The Future of Psychedelics with Prof Nutt, Alexander Beiner, Mattha Busby and Tara Austin

Balancing Light and Shadow: navigating the promises and pitfalls of Psychedelics. 

In recent years, psychedelics have experienced a cultural and scientific renaissance. As the world opens up to their potential for healing, personal growth, and societal transformation, it’s equally important to address the risks, challenges, and ethical considerations that come with this shift.

Join us on Tuesday 4th February at Imperial College - London, for an Exclusive Panel discussion featuring leading voices in the field as we explore the dual nature of the psychedelic journey.

Panelists:

• Prof. David Nutt – Neuropsychopharmacologist and pioneer in psychedelic research, discussing scientific advancements and therapeutic applications. Co-Founder of Drug Science and SENTIA Spirits, author of several books including Psychedelics: The New Science of Psychedelics and Their Role in Mental Health and Society and Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health
• Alexander Beiner – Writer, journalist and co-Executive Director of Breaking Convention. Author of The Bigger Picture: How Psychedelics Can Help Us Make Sense of the World.
• Mattha Busby – Investigative journalist and author, shedding light on the darker sides of the psychedelic movement, including ethical breaches and potential harms.
• Tara Austin - Co-Founder of PAR  (the Campaign for Psilocybin Access Right), expert in policy, safety, and ethical considerations in psychedelic-assisted research.

Together, we’ll dive into the personal journeys that inspired our speakers’ passion for psychedelics and how their perspectives have evolved over time. The event will tackle pressing challenges facing the movement today, from ensuring equitable access and ethical practices to navigating commercialisation. 

We'll explore the profound healing potential of psychedelics while addressing the importance for responsible education about their risks. Looking at the future, we’ll also explore the societal changes that could unfold as psychedelics gain wider acceptance, sharing hopes and concerns for what the next decade might bring.

Whether you’re deeply immersed in the field or just starting to explore, this event offers a thoughtful and inspiring look at the Past, Present, and Future of Psychedelics.

Your ticket includes a free SENTIA Spirits mocktail on arrival.

Structure:

• 18:30: Doors open, grab a free mocktail from SENTIA Spirits 
• 19:00: Panel talk begins
• 20:15: Q&A and time for socialising
• 21:30: Doors closed 

Location: 

Imperial College, Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ (Room details shared over email)

SPEAKERS 

Professor David Nutt

Professor David Nutt is a leading neuroscientist and psychopharmacologist known for his groundbreaking work on how drugs affect the brain and their potential to revolutionize mental health care. A former chief drug adviser to the UK government, he was famously dismissed for prioritizing scientific evidence over political agendas, sparking a national debate on drug policy reform.

As Co-Founder of Drug Science and SENTIA Spirits, Professor Nutt continues to push boundaries in science. His research and advocacy aim to challenge stigma, influence public policy, and create innovative solutions for improving mental and physical health.

Alexander Beiner 

Alexander is an author, journalist, and facilitator focused on bringing new ways of seeing and being from the margins of culture into the mainstream. He does this through writing and by creating transformative experiences that invite us to find ways to evolve and thrive in the chaotic times we live in. He is the author of The Bigger Picture: How psychedelics can help us make sense of the world and writes a popular Substack, The Bigger Picture. He is also an executive director of Breaking Convention, Europe's longest-running conference on psychedelic medicine and culture, and was also one of the founders of Rebel Wisdom, a popular alternative media platform. 

Mattha Busby

Mattha Busby is a journalist, author and speaker specialising in health policy, drugs/psychedelics and (sub)culture. His work has appeared in The Guardian, Vice, Rolling Stone, Wired, Time, and Men’s Health. In 2024, he was a Ferris-UC Berkeley fellow in psychedelic journalism. His first book Should All Drugs Be Legalized? was published in 2022 by Thames & Hudson. His new pocketbook on psychedelics will be published by Hoxton Mini Press in March 2025.

Tara Austin

A passionate advocate for psilocybin access as a civil right, Tara Austin co-founded PAR (the Campaign for Psilocybin Access Rights) in 2021. Since then, she's spearheaded initiatives including a government petition with over 11,000 signatures to reschedule psilocybin for research and medical use, helped deliver more than 60,000 leaflets to key constituencies, launched a postcard campaign to lobby hundreds of MPs, and created the UK's first psychedelic ad campaign. Her work is fueled by a deep belief in psilocybin's healing potential.

Beyond her advocacy work, Tara is a Partner in Ogilvy Consulting's Behavioural Science Practice and a host of Nudgestock, the world's largest festival of behavioural science and creativity. She believes her "dayjob" provides her with a unique perspective on the intersection of psychology, human behaviour, and the potential of psychedelics for harm reduction and positive influence over individual and collective well-being.

OUR TEAM

Carlotta Artuso

Carlotta is an Event Coordinator at The Psychedelic Society, with a deep passion for nature, personal and collective growth, mystical experiences and food (Italian roots play a big role here!).

Psychedelics have profoundly transformed her life, opening her mind to new perspectives and deeper self-awareness, allowing her to break free from the 9-5 grind and to launch her own PR and Events company -  Carlotta PR.

She believes in their potential to heal and transform, and she's passionate about advocating for their safe, intentional use to inspire positive change and open new pathways of consciousness.

@carlotta.artuso

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. 

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