Caine Barlow and Dr Simon Beck

Caine Barlow and Dr Simon Beck ran a citizen-science survey aiming to provide the first systematic description of the “wood-lover paralysis” phenomenon and try to identify any clear factors that might predict or explain the seemingly random nature of its occurrence. Join them to learn about the findings, their thoughts on several theories about the phenomenon, their experience of trying to undertake the research, observations on the spread of (mis)information and their harm reduction advice.

Mohammad Reza Mirzadeh

Psilocin, psilocybin and the associated tryptamines are psychoactive alkaloids which are naturally synthesised by Psilocybe (Fr.) P.Kumm. fungi, commonly referred to as magic mushrooms. These psychoactive fungi were and may still be used in traditional healing rituals, particularly by certain ethnic groups for mental healing, influencing modern psychedelic studies. Since these substances are intermittently determined in analytical laboratories, validated methods for fast, accurate and reliable analysis are in demand.

Nick Sun

Many Indigenous ways of knowing are based in whole-body perception, while the modern West is primarily a mind-centred culture. The consequences of living in a mind-centred culture are evident in the many crises we are going through at the moment, as the product of the mind as a primary navigation tool is to separate and divide you from both a holistic sense of beingness within the world and the present moment. This fundamental disconnection is what lies at the root of the environmental crisis, the mental health crisis and many of the other situations we currently find ourselves in.

Snu Voogelbreinder

The region known today as the Middle East has a rich history, birthing streams of culture, religion and civilization that have helped form the modern world, and psychoactive plants have played a large role in the background.

Discussions around the use of psychoactive plants in the region are usually historical and focused mainly on their relation to Judaeo-Christian scriptures and traditions. In this presentation we will go further and explore other uses of plants and fungi amongst the diverse cultures of the region, both historic and contemporary.

Vanessa Kelly

In the deep Gabonese Jungle, on the central west coast of Africa, exists a trib of people known as Missoko Bwiti.  They are most well known for their use of the Iboga root bark for healing, ceremony and Shamanistic practices.