Raising the Bar

Overview

This Wednesday, November 23 ten of Melbourne's bars and pubs will be transformed into classrooms for a night of talks — 20 of them, to be exact, which means there are at least 20 new things for you to discuss and learn about. Raising the Bar will see academics deliver free talks around the city, bringing the concept that "good ideas are born at the bar" to life.

Previously established a few years back by students from New York and Columbia Universities and having been hosted in Sydney twice already, this is the first year the event will come to Melbourne to showcase a range of speakers, ideas, and themes. Pick one that'll interest you, teach you something new, or get you animated, standing and gesturing dramatically with your beer glass.

Hear what Mindfulness Everywhere's Rohan Gunatillake has to say about the 'trend' of mindfulness and meditation upstairs at Blue Diamond, or head to Lily Blacks to listen to barrister and writer Hilary Bonney talk about the role of storytelling in real (and unreal) court cases. If you want to get some fresh air, openair bar Arbory will host Monash University's Kate Burridge for a talk on swearing in Australian culture.

It's a free event, but booking is required and recommended so you don't miss out.