Celebrate Labour Weekend in Queenstown with MindJam – tickling your brain as we tackle the big issues in a series of informal café conversations, stitched together by some of New Zealand’s leading thinkers.

MindJam discussions will range from Frankenstein and bioethics to the new politics of farming. From the meaning of whakapapa and the future of work in a world of AI, to why should we care about Captain Cook?

We launch at Yonder (our hosts for the weekend) on Friday night, October 19, over your favourite tipple and complementary tapas, with international bioethics expert Dr Susan Lederer.

Two hundred years after Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein was published, Dr Lederer will cover issues from cloning to xenografting through the lens of this cult myth. What might it suggest about the acceptable limits of scientific and medical advances – and the role scientists and citizens play in determining them?

MindJam’s weekend of disruptive conversations was launched as part of Queenstown Jazz Festival last year. It was such fun brain fodder, we are continuing even though the festival is taking a break this year.

MindJam 2018 Events

FRANKENSTEIN LIVE!

A monster and its maker?

FRIDAY, Oct 19 / 5:30-7pm

Guest Expert: Dr Susan Lederer

CONTESTED COUNTRYSIDE

The new politics of farming

SATURDAY, Oct 20 / 11am-noon

Guest Expert: Professor Hugh Campbell

GENETIC JEOPARDY

Whakapapa/family history – why YOU should care

SATURDAY, Oct 20 / 1-2pm

Guest Expert: Dr Karyn Paringatai

FUTURE OF WORK

A robot stole my job

SUNDAY, Oct 21 / 11am-noon

Guest Expert: Professor James Maclaurin

CAPTAIN COOK – WTF?

What are The Facts about Capt James Cook?

SUNDAY, Oct 21 / 1-2pm

Guest Expert: Professor Tony Ballantyne

The hour-long MindJam sessions are guided by guest experts, but it is our questions, thoughts and discussion that make MindJam. Seats are free but limited, so please come along early to get your spot, grab a coffee and be ready to join in. MindJam is a collaboration between Catalyst Trust and the University of Otago’s Division of Humanities.

Yonder, 14 Church Street, October 19 – 21, 2018. Eventbrite page registration encouraged, so we have an idea on numbers, but it is first in, first served for seats. Updates will be posted on our Facebook page.