Scroll for more

Talks & Ideas

16 January – 11 March 2024

12.26pm – 7.30pm AEDT

This event has ended

Free for everyone

Talk

Liberate your mind with a challenging program filled with lively debate, conversation and ideas.

The talks and ideas series of conversations illuminates some of our most powerful stories. This February and March explore the untold history of our earth with historian and author Peter Frankopan, hear from acclaimed Tamil-language author Perumal Murugan who was once a target of right-wing book burnings, devour a moment with award winning author Bryan Washington and explore whether the deepening class divide can ever be transcended with Polly Toynbee.

Past Events

28 Feb Past event

Peter Frankopan: The Earth Transformed

Examining human history through the lens of the natural world, hear from historian and author Peter Frankopan on the crucial role the environment plays in the existence humankind.

29 Feb Past event

Anjum Hasan: History's Angel

Two of India’s luminary writers reflect on the complexities of life, love, writing history, and the power of words.

4 Mar Past event

Bryan Washington: Family Meal

EVENT CANCELLED | Devour the writing of Bryan Washington, unpacking sex, love and food through his mind’s eye, in conversation with icon Benjamin Law.

5 Mar Past event

Samuel Moyn: Liberalism Against Itself

Confront the ideas of Samuel Moyn, who diagnosed the political left’s fear of Trump as a ‘hysteria’ threatening democracy, in conversation with UNSW political philosopher Jessica Whyte.

6 Mar Past event

Perumal Murugan: Resurrected Through Writing

Journey with Tamil-language author Perumal Murugan, once a target of right-wing book burnings and now longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2023.

7 Mar Past event

Consent Laid Bare

Join a panel of experts committed to ending gendered violence, and learn how we can recentre sexual consent for everyone.

11 Mar Past event

Polly Toynbee: An Uneasy Inheritance

Join a prolific Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee as she investigates the true meaning of privilege and entrenched class divide in Britain and Australia.