UCLA Alumni

*All the presentations are in Hungarian. Thanks for your understanding!* Fél évszázad után visszatért az emberiség a Holdhoz, miután az Artemis–2 négy űrhajósa kedden hajnalban elhaladt az égitest mellett. De miért lett újra érdekes a Hold? Pacher Tibor, a Puli Space Technologies vezetője elmondja. A Hold után egy másik nagyon aktuális témáról, az inváziós fajok és kártevők által jelentett kihívásról hallhattok a HUN-REN Ökológiai Kutatóközpont kutatójától, Halassy Melindától. Részletes program: **A holdi víz nyomában avagy mit keres a Puli a Holdon?** *Pacher Tibor – Puli Space Technologies, ügyvezető igazgató* **Új fajok, új kihívások – Az inváziós fajok terjedése és kezelési lehetőségei** *Halassy Melinda – HUN-REN Ökológiai Kutatóközpont, Ökológiai és Botanikai Intézet* Mi a hasonlóság a homoki prérifű, az ázsiai tigrisszúnyog és a mosómedve között? Egyik sem őshonos a Kárpát-medencében, ám újabban gyorsan terjednek. Az inváziós fajok megjelenése ma már alapvetően formálja környezetünket, és kihívást jelent a természet, a gazdaság és az emberi egészség számára is. A folyamat teljesen nem állítható meg, hiszen a globalizáció és az emberi mobilitás folyamatosan új fajok megjelenésének kedvez. Ugyanakkor a terjedés üteme lassítható, a hatások mérsékelhetők, ami időt ad a természetnek és a társadalomnak az alkalmazkodásra. Hazai példákon keresztül bemutatjuk, hogyan zajlik az inváziós folyamat, és hol miképpen lehet még hatékonyan beavatkozni, hogy időt nyerjünk az alkalmazkodáshoz.

*“credentialism is the last acceptable prejudice. In the United States and Europe, disdain for the poorly educated is more pronounced (...) than prejudice against other disfavored groups”* **Michael J. Sandel - The Tyranny of Merit.** **(In english!)** Modern societies increasingly celebrate meritocracy — the idea that talent and effort should determine success. In principle, this seems logical: those who contribute more through their effort or abilities should secure a better life for themselves. Yet meritocracy has many critics. Some argue that it simply does not work or is broken. Others go further: even if it worked perfectly, it would still be unfair — and potentially oppressive. In *The Tyranny of Merit*, Michael J. Sandel, an american philosopher, argues that this belief system has quietly reshaped modern societies, fueling resentment, individualism, a loss of solidarity, and even contributing to the rise of radical political movements. **Introduction of guests (15 minutes)** We start with a short introduction of the guests with the question: * Have you ever achieved something difficult in your career? * How proud do you feel about it? **Questions (1 hour and 45 minutes)** 1. Do you think meritocracy actually exists? 2. Do you feel you truly deserve everything you have today? 3. Have you ever worked hard and still failed? 4. If success is deserved, does failure become deserved too? 5. Do you believe people who struggle are mostly responsible for their situation? 6. Can a society be both highly competitive and compassionate? 7. Should a CEO earn 100 times more than an employee? 8. Does a person’s market value reflect their social contribution or moral worth? 9. Does meritocracy unite or divide society? 10. Should policies aim for equality of outcomes, rather than only equality of opportunity? 11. Do you think meritocracy encourages humility or arrogance? 12. Do working-class voters feel represented by today’s progressive politicians? Why or why not? 13. What happens in a society where everyone has reached their “deserved” position? What happens to those at the bottom? 14. If you are a hardworking person, is that something you built — or something you were lucky to become? *** ### Thought Experiments * Two children: one born into wealth, one into poverty * Two worlds: one aristocratic, one meritocratic **RSVP:** Please confirm your attendance here on Meetup to save your space and if you cannot assist, yield your space to another person in the waiting list. We welcome donations from 1.000 HUF (min 400 HUF) to keep the costs of the meetup. **If you are looking to order food, or drink alcohol-free wine, you dont need to donate for the group. Thank you!**

The Hungarian election is looking like a dead heat. Will the opposition overturn 16 years of Fidesz dominance - or will Orbán make history as the most electorally successful postwar European leader? Henry Olsen is a highly respected American polling guru who has been doing field work in Hungary ahead of the election. He has been a frequent visitor to the country down the years. At this special event at the Danube Institute, he will present his findings, then be joined in conversation by a number of other luminaries. John O'Sullivan - former adviser to Margaret Thatcher. Ralph Schoelhammer - Professor of International Relations and host of Hammer Time podcast Calum Nicholson - Director of Research at the Danube Institute. Join the audience for an evening of light banter and serious analysis. Q&A afterwards. Please register beforehand. Registration is free but space is limited. LINK HERE: https://danubeinstitute.hu/en/events/hungary-chooses/rsvp

Please sign up in advance! Hot Paprika Presents: Budapest’s Best Pub Quiz! Register here: https://forms.gle/JKjGn4aGBr1r1dF48 Join us for the Hot Paprika Pub Quiz at A&O Hostel Budapest, kicking off at 8 PM! This isn’t your average trivia night—it's hosted by comedians, so expect uncomfortable laughs, unexpected twists, and an unforgettable time! What to Expect: Diverse Topics – From pop culture to history, no subject is off-limits! Comedian Hosts – The hilarious Tauseef Parvez & Fanni Pinter will keep you entertained. Big Prizes – Weekly winners score free comedy show tickets & bar discounts . Grand Prize – The season’s top team wins a 20,000 HUF bar tab! First Event: Donation-Based – Come, play, and support the show however you can! Gather your team, sharpen your wits, and let’s make trivia night legendary! Register now and don’t miss out!

Practice Buddhist meditation in the middle of Budapest! The meditation is suitable for beginners. Each regular meditation is guided and begins with a short introduction. (all together is about 30-40 minutes) Our regular Buddhist meditations have proven popular with people who want to integrate authentic Buddhist methods into their daily lives. For the modern lay person who is juggling work, relationships, and an active role in society, we teach a meditation that is easy to learn, and profound and powerful for experienced practitioners. The meditation originates from the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It has a cumulative effect on mind, leading to greater clarity and calmness. Fearlessness, joy, and active compassion are the result of regular practice of Buddhist meditation. * Do I need any special clothing? No special clothing needed. * Does the attendance cost anything? No, the meditation is free.

El objetivo de este encuentro es romper el hielo, hablar de las historias que nos gusta escribir, de por qué escribimos, de los libros que nos gusta leer, de qué dificultades encontramos al enfrentarnos al folio en blanco y de qué esperamos del grupo. En definitiva, se trata de conocernos como personas para entendernos como escritores. No importa si has escrito diez novelas, cuatro cuentos o el precioso título de un poema sin versos. Aquí todo aspirante a juntaletras es bienvenido.

In this session, we dive into Pranayama, (an ancient practice to discover the flow of energy within) and the power of conscious breathing, which is one of the most important aspects of the original yogic lifestyle. On these Tuesday evenings, we do more than just a breathwork session: this is an opportunity to explore a true harmony between our breath & the mind - body connection. We begin with a 15-minute chest-opening yoga sequence to gently expand our lungs and prepare for deeper breathing (no need for gym clothes though, just an open mind). Then, we explore different breathing techniques designed for self-awareness, relaxation, and energy flow. These classes are designed to help you discover how breath can be a tool to balance, energize, and center yourself. To close, we immerse in a short yet profound "silent concert", a meditative sound journey where 174 Hz sound waves or white noise guide us into a state of deep harmony. Whether emotions are light or heavy, thoughts are clear or clouded, this is a space to simply be and find some peace. Book your spot here: https://www.sanctuary.hu/service-page/thursday-pranayama-meditation-19-00-en?referral=service_list_widget

FlowDan’s Mix is a Latin-inspired dance party workout. High energy, easy-to-follow choreographies, and nonstop good vibes! Each class has a theme we dance through Class fee: 2500 Huf 5 class pass: 10000 Huf

Saturday class on the 11 April 11:00 FlowDan’s Mix is a Latin-inspired dance party workout. High energy, easy-to-follow choreographies, and nonstop good vibes! Each class has a theme we dance through, plus one song where we drop the steps and enjoy pure free dance. Class fee: 2500 Huf 5 class pass: 10000 Huf

Join the first joint GDG Agentic AI Hackathon in Hungary, bringing together the communities of GDG Budapest, GDG on Campus ELTE, GDG on Campus BME, GDG on Campus UniDeb and NextGen Data Science Club at Corvinus University. This one-day hackathon brings together developers, AI enthusiasts, and innovators to build practical solutions using agentic AI - systems that can autonomously work toward defined goals. Participants will collaborate in teams to design and prototype real-world AI applications and present their projects to a professional technical jury from the industry. The event connects university students with the tech ecosystem through hands-on challenges, mentorship, and technical talks. Participants will work in teams of up to 5 members, so make sure your team includes a mix of skills such as development, data science, AI, product thinking, and presentation. The hackathon is open to both Hungarian and international participants, creating a diverse and collaborative environment. 📅 Date: April 11, 2026 ⏰ Time: 10:00–21:00 CET 📍 Location: Budapest (TBA) 🌐 Language: English 👥 Expected attendance: 100–150 participants Come build, learn, and compete with some of the most active tech communities in Hungary. 🚀 Az eseményről Csatlakozz az első közös GDG Agentic AI Hackathonhoz Magyarországon, amely egyesíti a GDG Budapest, a GDG on Campus ELTE, a GDG on Campus BME és a GDG on Campus UniDeb közösségeit. Ez az egynapos hackathon fejlesztőket, AI-rajongókat és innovátoroket hoz össze, hogy gyakorlati megoldásokat építsenek agentic AI segítségével – olyan rendszereket, amelyek önállóan képesek meghatározott célok elérésére törekedni. A résztvevők csapatokban dolgoznak majd valós AI-alkalmazások tervezésén és prototípusának elkészítésén, majd bemutatják projektjeiket egy szakmai zsűrinek az iparágból. Az esemény összeköti az egyetemi hallgatókat a tech-ökoszisztémával gyakorlati kihívásokon, mentorálással és technikai előadásokon keresztül. A résztvevők legfeljebb 5 fős csapatokban dolgoznak, ezért gondoskodj arról, hogy csapatod változatos tudással rendelkezzen – például fejlesztés, adattudomány, AI, termékgondolkodás és prezentáció terén. A hackathon nyitott magyar és nemzetközi résztvevők számára egyaránt, sokszínű és együttműködő környezetet teremtve. 📅 Dátum: 2026. április 11. ⏰ Időpont: 10:00–21:00 CET 📍 Helyszín: Budapest (hamarosan) 🌐 Nyelv: Angol 👥 Várható létszám: 100–150 résztvevő Gyere, építs, tanulj és versenyezz Magyarország egyik legaktívabb tech-közösségeivel együtt. 🚀 Agenda --- Hosted By Zsigmond P. Toth, GDG Budapest & WTM Budapest organizer Zsigmond is the organizer of the GDG Budapest and GDG Cloud Budapest communities and the DevFest Budapest and DevFest Live events. He is a Google Cloud Certified Professional Cloud Architect and he works as the Head of Google Cloud, Hungary at EPAM Systems. Farida Elchuzade, GDG Budapest & WTM Budapest organizer Lechlech Latifa, GDG Budapest & WTM Budapest organizer Aamna Tayyab, GDG Budapest organizer Founder & Pioneer of GDSC ELTE, building one of the university’s first developer community spaces. Head of Delivery at Adroit Group, responsible for leading cross-functional teams, overseeing project delivery frameworks, and ensuring successful execution of technology initiatives across the organisation. Muhammad Hassan Raza, GDG Budapest organizer A dedicated and resourceful individual who is a GDG Budapest Co-Organizer and GDSC Leads Mentor with the ability to persuade and persuade people about computer-related works. Software Developer skilled at technical leadership, communication, and presentations. Experienced in the full project life cycle from design to implementation to integration. Hagigat Ahmadova, GDG Budapest organizer Nurtoza Aykhujaev, GDG Budapest organizer Asel Temiralieva, GDG Budapest organizer Ulukbek Tursunov, GDG Budapest organizer - Ines Meliani, GDG Budapest organizer Kaniz Fatima, GDG Budapest organizer --- Partners GDSC BME (https://gdsc.community.dev/budapest-university-of-technology-and-economics/) GDG on Campus Eotvos Lorand University (https://gdg.community.dev/gdg-on-campus-eotvos-lorand-university-budapest-hungary/) GDG on Campus Eotvos Lorand University - Budapest, Hungary is an independent group; our activities and the opinions expressed here should in no way be linked to Google, the corporation. GDSC Debrecen (https://gdsc.community.dev/university-of-debrecen-debreceni-egyetem-de/) ELTE Data Science Club (https://datasciencelte.netlify.app) Building a high-impact data science community at ELTE. Founded in 2025, the Data Science Club at ELTE is a beginner-friendly community where students learn together through hands-on projects, guest talks, and collaborative exploration of data science, AI, and machine learning. Our approach is community-first: we learn together rather than teaching from above. We focus on showcases, teamwork, and real projects that give members portfolio evidence through GitHub contributions. Everyone contributes at their own level while building a stronger community. NextGen Data Science Club (https://www.instagram.com/next_gen.dc?igsh=MWRlbmJ5YmR3Z3E0dA==) --- Complete your event RSVP here: https://gdg.community.dev/events/details/google-gdg-budapest-presents-agentic-ai-hackathon/.

Want to know what happens when a comedian and a psychologist team up to solve your problems? Hot Paprika Comedy presents a one-of-a-kind show where we do exactly that! Bring us your everyday challenges—the trivial issues that complicate your life—and we’ll offer the best advice in the most entertaining way possible. Ever had questions you wanted to ask a psychologist but never had the chance? Now’s your opportunity! Participants have the option to remain anonymous, so feel free to share your thoughts without hesitation! Who will give better advice, the comedian or the therapist? Come find out! Join us on April 10th at Jo&Joe Budapest, 8PM for an evening of laughter, insight, and unexpected solutions! This is a donation based show, we will be collecting donations at the entrance, so please consider contributing. We recommend 2000 huf per person Disclaimer: This show is for entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice

As the weather looks a bit gloomy next weekend, it’s the perfect time to join us for our very first film club event. We’ll meet at Tabán Art Cinema to watch "Magyar Menyegzők", a truly unique film that stands out as Hungary’s first “folk dance” movie. It features a beautiful soundtrack, stunning traditional costumes, and vibrant dancing that bring the story to life. Set in Transylvania in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the film also offers a glimpse into the political and historical atmosphere of the time, making it not only visually engaging but culturally rich as well. After the screening, we’ll head to a nearby coffee shop where, depending on your level, we'll split into smaller groups to chat about the movie, weddings, cinema, and history. The film will be shown with English subtitles, so everyone can enjoy it. The discussions are divided to three levels: complete beginner(A1), foundation(A2) and intermediate(B1) You can purchase your ticket through the Cooltix link, which includes your cinema ticket. If you’re a student under 26 and can verify your student status at the cinema, you’re eligible for a discounted price. You can buy your ticket here which includes the move ticket: https://cooltix.hu/event/69d3f846e2bf211e17b29774 We hope to see many of you there!

Join me to practice a Vinyasa Yoga Flow in Budapest! English-speaking classes held at [Hanuman yoga studio](https://www.hanumanjoga.hu/oratipusok/vinyasa-flow-yoga-nidra-in-english/). Every Saturday at 11:30am. Open to all levels. Flow, Feel & Stretch. **Book your spot [here.](https://www.hanumanjoga.hu/oratipusok/idopont-foglalas/)** Location: Budapest, Erőd u. 16, 1027 Instagram: [theinner.drishti](https://www.instagram.com/theinner.drishti/)

Every Saturday at 8:00 PM, we gather in the city to share languages, cultures, and conversations. [[Click this whatsapp groupchat link to join](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CGM1Jm8JfNS291xA1zMobk) ] Our group is made up of friendly 20s–30s people — locals, expats, and travelers alike — who come together to meet new people and explore different ways of thinking. Whether you’re new to Budapest or call it home, this meetup is your chance to connect in a relaxed, open-minded space. Join us to swap stories, practice new languages, and build genuine friendships across cultures.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.

...and speaking of breakthrough roles: who can forget the first time we saw Tom Cruise singing Bob Seeger in his underwear? Often considered an updated 1983 version of The Graduate, the movie sparkles with memorable lines and original music. I only regret that I was never told that "Princeton could use someone like Bob..." See the movie first and join us for some "Cruisin'"

The global Azure community is coming together again, and Columbus is officially on the map. View the session lineup and speakers at [Global Azure Columbus 2026](https://coazure.github.io/cbus-global-azure-2026/) On **Saturday, April 18, 2026**, the Azure Columbus Meetup, DevOps Meetup, and Code and Coffee Meetup are hosting our local edition of Global Azure 2026. This is a free, community-driven event packed with learning, networking, and all things Microsoft Azure. Whether you’re building modern cloud-native apps, experimenting with AI agents, deploying containers, automating infrastructure, or just beginning your Azure journey, this event is for you! **What to Expect** * Engaging technical sessions * Real-world Azure architecture & cloud-native patterns * AI, agents, automation, and modern DevOps * Food and drinks (because learning burns calories) * Time to connect with fellow engineers, architects, and cloud enthusiasts **Who Should Attend?** * Software engineers (any language, any stack) * Cloud architects * DevOps engineers * Data professionals * AI explorers * Platform builders * Anyone who loves solving hard problems with great tools If you build, deploy, automate, scale, monitor, or optimize in Azure, you’ll feel right at home. **Why Global Azure?** Global Azure is a worldwide community event where Azure user groups host learning sessions on the same day across the globe. It’s grassroots. It’s technical. It’s practical. And it’s powered by people who genuinely love sharing what they’ve learned. And yes, it’s free to attend!

AI is changing how art is made. But when does it stop being your work and start being the machine’s? This month we're going to be doing a panel with with digital image, music, and written word artists, talking about at what point, while using AI in the creation process, does the work become not the artist creation? We encourage audience participation during this event that will be moderated by Chris Slee. Whether you’re deep in the field or just getting curious, come connect with others building and exploring AI in Columbus. Sponsored by [Transform Labs](https://www.transformlabs.com/services) Sign up also accessible via [Transform Labs Luma](https://luma.com/55umjqta)

[The Board Walks](http://www.theboardwalks.com/) are for curious people who love deep conversations. If that sounds like you, **bring a thoughtful topic** and join us for a 5-mile walk (10,000+ steps!). **HOW IT WORKS** **Step 1: Bring a topic** Before you arrive, think of **one** topic you want to explore. A question. A thought that's been on your mind. An obsession you want to geek out on. This is your ticket to the event. **Step 2: Circle up & share** We gather in a circle. Your friendly walk host gives a speech to set the tone. Everyone shares: your name, what you're grateful for, and your topic. That's it. 60 seconds. **Step 3: Walk, talk & float** We walk 5 miles. You naturally drift into conversation with 2-3 people at a time, pulled by topics that spark your curiosity. When you're ready to move on, just say: "I'm going to float!" **Step 4: Feel more alive** Two hours flies by. You're back where you started — but you feel different. More alive. More energized. More connected to yourself and others. That's why regulars join 20+ times. *For more details, read our [Orientation Guide.](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation)* **HOW TO BRING A GREAT TOPIC** A great topic = something you're genuinely curious about. Recent topics include: * "What are you passionate about right now?" * "What makes a good friend?" * "What's a belief you used to hold that you've completely changed?" * "How do you want to be remembered?" * "What would you do if money wasn't a factor?" Think of your topic like the dish you're bringing to our conversational potluck. If everyone brings an A+ dish (i.e. energizing, uplifting, expansive), we'll all walk away feeling lighter and brighter. **WHAT TO EXPECT** This isn't a fitness event with casual chitchat. It's a walking think tank where we explore life's big questions together, beyond small talk. *If you're looking for light banter or a standard networking event, this probably isn't the right fit.* But if you crave depth, genuine connection, and conversations that make you feel alive? You'll love it here. **FAQ** * Wear casual athletic attire and sneakers. It's a long walk! * We have multiple first-timers at each event. We work hard to create a welcoming, inclusive, clique-free space. * We welcome people of **all** ages, backgrounds, and industries who align with the [intention](https://www.theboardwalks.com/ground-rules) of this space. * Rain or shine, we've been out here nearly every week since July 2022. If the event is cancelled, we'll let you know. * Dogs, babies in strollers, parents, and friends are welcome — please text/email them the event link so they can RSVP and prepare a topic! **LOGISTICS** * If you'll arrive over 10 minutes late, we suggest skipping the event. It's hard to find us once we start walking, and your host can't answer messages during the event. * This walk is designed for everyone to *move together at the same steady pace* (about 20 min/mile). This format works best when the whole group moves in unison. If you have mobility limitations, we kindly encourage you to find an event better suited to your needs. * Read our [Orientation Guide](https://www.theboardwalks.com/orientation) for full details. * If you enjoy the event, send **[this](http://www.theboardwalks.com/)** to a friend or sign up for our **[newsletter](https://theboardwalks.beehiiv.com/)**. We're in multiple cities with more on the way. 🤠👋 **IF YOU WANT TO GO DEEPER...** [The Board](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board) is the next step: a high-trust collective for renaissance people devoted to creating, connecting, and building lives that light us up. * This is a global HQ for people who crave big talk, deep connection, and dream collaborations with people across industries. If the walks feel like a spark... The Board is the fire. Apply [here](https://stan.store/ellebeecher/p/the-board).

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. We will be hearing from Becca Powell, Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Unchained At Last, an organization whose mission is dedication to ending forced and child marriage in the United States through direct services and systems change. Unchained At Last's mission clearly meshes and addresses several of our Humanist Ten Commitments. Becca will educate us about an issue many of us may not be familiar with--but should be. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon