Tipsy Night School is Kolkata’s very own lecture-in-a-bar experience, launched by Out In Kolkata. We invite academics to deliver talks in bars and restaurants, and audiences listen, ask questions, and make observations — all with a drink in hand.

About the lecture:

These Forests Teemed With Dinosaurs: A Dive Into Deep Time And The Evolution Of Mangroves

Seventy million years ago, when dinosaurs still roamed the earth, there was a palm tree growing on the shores of the Tethys Sea. This is the oldest mangrove known to science – a plant that can not just survive but thrive in places where few others can.

Salt, flooding, barely any oxygen? Mangroves can handle them all. That’s good news for humans, too – mangrove forests protect many of us from the worst of cyclones, store huge amounts of carbon, and help make sure that there’s more fish in the sea.

But what would make trees leave the safety of land? What new opportunities did their new watery surroundings provide them with? And how did scientists even begin to piece together this incredible story?

About the speaker:

Priyanjana is a PhD student whose current research focuses on using geospatial data and human perspectives to understand the effectiveness of policies to protect mangrove forests.

With graduate degrees in economics and wildlife biology, they combine qualitative, econometric, and ecological methods to contribute to an evidence base of 'what works' in conservation.

Priyanjana is passionate about science communication and citizen science platforms and serves as a voluntary ambassador for iNaturalist.

If not hiking, birding, or diving, they can be found at home surrounded by many cats and even more books.

Event details:

Date: 10th September, Thursday

Time: 7 PM to 8.30 PM

Venue: Skinny Mo’s Jazz Club

The ticket price includes a redeemable F&B voucher worth ₹299.

About Tipsy Night School:

Tipsy Night School is a flagship lecure-in-a-bar series launched by Out In Kolkata on 31st May. Six editions have taken place across the city’s top bars, featuring experts from various disciplines.

Out in Kolkata, founded by Proiti and Analina, is an initiative aiming to dispel the myth of Kolkata as a ‘boring city where nothing interesting ever happens.’ They promote curated lists of events taking place across the city, and design fun but meaningful experiences for engaged audiences.