The Materials Revolution: Engineering the Future Beyond Plastics

Join me for an evening of big ideas at The Royal Society of Victoria, where a panel of researchers will dig into what comes after plastics — and what the next generation of materials might make possible.

The panel brings together authors from the latest edition of Science Victoria to talk through everything from award-winning work on capturing greenhouse gases, to new approaches for recycling plastic waste, to the materials behind solar energy and quantum technology. It's a public talk, so you don't need a science background to follow along — just some curiosity about the stuff the world is made of.

We'll meet outside the gates of The Royal Society of Victoria on La Trobe Street at 5:40pm so we can say hello before things start, then head inside together around 5:50pm to find seats. The talk and discussion run from 6pm to 8pm, and the meetup wraps up when it finishes.

This is a casual social meetup so we can head along together — it isn't run by, affiliated with, or endorsed by The Royal Society of Victoria. Please book your own ticket directly through Humanitix; an RSVP here doesn't include entry.

Who this is for

• Anyone curious about science, sustainability, materials or where technology is heading
• No background knowledge needed — it's pitched at a general audience
• People who enjoy a talk with actual researchers rather than a summary of one
• Coming solo? Very welcome — plenty of people come on their own, and meeting outside beforehand makes it easy to find the group

Links

• Meetup start point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/AaqS2VimHeoE8oYX6
• Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/science-victoria-sep-26
• The Royal Society of Victoria: https://www.rsv.org.au/

Timeline

• 5:40pm – Meet outside the gates of The Royal Society of Victoria and say hello
• 5:50pm – Head inside together and get seated
• 6:00pm – Main talk and panel discussion begins
• 8:00pm – Talk finishes and the meetup ends

Tickets / cost

• Everyone books their own ticket directly through Humanitix — please sort this out before the night, as these talks can fill up
• A Meetup RSVP is not a ticket and doesn't include entry
• The listing mentions light refreshments are included with your ticket

Transport

• The venue is at 8 La Trobe Street in the CBD, an easy walk from Melbourne Central and Parliament stations
• Trams along La Trobe and Swanston Streets stop close by
• Street parking in the area is limited and metered, so public transport is the easier option

Bring

• Your ticket
• A jacket — it's a September evening in Melbourne
• Something to take notes with, if that's your thing
• Questions for the panel

Expect

• Difficulty: none — it's a sit-down talk
• Pace: relaxed, about two hours of listening and discussion
• Vibe: curious, friendly, low-pressure
• Group style: we meet outside first, sit together where seating allows, and there's no obligation to stick with the group all night

Important notes

• Please book your own ticket in advance
• The RSV is a historical building with stair-only access, including a flight of stairs up to the theatre room and amenities. If that's a concern, the RSV suggests getting in touch with their team at rsv@rsv.org.au before booking
• I'll be waiting outside the gates from 5:40pm — if you're running late, please head inside and find a seat rather than missing the start
• The speaker line-up is set by the RSV and may change; the listing currently names Prof Neil Cameron (Monash University) and Dr Anne-Maree Boland (RM Consulting Group), with a third speaker to be announced
• If your plans change, please update your RSVP so numbers stay clear

Looking forward to seeing you there.