Inside the venue an elderly gentleman with a box strapped to his face was swaying wildly while a cluster of people stood around laughing.

He was experiencing an Oculus Rift simulated bungee-jump, which would be explained in detail in the third of the talks administered to those eager to help club founder David Bramwell celebrate the endurance of monthly verbal kunstkammer, The Catalyst Club.

Brighton science bod Richard Robinson was first up, reminding us of the power of chaos to create order by way of fractals and ants, followed by priest Father Burke, who delivered a witty sermon called Demonology For Dummies, comparing the demons manifest in days of yore to its modern equivalent – neurosis and psychotherapy.

After a video message ostensibly from sponsor Krubb Butter’s naked Belgian owner, the third talk was underway.

“B****** to geek chic and nerdiness, it’s about passion” runs the club’s strapline. While Oculus Rift developer Duncan Clarke certainly had this in spades, the technology itself presented worrying ideas surrounding the moral hazard of toying with public perception to such an extreme. The evening ended on a vaguely anxious note.

Passion, controversy, subculture – The Catalyst Club delivers with humour. Long may it continue.