Museums Victoria presents Future Forums 2022: Ideas Shaping Tomorrow

07 April 2022

Museums Victoria presents Future Forums, a new series of monthly conversations in-person and online, bringing together the world’s brightest innovators and creative thinkers to reflect on the big ideas and important questions that shape our future.

Future Forums will feature luminary thought leaders from Australia and overseas sharing their ground-breaking discoveries and pioneering research in their respective fields.

Exploring areas of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), the humanities, and climate and sustainability, Future Forums will present museum audiences with thought-provoking talks at this critical point in history.

Featuring four leading scholars and science communicators, Future Forums presents introductory discussion Unlocking the Deep Past, on Tuesday 26 April at Melbourne Museum. Moderated by environmental advocate and author Tanya Ha, international scholars Professor Steve Brusatte of the University of Edinburgh (speaking remotely) and Dr Susannah Maidment of the Natural History Museum (speaking remotely), will join Associate Professor Michael-Shawn Fletcher, Director of Research Capability, Indigenous Knowledge Institute at the University of Melbourne, to uncover the secrets fossils hold for our future. Far from being simply a study of the past, palaeontology provides crucial information about how we can solve complex environmental challenges and ensure a thriving future for our species.

On Monday 23 May, Museums Victoria presents First Nations Communities and Climate Action presented in collaboration with the MIT Civic Design Initiative Deep Listening Project. International guest Dr Darren J. Ranco, Chair of Native American Programs, University of Maine (speaking remotely from the US), Dr Pasang Dolma Sherpa, Director of the Center for Indigenous Peoples' Research & Development (speaking remotely from Nepal), and Rodney Carter, CEO of the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation join ABC Indigenous Affairs Editor Bridget Brennan to explore the importance of First Nations’ knowledge in protecting the environment and discussing important projects and initiatives led by Indigenous communities around the world to create a more sustainable future.

Events will take place at Melbourne Museum and stream online. Guests can choose to purchase a ticket to attend in person, or to watch the live stream. All ticket holders will have on-demand access to the event recording for 14 days.

“Museums Victoria's Future Forums series invites some of the greatest minds of today, thought leaders of tomorrow, and the world’s brightest innovators to share the big ideas that are transforming the way we live, to build a thriving future.

“As humanity faces an increasing number of complex challenges at a time of rapid change, we look to our leaders to help us make sense of our world and shine a light on our future. Museums Victoria proudly presents these conversations as a leader of contemporary, future-focused discourse and source of trusted knowledge,” says Lynley Crosswell, CEO and Director of Museums Victoria.

For more information and to book tickets go to Future Forums - Museums Victoria

Tickets
Adult $25 | $15 online
Concession/Member $20 | $12 online

Unlocking the deep past, Tuesday 26 April, 6:30pm

First Nations Communities and Climate Action, Monday 23 May, 7:30pm