Life on Autopilot: The Hidden Workings of Your Body

Talks on Tuesdays is a live event series bringing big ideas, real experts, and curious minds together - at your favourite local venues. Think thought-provoking lectures, audience questions, and post-talk mingling over drinks and dinner.

This isn’t a uni lecture. It’s a social, intelligent night out.Come alone or with friends, leave with something to talk about.

Event Schedule:

6.30pm Arrival & Doors Open

7pm Lecuture Starts

7.45pm Q&A

8pm Talk Concludes

8.30pm Event Closes.

*Please arrive close to 6.30pm

A La Carte menu and full bar available throughout the night - pay as you go.

Your Topic:

Life on Autopilot: The Hidden Workings of Your BodyEvery single day, your body performs countless tasks without requiring your conscious attention. From the steady rhythm of your heartbeat to the effortless act of breathing and the complex process of digesting food, these life-sustaining functions occur automatically. This remarkable feat is primarily managed by the brainstem—a small yet powerful part of the brain that acts as the control center for involuntary processes. This talk will explore the nuts and bolts of basic survival from the perspective of a neuroscientist, highlighting how this built-in ability to self-regulate makes life possible.

Your Speaker: David Farmer

David relocated to Australia to undertake post-doctoral training at Monash University, the University of Melbourne, and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience. His research focuses on the most fundamental brain functions – regulating blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and gut activity. Beyond the lab, David is a passionate science communicator. He co-wrote and co-performed a comedy show about the brainstem titled Why You're Not Dead Yet. His outreach extends to radio and print, where he shares insights on his research and other science topics of public interest.