The Academics Turning Your Local Pub Into A Classroom For A Night

Fancy a spot of academia with your after-work drinks? Some books with your bevvies, perhaps? Returning this May for another year, Raising the Bar sees 10 of the city’s favourite pubs and bars transform into esteemed places of learning, with pint-sized lectures delivered by 20 of the University of Sydney’s leading academics and researchers. 

“Raising the Bar reflects our commitment to serving the Sydney community – fostering curiosity, encouraging dialogue, and reminding us that learning matters at every age,” said the University of Sydney’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott. 

“I encourage everyone to come along and hear from incredible researchers and academics who are exploring ideas and innovations which could make a real difference to our city.” 

The free event, supported by the City of Sydney has been running since 2016, with Lord Mayor Clover Moore saying Raising the Bar was a “fantastic initiative that combines big thinking with a great social experience, delivering free talks in venues you wouldn’t usually expect.”

“We’re proud to back a program that brings together academics, industry voices and thought leaders to spark lively discussions across all kinds of ideas,” she said. 

With topics ranging from the impact of philosophy and poetry in prison, to the ways your phone has changed your eating habits, and the fascinating world of fungi, there’s enough .

“Fungi are often overlooked, but they quietly run life on Earth,” said Dr Kenya Fernades, who will be speaking at Hermann’s Bar in Camperdown.

“They can be decomposers, medicine producers, and ecosystem engineers, but they can also evolve, spread, and become deadly. The more we understand them, the better we can live alongside them.”

Venues include Mountain Culture Beer Co, Keg & Brew and the Bank Hotel, with each hosting two talks at 6:30pm and 8pm. The full list of topics and registration can be found here.