The Ten Best Events to Go to at Vivid Ideas 2015

Bright sparks, light bulb moments, the invention of fire – glowing matter and smart ideas have a long history together, and Vivid Ideas' 2015 program brilliantly renews this union. You may find your own brain cells overcooking at the number of events on offer this year, however, as over 30 venues across Sydney get more activated than a handful of Bondi almonds. If you're lucky, your choice can be guided by your industry-specific mixers and panels, but for those of us with FOMO for innovation and creativity across multiple platforms, the following list may be a helpful guide.

ROBOWARS 2015

What was once the mainstay of illegal gambling and entertainment in far-flung futures (and the start of animated feature Big Hero 6) has actually been a reality here in Australia for the past ten years. Real robots built by real humans will smash and saw one another into sparks as they battle for your love. Just wait until they start adding aero combat drones to the mix. This one is FREE and more information can be found on this handy video.

30 May, 3–11pm at Cargo Hall, Overseas Passenger Terminal.

FUTURE OF WORK

Ask around and you'll find that a major obstacle for many dedicated, intelligent employees is that they don't have clear, inspiring leadership in their workplace. Maybe after spending a day at Google's Sydney HQ, you will become the leader they both need and deserve. This is a big creative conference for those of you who want to lead meaningfully in the 21st century, with an entry price big enough to deter pretenders.

4 June, 8.30am–5.30pm at Google Sydney.

THE SUNRISE: THE SILICON VALLEY MYTH EXPLAINED

Everyone loves an origin story. Here you'll learn about the early days of some of Australia's more prominent tech companies, back in those hazy startup years where more than a good idea is needed to avoid vanishing in the crowd. The Sunrise features a Q&A session as well, so you baby geniuses out there can dig up all the lessons and inspiration you need to feed your own future success story.

25 May, 9am–5pm at Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay (Formerly Sydney Theatre).

GAME-CHANGERS: TYLER BRULE

This year's Vivid Ideas launches a new series of events entitled Game-Changers, with three international creative industry leaders featured in one-on-one conversations. Silver fox Mr Brûlè is one of those in this spotlight, talking through his impressive career in publishing and branding. His flagship publication, Monocle, is helping print to be more resilient than Rasputin, and a lot of it has to do with Brûlè's innovative linking of physical magazines with digital radio, fashion and a global retail presence.

25 May, 7.30–9pm at Roslyn Packer Theatre Walsh Bay.

GAME-CHANGERS: MATTHEW WEINER

While you can expect there to be quite a lot of Mad Men fan-loving in this session, Vivid Ideas' focus on practical creativity suggests that this event is definitely going to be full of invaluable insights and advice for scriptwriters and others who work with character and narrative. It's also a fantastic sign to see that Australian librettist, playwright and actor Kate Mulvany will be guiding the conversation, giving you access to two great creative minds for the price of one.

31 May, 5.30pm–7pm at Sydney Town Hall.

RECONNECTING SYDNEY: HOW WILL EMERGING TECHNOLOGY CONNECT SYDNEY AND CHANGE THE WAY WE MOVE?

We're living in the city of the future right, where we have access to Opal cards on our public transport system and can summon private transport with a simple thumb press. Surely that is cutting edge enough? Absolutely not, but here is a chance to gain insight into the gadgets and urban philosophies that actually aren't outdated by the time they arrive on our shores. At the very least, it may teach cyclists the latest in non-lethal road defence technology.

4 June, 5pm–9pm at Vivid Ideas Exchange, MCA.

THE MYTH OF WORK-LIFE BALANCE IN A GET-AHEAD CULTURE

If you're going to be working until you die (and by that point we'll be selling our bodies to become zombie drones), you should learn how to keep that epic employment period as long and rewarding as is sustainable. This session features a number of perspectives from business, wellness, psychology and mental health communities, all aiming for that key word: balance. Without it you'll be gluing touch screens under your eyelids tomorrow.

7 June, 12–2pm at Vivid Ideas Exchange, MCA.

IS TRUTH IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER?

Given how prevalent the camera is in our lives, both in long-form documentaries and quick-fire bursts online, it is important to dissect the varied interests at play when broadcasting anything as contested as truth. Here you'll find a panel of documentary stakeholders, from the director to the subject, recounting their own personal experience of this fraught area. Their discussion will definitely be timely in light of the current dispute over the portrayal of Mount Druitt residents in the upcoming SBS observational documentary Struggle Street.

29 May, 3–5pm at Vivid Ideas Exchange, MCA.

LOCKED OUT - CIVIL LIBERTIES & THE STATE OF PLAY IN SYDNEY'S NIGHTLIFE

So, how have those lockout laws affected Sydney's nightlife since they came into effect back in February 2014? Held at the conveniently not-in-the-zone establishment of Freda's, this event pools together experts and parties with a vested interest in the health of both Sydney's inhabitants and its night-time economy. Best not to get tanked for this one, but definitely hope for some passionate debate on what is being won and lost in the CBD entertainment precinct.

26 May, 6pm–12am at Freda's.

THE STORY OF LIGHT — THE ASTRONOMER'S PERSPECTIVE

You may have noticed the increased spike in interest for space in recent years — whether it's packing people off to Mars, having Matthew McConaughey save humanity, or the imminent return of a certain wookie, it's pretty clear that we're getting a little worried about our longevity on this planet. This event will quite possibly not help allay any of those fears, but what it will do is inject some grand geekery into your otherwise industry/creative/innovation overload throughout the rest of Vivid Ideas 2015.

24 May, 2–3.30pm at Powerhouse Museum.