The Developing Mind: Do Babies Think Before They Speak?

Talks on Tuesdays is a live event series bringing big ideas, real experts, and curious minds together - at your favourite local venues. Think thought-provoking lectures, audience questions, and post-talk mingling over drinks and dinner.

This isn’t a uni lecture. It’s a social, intelligent night out.Come alone or with friends, leave with something to talk about.

Event Schedule:

6.30pm Arrival & Doors Open

7pm Lecuture Starts

7.45pm Q&A

8pm Talk Concludes

8.30pm Event Closes.

*Please arrive close to 6.30pm

A La Carte menu and full bar available throughout the night - pay as you go.

Your Topic:

Babies Think Before They Speak:
The human mind is complex, flexible, and adaptable. Some of the things we do without a second thought are extraordinary. Imagine I take my keys and hide them behind my back. You don’t suddenly wonder, “Have the keys disappeared?” You expect them to still be there. You expect them to have the same shape, even though you can’t see them. But when did you learn all of that? Were you born knowing it? Does a dog understand the same thing? What about a baby?

These simple questions open the door to some fascinating puzzles about how the mind works. My research looks at the earliest abilities of the developing mind and follows how they change as children grow. By understanding what babies can do—and how those abilities develop—we may get closer to solving some of the biggest puzzles about the human mind.

Your Speaker:

Professor Sue Hespos

Professor Sue Hespos wears many hats at Western Sydney University. A Professor of Infant Studies, she is also Leader of BabyLab and Director of Impact and Engagement at MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour, and Development. She conducts research with infants and children focusing on language acquisition, cognitive development, and learning. Professor Hespos’ research has garnered considerable media attention. The research is currently featured on the Netflix docuseries Babies (What Babies Know, season 2, episode 1).