SCI FIGHT COMEDY DEBATE: The Internet Can Be Saved
Thu, 20th Aug 2026 06:30 pm - 09:00 pm
25
Sci Fight science comedy debate brings together scientists and comedians to debate serious issues in a silly way. This round's topic: The Internet Can Be Saved It might just be weapons-grade millennial nostalgia, but the internet really did seem better when all we needed was a profile song, an aggressively customised wallpaper, and a place to post cryptic song lyrics after a breakup. No matter how bad your day was, you still had a friend and that friend was Tom from Myspace. The youths will never know the thrill of illegally downloading Kiss from a Rose by Seal on Napster and accidentally giving the family computer seventeen new diseases. They’ll never know the sense of decadence of asking Jeeves a question, or the exhilaration of logging into chatRoulette to ask a Brazilian teenager what the weather is like there. Now the internet infested with link rot, digital decay and website obsolescence; enshitification driven by recursively nested AIs; swallowing and regurgitating their own content like a bloated Ouroborous, phishing scams, and AI videos you need a masters in digital forensics to distinguish from real content. It’s home to new and interesting ways for people to be awful, such as assassination markets, deep fakes and fibre-maxxers. Data centres are drinking rivers dry like some sort of cursed ancient demon awoken by some commerce graduate committing the sin of trying to jazz up a cover letter. The dark web is only getting darker, and everyone and by everyone i mean Australia fucking Post needs you to download an app. Australia Post What is the Point of You. Is it too late to save the internet? Is there a way to regulate or amputate the good from the bad? Or should we take this as our cue to finally log off and, as the philosopher formerly known as Twitter likes to say, go touch grass. Come get digital at Howler with some top ranked comedians and scientists fiddle while Chrome Burns. See the brilliant design nerd Julian O'Shea, award nominated and Aunty Donna affiliate Mish Wittrup, presenter of the ABC Science Show journo Bel Smith; ecologist and native bee geek Clancy Lester, darling heart comedy man podcaster, producer and writer Sammy Petersen, and return offender our beloved comic Maddy Weeks. Doors open 6.30 - debate kicks off at 7 VENUE INFO Shows are Standing unless clearly stated. Check Ticket Type when purchasing. Howler Bar & Grill The kitchen will be serving a full menu from 5pm (Tues - Fri) and 2pm (Sat - Sun) till late including vegan and vegetarian options. You can view the delicious offerings available by clicking here. Booking are not essential but recommended here. Accessibility Howler is Accessible. Both Garden and Theatre are 100% accessible for patrons including a central restroom and easy curbside access for car services. This venue accepts companion cards. Simply purchase your ticket and contact Moshtix to arrange access for your Companion. Parking A park and ride, council operated carpark is located immediately outside of Howler's doors. Public Transport Howler is conveniently located just a two minute walk from both the Route 19 Coburg tram (stop 21), and Jewel train station on the Upfield line. Bicycle We adjoin the Upfield Bike Path and have many designated bike parks on site.
