Waking Dreams: Exploring Consciousness

What is consciousness — and why does it feel like something to be you?
Why does experience exist at all? Science can describe what the brain does, but can it explain what it’s like to see red, feel pain, or have a sudden insight?

In this informal session we’re exploring the big mystery behind all our thoughts, feelings, and awareness. Is consciousness just an illusion created by neurons? Is it something only humans have — or do animals, or even machines, share in it too? What about dreams, meditation, psychedelics, and near-death experiences — do they reveal new dimensions of mind, or just strange tricks of the brain?

As always, this is a relaxed and informal event — no lectures, no experts. Just a room full of curious minds, open questions, and flowing conversation.

There’ll be prompts, quotes and quirky questions dotted around the tables to get things going, and you're warmly encouraged to move around and chat with different people as the evening unfolds.
You don’t need to know anything about philosophy to join in — just a willingness to ponder big, strange questions and share your thoughts with others over a drink.

Whether you're a neuroscience nerd, a casual deep-thinker, or someone who's just occasionally baffled by their own mind — come along and get involved!