Raising the Bar serves up fresh thinking in Auckland pubs

Raising the Bar is back, pouring the University of Auckland’s most fascinating and future-shaping research straight into bars across the inner city.

Among the topics on the menu at this year’s event on Tuesday 26 August are the power of urban design to create and connect communities, how cutting-edge science is personalising health treatment like never before, the science of safer drug use and why big tech’s unchecked AI development is a code red for democracy.

With 20 talks held across ten bars in Auckland’s CBD on one night, Raising the Bar gives alumni and the general public a chance to directly engage with top academics from the University of Auckland, all while enjoying their favourite drop.

“At its heart, Raising the Bar is about making research real and relevant,” says Mark Bentley, Director of Alumni Relations and Development at the University of Auckland. “These talks bring important ideas into everyday spaces, sparking conversations about health, technology, culture and more – conversations that extend far beyond the University.”

Originally launched in New York in 2013, Raising the Bar is now a global initiative – and the University of Auckland has proudly brought the event to local audiences since 2017.

This year’s talks will be held at bars across Auckland’s CBD, including in Wynyard Quarter, Victoria Park and City Works Depot. Each venue will host two sessions, starting at 6pm and 8pm, with punters free to move from one bar to another to catch their preferred talks.

All talks are free, but with the event expected to sell out early registration is recommended.

Visit the Raising The Bar website to register your place now.