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.

30 April 12.30 pm

Associate Professor Brad Tucker 

The past, present and future of Mt Stromlo: Celebrating Mt Stromlo’s 100th anniversary

07 May 12.30 pm

Kristy Gould

Conserving Canberra: Healing country through restoration

14 May 12.30 pm

Kim Pullen

More treasures–insects in fens and bogs

21 May 12.30 pm

Andrea Wild

Awe and wonder in CSIRO’s collections

21 May 1.30 – 4 pm

Plant Recognition Group

Getting to know agaric fungi (mushrooms and toadstools)

28 May 12.30 pm

Dr Roger Farrow

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

04 Jun 12.30 pm

Charlie Blumer and Jon Darvill

Flower power and no bad bees: Getting the big picture on pollinators in the ACT

11 Jun 12.30 pm

Dr Heidi Zimmer

Why do orchid names change?

18 Jun 12.30 pm

Dr Rosemary Purdie

After the rain and floods: chasing the blooming flora

25 Jun 12.30 pm

Dr Fiona Fraser

Protection of species, and bake-offs

02 Jul 12.30 pm

Dr Gina Newton

Darling to sea - Murray River endangered ecological community listing

09 Jul 12.30 pm

Professor Rod Peakall

The magic of chemistry in the pollination and evolution of Australian terrestrial orchids

16 Jul 12.30 pm

Dr Phillip Kodela

Wattle in Your Pocket, the Bank-notable Wattles – science behind the Next Generation Banknotes of Australia

23 Jul 12.30 pm

Dr John Turnbull

Trees, woods and man

30 Jul 12.30 pm

Bruno Ferronato

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