Can Psychedelics Change the World? Panel Discussion & Exclusive Preview of The Psychedelic Renaissance Documentary

Emerging from a taboo underground culture, the powers of psychedelics are becoming increasingly well-known amongst popular culture. With extensive scientific research into their ability to treat various psychological and physical conditions, psychedelics have found a foot in modern-day society. Branching from a role in psychiatry and medicine, how else will psychedelics impact the public? And will the mainstreaming of psychedelics materialise into global change for better or worse?

In light of a global mental health crisis, psychedelics hold the potential to shift our cultural paradigms and perspectives on human psychology as a whole. Their nature-connectedness enhancement may aid in the ongoing ecological disaster of today and the capacity to boost creativity could yield a host of technological advancement. However, these compounds themselves are inert. How does an isolated experience manifest into change? How does individual change transition to systems change? And, will the power of psychedelics emerge in the public's hands or be overshadowed by large corporations?

We have even seen the growth of psychedelics amongst the far-right, with Q-shaman’s rioting being a recent example. With psychedelics gaining popularity in the backdrop of capitalism and profit-motives, what shadows of psychedelics have surfaced? And with increasing continued glamorisation, what other dangers could the mainstreaming of psychedelics incur?

Following the panel, all ticket holders will be given a link to watch unseen footage from The Psychedelic Renaissance - a documentary capturing the ongoing psychedelic revolution and its global cultural and social impacts. 

Among the current mass instability of our planet, we will hear from key contributors to the documentary as we ask the question - can psychedelics change the world? 

SPEAKERS

Natalie Ginsberg

Natalie Lyla Ginsberg received her B.A. in history from Yale, and her master’s of social work (MSW) from Columbia. Before joining MAPS in 2014, Natalie worked as a Policy Fellow at the Drug Policy Alliance, where she helped legalize medical cannabis in her home state of New York, and worked to end New York’s race-based marijuana arrests. Natalie has also worked as a therapist at an alternative-sentencing court for prostitution and drug-related offenses, and as a middle school guidance counselor. 

At MAPS, Natalie works to disentangle science from political partisanship on Capitol Hill, at the United Nations, and beyond. She is also co-developing a psychedelic peace-building study with Imperial College, working with Palestinians and Israelis.

Christopher Timmermann

Christopher Timmermann PhD is based at the Centre for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London, headed up by Dr Robin Carhart-Harris. The research centre is at the forefront of developments with psychedelic drug treatment, and Chris himself was responsible for conducting the first neuroimaging research on the effects of DMT in the human brain and consciousness. Born in Chile, he studied Psychology in Santiago and joined ALIUS (a group focused on studying the diversity of consciousness), later becoming President of the Foundation for the Study of Human Consciousness. He obtained an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Bologna in Italy before coming to the UK to embark on his studies with DMT.

Darren Springer

Darren is a grass-roots researcher and event organiser based in London, the Director of Ancient Future, the Convenor of the Psychedelia Railway Gatherings and curator at Earth Tone Arts and is running Shroomshops at The Psychedelic Society. After setting up Ancient Future in 2006, a voluntary organisation, he has continued to develop workshops and projects geared around creative arts, personal-development and African-Caribbean spiritual systems in his community. Collectively his work aims to inform and empower individuals from diverse backgrounds.

He has presented at several psychedelic conferences across the globe and is a knowledgeable and dynamic speaker who is passionate about sharing his research on African Entheogenic plants and their various applications on the continent and the diaspora. Darren is also an Organic Horticulture and Food Enterprise tutor. For the last seven years, he has been growing edible mushrooms and has translated his home growing experience into a commercial experiment.

Anya Oleksiuk

Anya is a documentary filmmaker, host and educator. She is a Co-Director of the Psychedelic Society UK, leading on video production, harm reduction and education about psychedelics. She is also associated with the Psychedelic Society of the Netherlands and is a consultant for the Polish Psychedelic Society (Polskie Towarzystwo Psychodeliczne).

Anya is a founder and director of Triptika Studios, which is a collective of independent filmmakers with interests in health, science, innovative solutions, mental health, drug advocacy, social and racial justice and environment-friendly lifestyles. She is also the creator, director and producer of The Psychedelic Renaissance - a not-for-profit documentary film about the worldwide re-emergence of the psychedelic movement and the crucial role of psychedelic substances, plants and mushrooms in human culture.

REFUNDS POLICY: Please note, we do not arrange refunds or exchanges. When possible we encourage reselling on Ticketswap.

ACCESS:  We do our best to include everyone in our events, regardless of health circumstances. If you have access requirements please email the event organiser directly to discuss. Many facilitators are able to offer reduced ticket prices for those truly unable to afford the ticket price. If this applies to you, do please get in touch with the event organiser.

For PSYCHEDELIC KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES please check out the Psychedelic Society website. 

Our facilitators have agreed to our code of conduct. Learn about our procedure for raising concerns

MEMBERS of the Psychedelic Society get a discount off almost all of our events.
Join from £5 a month and become part of this amazing community with invites to special events and more.