August 20: In an ANU/Canberra Times meet the author event at 6pm, Rebecca Huntley will be in conversation with Andrew Leigh on her new book How to Talk About Climate Change in a Way That Makes a Difference. This is a virtual live event with details to be sent to participants shortly beforehand. anu.edu.au/events.

August 27:In an ANU/Canberra Times meet the author event at 6pm, Hugh Mackay will be in conversation with Alex Sloan on Mackay's two new books - The Inner Self, on identity, and The Question of Love, a novel. This is a virtual live event with details to be sent to participants shortly beforehand. anu.edu.au/events.

Geoff Page writes that after the closure of Beyond Q he's accepted an offer from That Poetry Thing at Smith's to join their program for the rest of the year. Future readings: September 7, October 6, November 9 and December 7. Physical admission: $10 waged, $5 unwaged (20 people only, paid online in advance via Smith's Alternative Calendar). 7pm at Smiths Alternative Bookshop, 76 Alinga Street, Civic (Melbourne Building). Zoom readings will also start at 7pm and will finish by 9pm at the latest. Log-on information will be sent shortly beforehand. No open mic. Technical inquiries: SmithsPoetryThing@gmail.com

Australian Book Review is calling for entries in the 17th Peter Porter Poetry Prize, one of Australia's most lucrative and respected awards for poetry. First prize is $6000 and four other shortlisted poets will receive $1000 each. Entry is open to all poets writing in English, until midnight on October 1, 2020. Entries must be an original single-authored poem of not more than 70 lines written in English. The five shortlisted poems will be published in the January-February 2021 issue and the winner will be announced at a ceremony in January. australianbookreview.com.au.

August 8: Dr Liz Allen in The Future of Us sets out possibilities for a better Australia. In conversation with Chris Wallace.

August 9: Geoff Kitney in Beyond the Newsroom looks at a lifetime in journalism and the state of news today. In conversation with David Crowe.

August 30: In 'Reading on the Margins' book club, podcasters Yen Eriksen and Zoya Patel discuss Alexis Wright's Tracker, a collective memoir about Aboriginal leader Tracker Tilmouth.

September 5: Milena Cifali's Mallacoota Time tells of losing her home in the NYE 2019 bushfires and the road to recovery. 4.30pm; free event, bookings essential.

September 6: Chris Wallace's How to Win an Election is an autopsy of the 2019 election, as well as an explainer of how to win an election. In conversation with Tom McIlroy.

September 13: Life, Online: Australian eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, and Ginger Gorman (Troll Hunting), discuss trolling, cyber security and the dark depths of the web.

Events are mostly 3-4pm and entry is $10 - or more for the book + entry option - unless otherwise indicated. Full details and bookings at musecanberra.com.au.

August 12: The Girl in the Mirror: A Conversation with Rose Carlyle & Malcolm Knox will be live streamed via Zoom at 6.30pm. More information and tickets : harryhartog.com.au/events.

August 19: The Labyrinth: A Conversation with Amanda Lohrey & Karen Viggers will be live streamed via Zoom at 6.30pm. More information and tickets : harryhartog.com.au/events.

August 26: Stalin's Wine Cellar: A Conversation with John Baker & Nick Place will be live streamed via Zoom at 6.30pm. More information and tickets : harryhartog.com.au/events.