Your Free Perth Visitor Information Guide

Your Free Perth Visitor Information Guide

Raising the Bar Perth

Raising the Bar Perth

28/10/2025

10 Talks. 5 Bars. One night only – UWA’s Raising the Bar is back this month!

On Tuesday 28 October, Raising the Bar Perth returns – bringing ten brilliant researchers from The University of Western Australia out of the lecture hall and into the city’s favourite venues for one unforgettable night of free, thought-provoking talks.

This global event flips the script on traditional learning, turning local bars into pop-up lecture spaces where big ideas flow as freely as the drinks. It’s about sparking real conversations in everyday places – over a pint, a glass of wine, or whatever’s on tap.

Across five Perth CBD venues, UWA researchers will deliver talks on everything from space farming to deepfakes, ancient rock art to ocean conservation.

Whether you’re a local, a visitor, or just someone who loves a good story over a cold drink – this is your chance to learn something new, meet the minds behind the research, and experience Perth in a whole new way.

What’s On

  • Talk times: 5:30pm & 7:00pm
  • Venues: The Stables, The Globe, The Shoe, Universal Bar, Market Grounds
  • Entry: Free (registration essential)
  • Food & drink: Available for purchase

What to expect

10 inspiring academics will be delivering thought-provoking talks across 5 different bars throughout the evening. Each venue will host two engaging presentations, giving you the chance to explore a variety of topics in a relaxed and social setting.

See the rundown of topics, venues and speakers below!

Speaker Topic Venue  Time Register
 Dr Michaela Lucas Plastic people: chemical exposure and our health  The Stables 5.30pm RSVP
Dr Dani Barrington Men and menstruation: from bystanders to allies The Stables 7.00pm RSVP
Dr Liudmila Tarabashkina From the cause of all evil to marketing for change The Globe 5.30pm RSVP
Dr Ronnie Das Believe your eyes? Think again! Why you can’t afford to ignore deepfakes The Globe 7.00pm RSVP
Dr Rama Agung-Igusti Clinical and cultural: approaches to healing and empowerment The Shoe 5.30pm RSVP
Professor Jo McDonald Cultural Landscapes: Better ways to conserve WA’s extraordinary heritage The Shoe 7.00pm RSVP
Dr James Lloyd Cosmic crops: engineering plants to feed our journey to Mars Universal Bar 5.30pm RSVP
Associate Professor Theo Evans Branching out: how we might defeat shot hole borer Universal Bar 7.00pm RSVP
Professor Zachary Aman In the deep end: reducing blockage in sub-sea infrastructure Market Grounds 5.30pm RSVP
Professor Jessica Meeuwig One fish, two fish: why counting ocean wildlife matters Market Grounds 7.00pm RSVP