PyData Southampton - 25th Meetup

Venue: Carnival House, 100 Harbour Parade, Southampton, SO15 1ST
📢 Want to speak 📢: submit your talk proposal

Main Talk
1️⃣ Getting Started with PyO3 - David Hewitt
The scientific Python ecosystem is built upon numpy - and numpy itself is implemented in C. Native packages like this are surprisingly common across the Python ecosystem. Rust (and PyO3) underpin newer data processing heavyweights such as Polars and Pydantic.

Join PyO3 maintainer David Hewitt to learn about how Rust can give your own Python code a native core. We'll cover a short introduction to how it works and some quick examples of Rust code running inside Python.

2️⃣ Rags to Riches – From the Hot Hampshire Countryside - Nick Thorne & Bob Menlove
This isn’t a pitch—it’s a frame shift.

Guided by Oren Klaff’s Pitch Anything, we’re reframing how the UK moves from legacy drag to competitive edge—breaking through the “old stagers” blocking change with a new, outcome-first narrative: measurable value, fast.
This talk seeks to open up a debate – not give you a death by powerpoint – we will seek to leave you desperate to tell us your view

Why
The UK says it wants to compete globally—but too many systems are locked in legacy thinking: over-engineered processes, under-delivered programmes, and AI stuck in pilot mode. The issue isn’t capability—it’s activation.

What
A unified model that connects AI, delivery, and talent into one value engine—turning stalled capability into cashflow, efficiency, and scalable advantage.

How
• Reframe problems into decision-ready, visual systems (not reports)
• Deploy AI where it drives P&L impact, not experimentation
• Run rapid pilots → prove value → scale with discipline
• Replace friction-heavy governance with execution velocity

Think: public services like NHS operations, local councils, and justice systems—where better data flows, AI triage, and lean delivery could unlock billions in savings and reinvestment, while improving outcomes.

⚡Lightning Talks ⚡
⚡1️⃣ A taste of DSPy - Tim Trew
⚡2️⃣ TBA

Please note:

1. 🚨🚨🚨A valid photo ID is required by building security. You MUST use your initial/first name and surname on your meetup profile, otherwise, you will NOT make it on the guest list! 🚨🚨🚨
2. This event follows the NumFOCUS Code of Conduct, please familiarise yourself with it before the event.

If your RSVP status says "You're going" you will be able to get in. No further confirmation required. You will NOT need to show your RSVP confirmation when signing in.
If you can no longer make it, please unRSVP as soon as you know so we can assign your place to someone on the waiting list.

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Code of Conduct:
This event follows the NumFOCUS Code of Conduct, please familiarise yourself with it before the event. Please get in touch with the organisers with any questions or concerns regarding the Code of Conduct.
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There will be pizza & drinks, generously provided by our host, Carnival UK.
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Logistics
Doors open at 6.30 pm, talks start at 7 pm. For those who wish to continue networking and chatting we will move to a nearby pub/bar for drinks from 9 pm.

Please unRSVP in good time if you realise you can't make it. We're limited by building security on the number of attendees, so please free up your place for your fellow community members!

Follow us for updates and early announcements we are on Bluesky/Instagram/Threads as @pydatasoton, and find us on LinkedIn.