Alan Turing’s Legacy: Computers, AI & Some Queer Mathematics

Step into a world where logic meets liberation — this lecture isn’t just about bits and bytes, it’s about brilliance, bravery, and the beautiful chaos of queer minds bending the rules of reality.

Professor Benjamin Burton, a mathematician who teaches supercomputers how to untangle knots (yes, really), will unpack the astonishing life and legacy of Alan Turing — the man who cracked codes, imagined machines, and reshaped modern computing — all before the first programmable computer even existed.

This isn’t your dusty, dry lecture hall fare. Benjamin brings warmth, wit, and wonder to deep mathematical concepts. No PhD required — just curiosity, open ears, and maybe a pen for jotting down 'Wait, that’s how AI works?!'

And because no great story is complete without a great MC, the lecture is hosted by Professor Alice Motion — a science communicator who turns complex ideas into cultural conversations. She leads the SCOPE Research Group at the University of Sydney, and her work weaves science with art, equity, and community.

After the talk, stick around for drinks and canapés — because what’s a brilliant lecture without a little post-lecture mingling?

About the speaker: Benjamin Burton (he/him) is a Professor in the School of Mathematics and Physics at the University of Queensland. A passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in STEM, he’s also an award-winning speaker who makes deep mathematics feel like a conversation with your smartest, most fun friend.

About the MC: Alice Motion (they/she) is Professor of Science and Culture at the University of Sydney, where they explore how science meets society through citizen science, open-source discovery, and creative storytelling.

Accessibility features include a clear path of travel throughout the venue and an accessible toilet, plus a hearing loop system for those with hearing aids.