Quantum Words - Full Program

Dedicated to science, creativity and wonder, Quantum Words is a one-day program of conversations about the ways in which we come to understand ourselves, our world, and the expansive universe we live within.

Curated by Jane McCredie, founder of the Quantum Words Festival, our program will delve into everything from what drives us to believe what we believe, to how we can address coastal erosion, our search for identity, our fascination with sea monsters and more.

Purchase a Full Program ticket to immerse yourself in this day of events and save up to $15.00.

To purchase tickets for individual sessions please go back to the Quantum Words page at Totally Lit and choose your session(s).

Session 1:  9.30-10.30am
THE SEARCH FOR OURSELVES
Can it be true that one of the three most popular searches on the internet is 'family history' (along with 'shopping' and 'porn')? Why are so many of us interested in our antecedents; why do we do DNA tests and what kinds of meaning are we looking for when we seek out and tell these stories? Our panel considers the cultural, biological and psychological drivers of the quest to know where we come from.
With writer and scientist Nikos Athanasou, and science writer Jane McCredie.

Session 2: 10.45-11.45am
COAST TO COAST
As the planet warms and sea levels rise, islands are being consumed by the sea and homes and landmarks are being washed away. Our international panel considers what can be done to address the increasing threats to coastlines from climate change and other environmental damage.
With Kharishar Kahfi and Thor Kerr.

Session 3: 12.00-1.00pm
MONTEBELLO - 'nothing left to chance'
The first British nuclear test was conducted in 1952 in WA’s Montebello Islands by British and Australian ships operating out of Fremantle. More than 70 years later research reveals the ongoing environmental impacts of this test. Our panel consider the history, the science, and Fremantle's longstanding position as a "nuclear free zone".
With Paul Grace, Hon Josh Wilson MP, Patrick Morrison and Gillian O'Shaughnessy.

Session 4: 1.15-2.15pm
THE SCIENCE OF BELIEF
What does it mean to believe in something? Our beliefs often define us, but we don't always understand where they come from or why we hold to them so tightly. In the era of fake news and AI manipulations, our speakers examine the murky territory between fact and belief and its implications for future societies.
With Helen Milroy, Robert Edeson, Kharishar Kahfi, and Jane McCredie.

Session 5: 2.30-3.30pm
SEA MONSTERS; truths and fictions
How much do we really know about deep sea life and how much might we have imagined? From the Greek Islands to the Perth Canyon, this session will consider how land-dwellers across the globe have developed the science and found the language to describe the alien communities that live beneath the ocean's surface.
With Prema Arasu and Caitlin Maling.

Session 6: 3.45-4.45pm
UNDER THE STARS
For millennia, humans navigated land and seas by looking at the stars. Writers and scientists explore how our reliance on the night sky formed cultures and stories, and what it might mean if we stop looking up.
With Mike Lefroy and Paul Smith.

Presented in association with WA Maritime Museum and with support from Lotterywest.
With thanks to Writing NSW for permission to use the Quantum Words brand.

Quantum Words is a program in the Totally Lit Festival. For more Totally Lit events go to https://totallylit.au/