Big Questions, Cool Drinks: A Psychedelics Science Night

Summary
Psychedelics are widely debated in modern medicine, but the actual science of what happens inside your head is rarely explained. Psilocybin and MDMA have yielded unprecedented results in clinical trials as potential treatments for depression and PTSD. Grounded strictly in current peer-reviewed research and published data, this talk explores the neuroscience behind psychedelics without any moralizing, jargon, or judgment.

We’ll break down the science from several angles— clinical use, law and policy, and microdosing. No science degree required to attend! Just a curiosity about neuroscience, modern medicine, and how the brain processes these unique compounds.

Speaker Bio 

Dr. Ben Sessa is a consultant psychiatrist specializing in addictions and a leading pioneer in the field of psychedelic medicine. He graduated from University College London Medical School in 1997, and completed his postgraduate training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Oxford University. Driven by a lifelong interest in pharmacology, psychotherapy, and trauma-based disorders, Dr. Sessa has spent decades at the forefront of psychedelic research. He conducted the world’s first clinical trial using MDMA-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder and, in 2020, opened the UK’s first psychedelic medicine clinic in Bristol. He is a fully trained MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine therapist, and is widely published across both academic journals and popular media on psychedelic and cannabis medicine.

General Info
📅 Dates and times: select your date & time directly in the ticket selector
📍 Secret location: the wait will be worth it! But don't worry, you'll know the secret city center location well ahead of time
⏳ Duration: 45 minutes talk + Q&A time
👤 Age requirement: legal drinking age
❓ Please consult the FAQs of this experience here here

What is Big Questions, Cool Drinks?
Most people are genuinely curious about complex, cutting-edge topics, but nobody wants to sit through a dry, jargon-filled university seminar to understand them. Big Questions, Cool Drinks flips the script to cover the most discussed topics in academics in a relaxed setting. This leaves room for just three things: a knowledgeable speaker, a curious room, and clear explanations. It’s a fun, engaging night out where you leave knowing more than when you walked in.