Thursday Talks

Our Thursday lunchtime talks cover diverse aspects of the natural world in Australia and around the globe.

The talks are aimed at a general audience and everyone is welcome. Talks last for 1 hour. We welcome donations by gold coins, notes, or electronically. The Friends use donations to support Gardens programs and development and we thank all those who have donated.

It is a good idea to reserve a seat in advance, as talks can book out very quickly. The booking link for each talk is on the Friends calendar website entry for the respective talk. Bookings can be made about 30 days in advance until Wednesday night before the talk.

Please direct queries about the talks to the Thursday Talks Team

Thursday Talks 2026

Please see the Friends calendar website for a detailed description of each talk.

12 February 12.30 pm

Roger Farrow

Back from the brink or a resilient survivor: The case of Key’s Matchstick Grasshopper, Keyacris scurra

19 February 12.30 pm

Craig Moritz

Discovery diversity across Australia's tropics 

26 February 12.30 pm

Chris Mobbs

Bragg Street Park, Hackett–Increasing biodiversity through water harvesting

5 March 12.30 pm

Bernadette Duncan

Indigenous plant names and tea tasting

12 March 12.30 pm

Kim Pullen

More treasures–insects in fens and bogs

19 March 12.30 pm

Kristie Gould

Conserving Canberra: Healing country through restoration

26 March 12.30 pm

Lori Gould

Movement and behaviour of Latham’s Snipe at Jerrabomberra Wetlands: the results are in 

2 April 12.30 pm

Linda Swift

Australian plants as bonsai

9 April 12.30 pm

Bruno Ferranato

TurtleWatch ACT: citizen-science, monitoring and conservation of turtles in Canberra

16 April 12.30 pm

Nick McGregor

Strategy for Kakadu research

23 April 12.30 pm

Leo Joseph

12 Birds, 3 Books, 5 Cities, and 3 Continents: An Ornithological Life Not Yet Finished