Yeah History - 10th May, 2016

Oh, lordy. It's been a while, hasn't it? Are you yearning for words? Do you long for knowledge?

Fear no more, friends - we're very excited to announce that the next Yeah Session will be on May the 10th, at our home, Yulli's Surry Hills - our topic will be 'history' - that's Yeah History.

So if you know about things that have happened in the past, or the way tendrils of tradition drive our contemporary world, please get in touch with us - yeahsessions@gmail.com - and pitch us a talk, or just say hi.

We're keen to hear from you, so get in touch!

Lots of love, 
Ketan and Kim

Yeah Science - October 2015

Via Wikipedia

Oh, my word. The Yeah Sessions are back, and we’re returning to our roots with Yeah Science - a night of talks on all things sciency and evidency.

When - 6:30pm, October 28th (finishing up around 9:30, 10 ish)
Where - Upstairs at Yulli's, 417 Crown St, Surry Hills, Sydney
Updates: Twitter and Facey 

We’ve arranged a very talented mix of speakers to fill your noggin with science, and they’ve volunteering their time so make sure you come along and get your fill of weird, wonderful facts. On the night, we’ll hear from:

Dr Mel Thomson, a biomedical researcher, microbiologist, science communicator and lecturer at Deakin University - @DrMel_T

Image via Real Scientists

Ivy Shih, a PhD student at the Kirby Institute, UNSW, talking about giant viruses that are messing with the tree of life - @IvyHish

Dr Amanda Bauer, science communicator and expert astronomer, talking about the universe (make you check out her great blog) - @AstroPixie

Jade Fennell, engineer, volunteer and clean energy expert, talking about automation addiction and the outsourcing of common sense

Astrid Zeman, PhD student in machine learning and psychophysics, talking about visual illusions and human perception - @astrid_zeman

It's going to be a great night, so come along, support our speakers, buy some great beer from our generous hosts at Yulli's, and come and meet some friendly, happy science-lovin' people. It's going to be a good one - see you there, friends!

- Kim and Ketan 

Upcoming: Yeah Australia - Tuesday the 21st of October

Our next Yeah Session will be on the 21st of October 2014. We're going to be straying from our recent theme of science and technology - Yeah Australia will focus on culture, politics, cringe and class, everything and anything quintessentially Australian.

This great clip from Client Liason should help you with some inspiration....



Our speakers are:

Kate Robertson, expert in Australian art history, on Australian landscape, art and identity

Ryan Mitchell Wittingslow, communicator and philosophy professional, on a Graeco-Roman Republic, Reborn - "Is Australia’s political and cultural heritage founded upon Judeo-Christian principles?"

Anna Cain, renewable energy developer, talking about Engineers without Borders Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program

Ari Mattes, film PhD, on how boredom filters through into Australian cinema

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of Paul Hogan:

The talks will be held at Yulli's in Surry Hills, and we record and post videos of the talks on Youtube.

Peace out, friends.

- KJ + KW

Yeah Music - 27/11/2013 - Performance by Wyatt Moss-Wellington

Something a little different for the last talk at Yeah Music last November - this talk didn't have any talking. Rather, Yeah Sessions alumni Wyatt Moss-Wellington performed three short songs for us, at the end of the night.

Wyatt performed his own piece, 'Sanitary Apocalypse', which was launched a few days ago - you can find the full album here - Have a listen, and be sure to donate!

The second song was 'cry' by Godley and Creme, and the third was 'Creep' by Radiohead.

Click here to visit Wyatt's facebook page

Yeah Music - 27/11/2013 - The Evolution of Music

On the Wednesday, the 27th of November, we flung ourselves merrily into the happy world of musics! Our third and final speaker was Justin Zeltzer, tracing the history of music back to the first recorded sounds.

To watch the video, cast your eyes to the embed below:

 

Justin gave us a pretty comprehensive run down of the evolution of modern music - how we got from the rough structures of traditional music to the pointedly weird video of Kanye Wests's Bound 2, a video that was recently re-made by Seth Rogen and James Franco.

Justin is a professional biostatistician, and plays in the excellent band 'The Winter People' - you can check out their stuff here. He's also hosted shows on fbi radio, and he really, really loves Kanye.

Yeah Music - 27/11/2013 - Travelling, Music and India

On the Wednesday, the 27th of November, we flung ourselves merrily into the happy world of musics!

Our second speaker was Larry Heath. Click here to watch the video on youtube, or have a peek at the video embedded below:

Larry Heath gave us a brief insight into what it's like being involved in a multicultural exploration of Australian music - Larry travelled to India as part of government efforts to introduce Australian music to Indian audiences.

Larry Heath is the founder of Heath Media, and the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of the fantastic music review publication The AU Review - some links below:

The AU Review
Larry's Twitter feed
Heath Media

Yeah Music - 27/11/2013 - Characteristics of Musical Perception in the Brain

On the Wednesday, the 27th of November, we flung ourselves merrily into the happy world of musics! 

Our first speaker was Nikk Retalic. To watch the video, click here, or cast your eyes to the embed below:

 Nikk talked about the way frequencies inhabit the way we define and understand music, and how key changes can also alter our experience of sound. Nikk is a student of music, and a general enthusiast of all things to do with sound and science.

Yeah Debates @ Jurassic Lounge - Is De-extinction wrong?

On the 27th of November, The Yeah Sessions took part in the final season of Jurassic Lounge, held at the Australian Museum. We held two 'speed debates', the first of which was on the topic "Anyone can be a photographer, but to be a filmmaker requires real skill". The second topic was as follows:

'Jurassic Park's Dr Ian Malcom was correct when he said “Dinosaurs had their shot, and nature selected them for extinction”. It’s wrong to bring back an extinct species.'

Have a peek a video below for the full debate:

Here's the speaker listing: 

Affirmative
- Paul Oscar
- Tim Dean
- Ari  Mattes

Negative
- Ketan Joshi

- Rebecca Johnston 

- Ryan Mitchell Wittingslow

We're working through our backlog at the moment, but stay tuned, we'll be uploading many more videos over the coming weeks, and organising more sessions!

Yeah Debates @ Jurassic Lounge - Filmmaking Vs Photography

On the 10th of October, The Yeah Sessions took part in the final season of Jurassic Lounge, held at the Australian Museum. We held two 'speed debates', the first of which was on the topic "Anyone can be a photographer, but to be a filmmaker requires real skill", during Jurassic Lounge's Film and Photography night. Have a peek at the video below:

On the affirmative:

Daniel Wittingslow

Chris Myers

Ari Mattes

On the negative:

Diana Shahinyan

Bruce Isaacs

Adam Geczy

Photo via the Jurassic Lounge Facebook page

Each speaker had strictly three minutes to make their case, and the winner was decided by the audience yelling incoherently at the end. We'll be uploading the second speed debate, on extinction and ethics, very soon!

The Final Jurassic Lounge

This coming Tuesday the 5th of November, the final night of 'Jurassic Lounge' will be held at the Australian Museum, near Hyde Park in Sydney.

Jurassic Lounge has been a Sydney insitution, opening up the doors of the Australian Museum to a demographic that might otherwise not consider skipping through its elegant halls. It's sad to see it go, and the Yeah Sessions are extremely proud to be part of its ultimate night.

We're hosting a 'Speed Debate' - six speakers, three on each side, with three minutes each, and an extremely strict timekeeper - it's funny, fast and often, accidentally insightful.

Check out the Facebook event page here, the official Jurassic Lounge page here, and buy your tickets here - in fact, do that soon, because we think this one's going to sell out rather fast.

Here's our topic:

'Jurassic Park's Dr Ian Malcom was correct when he said “Dinosaurs had their shot, and nature selected them for extinction”. It’s wrong to bring back an extinct species.'

And, here's our line up of speakers:

Affirmative
- Paul Oscar
- Ari  Mattes

- Tim Dean

Negative
- Ryan Mitchell Wittingslow

- Rebecca Johnston

- Ketan Joshi

See you there! 

Yeah Politics - 07/08/2013 - The Politics of Eurovision

On the 7th of August, we dove briefly into the tepid pond of politics.

Our fifth and final speaker was Elyse Zaccai, Yeah Sessions alumni and self-described Eurovision Overlord. Elyse discussed the various  vagaries of the politics of Eurovision, including the various under-explored chunks of context that explain why the countries vote the way they do.

Click here to view the video on Youtube, or cast your eyes to the embedded video below:

Elyse is a Eurovision enthusiast and has spoken for the Yeah Sessions before, on potions and black magic, here!

Yeah Politics - 07/08/2013 - Vaccination, Policy and Media

On August the 7th, before the election, we delved bravely into the world of politics and policy.

Our fourth speaker was Yeah Sessions co-founder and co-curator Ketan Joshi, talking about vaccination - a topic that is frequently blended with politics and media. In this talk, we explore the occasional but problematic involvement of politicians in health policy, and the recent case of an Australian media outlet deciding to campaign for new laws on the access of un-vaccinated children to childcare centres.

Click here to watch the video on youtube, or cast your eyes to the embedded video below..

Ketan Joshi is co-founder and co-curator of The Yeah Sessions, and works in research and communications at a renewable energy company. 

To view the Daily Telegraph's article on 'No Jab, No Play', click here, and to read Leask and Willaby's article on the legislation, click here.

Yeah Politics - 07/08/2013 - The Social Determinants of Health

On the 7th of August this year, we casually strolled into the dark woods of politics.

Our third speaker was Alice Gentle, who spoke at the very first Yeah Session (Yeah Science), on the demonstrable irrationality of Slime Mould. At Yeah Politics, Alice spoke on the Social Determinants of Health - going beyond the 'absence of disease' and trying to formulate a way of defining health that incorporates factors like 'walkability', physical well-being and mental health.

Click here to view the video on youtube, or cast your eyes to the embedded video below..

Alice Gentle works in public health in NSW, and is passionate about innovation in health.

If you'd like to view the 2013 interactive budget tool, click here. For more information on the Health Impact Project in the US, click here. And click here for information on AARP's 'Sidewalks and Streets Survey'.

Yeah Politics - 07/08/2013 - Political Psychology

On the 7th of August, The Yeah Sessions dipped nervously into the muddy pond of politics.

Our second speaker was Tim Dean, speaking on the genuinely fascinating patterns we find when we look at political viewpoints from a psychological perspective, and some of the ways that our political views might be more predictable than we think.

Click here to have a squiz at the video on youtube, or cast your eyes to the embedded vid below:

Tim Dean is an established science journalist, and editor of the Australian Life Scientist Magazine. He is completing a PhD in philosophy at UNSW, researching the evolution of morality. Check out his blog here, and read his fantastic articles on ABC's The Drum, here.

Tim is also editor-in-chief of Wonder - an excellent website dedicated to rational appreciation of the natural world, and most definitely well worth checking out.

More videos coming very soon, people!

Yeah Politics - 07/07/2013 - The Mechanics of Change

On the 7th of August, we cautiously toed the murkey waters of poltics.

Our first speaker was Eran Asoulin, speaking on the varied mechanics of politcal change, exploring the history of how governments have wrought influence, and the factors that have driven this, and the way these factors operate in modern times.

Click here to have a squiz at the video on youtube, or cast your eyes to the embedded vid below:

Eran, aka Bud Petal, is an avid musician and holds a deep interest in the machinations of the political world. Check out his blog, and his band page.

Das Yeah Sessions

Interview with 2SER 107.3 FM about Yeah Politics

On Wednesday the 9th of August, The Yeah Sessions will be hosting Yeah Politics at Yulli's in Surry Hills. It's going to be quite splendid - it starts at 6:30, get there early for delicious, delicious beers.

What we are going to be talking about really interesting things like…health, the mechanics of political change, Eurovision, political psychology, and the influence of the anti-vaccination lobby. Sounds great, yeah? Yeah!

Our wonderful speakers for the session will be Eran Asoulin, Ketan Joshi, Tim Dean, Elyse Zaccai and Alice Gentle.

50% of the Yeah Sessions (Ketan Joshi, one of the aforementioned speakers) did an interview with 2SER radio about Yeah politics. Have a listen, and be there on Wednesday night for beers, politics and fun..

Yeah Science - 12/06/2013 - Holographic Optical Trapping

On the 12th of June, we trotted haughtily once more into blooming fields of science.

Our fourth speaker was Evan Tanner, delivering a truly fascinating talk about the world of holographic optical trapping. This technique involves the use of light to trap microscopic objects, including live bacteria, and then using this to manipulate these objects in real time. Put simply: the use of holograms to wreak havoc on tiny things.

Click here to watch the video on youtube, or cast your gaze to the embedded video below:

Evan Tanner is a researcher who has worked previously for Arryx Inc as a research and development manager, and studied at Stanford University in California. He has had his work published here and here.

Click here to read more about optical tweezers on Wikipedia.

Yeah Science - 12/06/2013 - Are you tired, or just drunk?

On the 12th of June, we gleefully dipped our collective toes back into the gurgling river of science.

Our third speaker was Samuel Duncan, speaking on the effects of sleep deprivation on performance. Sam presents in his talk an experiment in which he is the subject - and he performs a psychomotor vigilance test before our very eyes.

The results are fascinating, so click here to view the vid on youtube, or cast your vile jellies to the embedded vid below:

Click here to view the psychomotor vigilance performance study Sam references in his talk, and click here to view the UNSW fatigue and alcohol study.

Samuel Duncan works in logistics planning and transport, and has been tracking his personal sleep data for longer than a normal person would willingly admit.

More Yeah Science, coming soon....

Yeah Science 12/06/2013 - Neuroplasticity

On the 12th of June, we flung ourselves happily back into the glorious maelstrom of science.

Our second speaker was Jo Dudney, talking about the varied wonders of neurplasticity. From the sex-obsessed Hank to the stroke-addled Bill, Jo explains that we're not stuck with the neural pathways we're born with, and that certain professions can lead to significant changes in the structure of our brains.

Click here to watch the video on youtube, or cast your eyes to the video below

Jo completed a masters of psychology at UNSW and a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sydney. For more information on neuroplasticity, try here, here or here.

Yeah Science 12/06/2013 - Rubber Duckies at the End of the Ocean

On the 12 of June, The Yeah Sessions dove for a third time into the wonderful word of science.

Our first speaker for the night was Erik Van Sebille, physical oceanographer at UNSW, talking about the eerily beautiful story of thousands of rubber duckies (aka 'friendly floaties') sent across the world on the churning currents of the ocean, and tying the this into the tricky problems we encounter when considering the impact of garbage, pollution and plastics on ocean life.

Click here to watch the video on youtube, or, cast your gaze below (unfortunately, a technical hitch meant there's no video of the first half of the talk, but we did get audio!)

Erik is an accomplished oceanographer - he's an ARC research fellow at the Climate Change Research Centre at the University of New South wales, an Associate Investigator at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science, and recipient of a 2013 Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) by the Australian Research Council on "Inter-ocean exchange around Australia and its relation to regional and global climate".

You can also watch an interview with Erik on UNSWtv here.

 

His website is chockers with a bunch of great interactive tools, some of which he mentioned in his talk - be sure to check out Adrift.org.au, where you can simulate the impact of garbage flows, using your very own rubbery ducky!

Get in touch with Erik via Twitter, or through the contact details on his website, here, or read more about the UNSW Climate Research Centre here.