impact.
Associate Professor Kate Hammer, The Aviary, 5.30pm
Unpacking the antibacterial activity of honey
Take a deep dive into how honey – an ancient medicine still used in healthcare today – kills bacteria, and why the nectar that a honey comes from can make all the difference.
Winthrop Professor Daniel Green, The Aviary, 7pm
Do blockbuster weight loss drugs ‘cure’ obesity by inducing frailty?
Discover the real impact of blockbuster weight loss drugs and hear world-first results from UWA’s Tirzepatide and Resistance Exercise (T-REX) study, which investigated whether resistance exercise could optimise the health benefits of such drugs.
Dr Kristin Barry, Lil’s Hideout, 5.30pm
When perception goes wrong: how brain plasticity shapes our reality
Ever had tinnitus? Hear from a neuroscientist about how the brain creates phantom perceptions across all our senses – often to compensate for missing information.
Professor Katie Attwell, Lil’s Hideout, 7pm
When governments sabotage vaccination: an analysis of the United States
Make America Great Again (MAGA’s) rejection of immunisation is shaping the way governments institute vaccination uptake. What do these experiences mean for Australia, and how do we prepare for their impact here?
Associate Professor Ronnie Das, Universal Bar, 5.30pm
This talk contains deepfakes – your life may depend on whether you can tell
As deepfakes spread, your money, vote and reputation may depend on your ability to spot them. Learn how the technology works, along with practical ways to protect yourself.
Associate Professor Paul Maginn, Universal Bar, 7pm
Geographies of pornography: online porn viewing trends Down Under
Take a whirlwind tour of global and Australian trends in online porn consumption and learn the porn preferences of Australians at national, state and local level.
Professor Hilde Tubex, Pirate Life Bar, 5.30pm
Let’s raise the bar on the use of prisons
Why is WA’s prison population high compared to the rest of Australia? This talk challenges us to raise the bar on the use of prisons, learn from alternatives, and spend taxpayers’ money in a better way.
Dr Craig Cumming, Pirate Life Bar, 7pm
The system is the symptom: how can we manage mental health better?
People who fall through the cracks of our mental health system are often described as having ‘complex needs’ that are difficult to meet. This talk discusses how much easier it could be to manage such needs if systems focused more on the humans they’re meant to be helping.
