For one night only, professors, lecturers and experts in their fields will present 20 free public talks across 10 Melbourne bars this Wednesday 13 November.
Chair of the Knowledge City portfolio, Councillor Dr Jackie Watts, said audiences will be invited to dive deep into everything from dark matter, sentient artificial intelligence and E-sports to the history of Aboriginal football, heavy metal band culture and the plight of the Bogong moth and mountain pygmy possum.
"The 2019 Raising the Bar line-up is one of the most diverse we've seen, and an incredible opportunity for all daring to expand their minds in a relaxed, informal setting," Dr Watts said.
"This is a completely free program hosted by dozens of experts stepping out of their lecture theatres, classrooms and laboratories, keen to share their knowledge and insights with all of us.
"Raising the Bar has consistently attracted thousands of people keen to enjoy a drink while engaging in thought-provoking discussions about the world around us.
"For the first time, this year we're also offering Raising the Bar participants the option of an alcohol-free venue at Meat Market in The Stables, in the Melbourne Innovation District – City North".
Other venues for the 2019 event include Horse Bazaar, The Oxford Scholar, Worksmith ELLA and the Fad Gallery.
Raising the Bar 2019 will also include a special one-off Trivia Academia event, hosted by trivia legend Jess McGuire. Participants will listen to three short presentations by PhD students before being quizzed on what they've learned.
Raising the Bar is a worldwide initiative started in New York, which has spread to London, Hong Kong, San Francisco and several Australian cities.
Dr Watts said the worldwide Raising the Bar event is a good fit for savvy Melburnians, and an opportunity for the city to showcase the amazing work it does across all areas of research, study and innovation.
"Raising the Bar is about expanding one's knowledge and stepping out of your comfort zone to learn about matters you may have never considered before," Dr Watts said.
"I would encourage everyone to take part in what I am confident will be an illuminating experience for participants."
For free tickets, the full list of speakers and session times, visit the Raising the Bar website.