Finding love is hard, The Love Lab is here to help. This flirty speed dating event is a scientifically backed way to help you find love. Dr Naomi Koh Belic (she/her) and Shu Ezackial (they/them) will guide you through this matchmaking experiment. 

Sick of swiping? Come to The Library Bar, where you’ll find smooth jazz and a unique way to meet like-minded cuties. Take a seat at a candlelit table with your first match, Dr Naomi and Shu will pose a question for you to discuss. Learn what your match thinks about the things that really matter, like sex, climate change or wearing shoes inside the home. Then you'll hear what the research has to say…  we’re not saying there’s a right answer, but there is probably a scientifically correct answer. After each question your match will be changed, so whether you’re looking for a friend or a lover, you’ll finish the experiment with new connections and your ideas challenged. The bar will remain open for you to continue conversations long into the night, and maybe even find love.

Shu and Dr Naomi are flaming homosexuals, looking to use their wealth of scientific knowledge to help people form meaningful connections with one another. Dr Naomi is a second-generation Australian and a first-generation university graduate with a PhD in stem cell biology. She is passionate about making science accessible, her work focuses on amplifying voices of minority communities. Shu is a queer mixed-race science communicator and engagement specialist. With over a decade in the field, their work has been deeply focused on connecting people, ideas, and knowledge. 

The Love Lab is an inclusive, sex-positive space. This matchmaking experiment should be a catalyst to love blossoming, but at the very least you’ll leave with plenty of answers for the ‘A Random Fact I Love Is…’ prompt on Hinge.

This Inspiring Australia NSW initiative is supported by the Australian Government as part of National Science Week.