The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.

Sean Geobey is an academic, researcher, and self-described Man About Town who spends a lot of time thinking about how people work, learn, and solve problems together. An Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo, his work focuses on social innovation, collective action, and participatory approaches to complex problems. His teaching is rooted in problem-based and community-engaged learning, which makes Sean the perfect person to ask: 

Are lectures really the best way for us to learn?

Shannon Knelsen is a healthcare leader, educator, and the Founder Brain behind the Brains On Tap mission.

Passionate about lifelong learning and community connection, she created Brains On Tap to bring engaging conversations out of the classroom and into local gathering spaces in the Tri-Cities/Waterloo Region. Her mission is simple: Turn small talk into smart conversations and to create a place where nerdy people go to have fun.

The first BOT speaker event will be delivered by Shannon on July 12th, 2026, where she'll discuss: 

What the Healthcare, Canada?