Lectures head to the pub
Auckland academics are ditching the lecture theatre for the city’s bars.
The University of Auckland will send 20 academics to lecture at 10 Auckland bars as part of a worldwide initiative next month.
The event, Raising the Bar, aimed to make education a greater part of the city’s culture by giving the community the chance to engage with leading academics in a friendly, accessible and laid back atmosphere.
University of Auckland director of alumni relations and development Mark Bentley said the lecture topics would reflect the younger ‘‘Ted Talk generation’’.
The sessions, being held on August 29, would be fascinating, quick and informative, he said.
Topics will range from life among robots, why terrorists want to kill us, imagining a world without prisons and the brain of sharks.
It was expected more than 1500 Aucklanders would attend the event, with a few locations selling out 24 hours after tickets were released on July 21.
Golden Dawn manager Nicolas Harrison said events like Raising the Bar were a perfect way for bars to contribute more to the community than just supplying alcohol.
The public were urged to get in early to secure a bar stool. For a list of speakers, topics and venues, visit rtbevent.com/auckland.