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Discover the fascinating world in our foodways and systems, such as advanced AgTech for smart crops and sustainable farming; the science and culture of eating; and stories of culinary innovations and entrepreneurial spirit influencing our tastes, markets and social feeds.We bring together some of the best brains – a writer, scientist, systems thinker and more – who are cooking up new ideas and solutions, and serve inspired vision for how we're changing the way we eat, produce and think about food, for the better.
This Sydney Ideas event is presented with the support of the City of Parramatta as part of Parramatta Lanes, one of Sydney's most exciting street festivals held over four massive nights this 22-25 October.
DETAILS
This event will be held in-person at Riverside Theatres (Corner Market & 353 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150)
Program note: It's different speakers on different nights. Full lineup and schedule to be confirmed. We're also recording so you can catch up on-demand later if you can't make it along live but for the best experience, we recommend you come along to one or both nights and make it an experience. Beyond (Sydney) Ideas, there's stacks of great Eats, Beats and Art to engage with at Parramatta Lanes.
Register (free): https://bit.ly/3IAGp8W
LINEUP
- Juliet Bennett, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies (SCHS) and Charles Perkins Centre (CPC) and currently working on SCHS and CPC’s joint research program on the social life of food and nourishment, applying critical social theory to systems of food production and consumption.
- Peng Zhang, researcher at the University of Sydney's Plant Breeding Institute. Peng has been working on identifying new resistance sources to rust diseases from wild relatives of wheat.
Sophie Gee (host), English Professor at Princeton University and the University of Sydney's inaugural Vice-Chancellor Fellow. Sophie co-hosts the popular literary classics podcast, The Secret Life of Books, and has a book coming out in 2026 titled The Barbarous Feast: Writing and Eating in the Eighteenth-Century World.
- Plus, performance by Sydney Conservatorium of Music's (SCM) Chinese Music Ensemble, led by SCM lecturer Nicholas Ng. Nicholas is a composer, performer and researcher interested in discovering new ways to connect with the ancient past, nature, and the spiritual world through traditional and contemporary sound.
PRESENTED BY
Sydney Ideas is the University of Sydney's flagship public talks program. We believe in the value of ideas that make a difference and have been bringing leading thinkers from around the world to the Sydney community since 2006. In 2025, the University of Sydney proudly celebrates 175 years of serving the community as Australia’s first university, founded on principles of merit and equity.
Parramatta Lanes is one of Sydney’s most exciting street festivals held over four massive nights this 22-25 October. It transforms the city's streets, laneways and car parks into a playground of food, music and art. Explore 20 vibrant festival sites packed with 80+ street food stalls and pop-up bars, eye-catching art installations and 200+ international and local music acts. From hidden party spots to rooftop hangs, this one-of-a-kind festival is packed with an amazing program and entry is free.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Riverside Theatres, 353 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150, Australia, Parramatta
Tickets
