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The Explainer Series is about exploring the questions we’re all asking.They're in our food, our water, our air - and increasingly, our blood. Microplastics have gone from an environmental footnote to one of the most talked-about and least-understood health concerns of our time. But in a media landscape full of alarming headlines, it can be hard to know what the science actually says. Are we in serious danger? Are the studies reliable? And what can any of us actually do about it? This session will cut through the noise with one of the world's leading researchers on plastics and human health - right here in Brisbane.Meet your speakers:Dr Cassandra Rauert is a leading expert in measuring our exposures to microplastics and understanding if they can get into our bodies. They're also an avid house plant collector who isn’t always successful and keeping them alive, but tries very hard. They are most excited to talk about current microplatics myths (do we actually eat a credit card a week?) and ways we can all reduce our exposures.Jessica van Vonderen is the host of ABC TV’s flagship 7pm news bulletin in Queensland. From elections, to cyclones, fires and floods, over more than two decades, Jessica has reported on some of the biggest stories affecting Queensland. She is stubbornly trying to avoid AI, but has recently rekindled her love for crochet. The question she is most excited to ask: “Is my lipstick bad for me?”The Explainer SeriesThe Explainer Series is a space for thoughtful conversations with people who really know their stuff, sharing insights and context so we can better navigate the big and small questions in our lives.From international law and cryptocurrency to climate change, gut health and space junk, these talks bring ideas, trends and debates into focus, helping us form our own understanding, guided by curiosity and expertise.There’s no spin and no hype, just experts helping us think more clearly about the world around us.The Explainer Series is generously supported by Gina Fairfax AC and Tim Fairfax AC through the Queensland Library Foundation.Subscribe to be the first to know about our future events.Please consult our conditions of entry and Ticketing Terms and Conditions before making your booking. We respect your privacy. Personal information we collect is used only for our internal activities and functions (Libraries Act 1988 (Qld)) and will not be disclosed unless required by law. For more information, please read State Library's privacy statement.The views expressed by the speakers are their own and the promotion of products/services is not endorsed by State Library.

A bold exploration of how Queenslanders have understood and experienced mortality.

About the exhibitionEchoes of Brisbane explores the difficulty of capturing a place once visited, after memory and imagination have filtered the experience into a dreamlike state. This series of artworks was initiated in 2006 using traditional black‑and‑white photographic film and a disused camera from an architectural practice to capture echoes of light and echoes of Brisbane’s urban landscape from that moment in time. Revisiting the work in 2026, artist Pia Robinson has transformed these static photographs into moving image. The resulting work sit between photography and cinema, fusing analogue methods with contemporary digital processes to reanimate Brisbane from 2006 for this exhibition at The Edge Screens. Pia Robinson is a multi‑disciplinary artist living in South East Queensland. The exhibit will be on The Edge Screens 1 July to 17 August.This work is presented as part of State Library of Queensland's Brisbane Open House program for 2026.