About us
We are Science in Reading (formerly the Reading Branch of the BSA). We are involved in running, coordinating and promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) events across Reading and the surrounding area.
This group is sponsored by Thames Valley IVC (www.meetup.com/Thames-Valley-IVC). A friendly multi-activity club for graduates, professionals, and like minded people. \
Upcoming events
1

Reading Geek Night – LLMs 101: Understanding the Engine Behind Generative AI
Zerodegrees Microbrewery & Restaurant Reading, 9 Bridge Street, Reading, GBLinks to the local STEAM groups + #rdggeek Link Tree
We are looking for speakers for 2026 and beyond. If you would like to get involved and support your local Reading Geek community please get in touch – email: talks [at] rdggeeknight.org or via Twitter: @RDGGeekNight Speaking slot availability can be found via the website.
Our monthly meetups are held upstairs at Zero Degrees (9 Bridge St, Reading RG1 2LR) from 7pm.
So please do come along, grab a beer/food at the downstairs bar (the mango beer and wood fired pizza are epic) and come share your geekery and enjoy a relaxed evening of talks + networking + beers.
Everyone welcome!
- 7:00pm Arrivals
- 7:30pm Welcome and Introductions
- 7:35pm LLMs 101: Understanding the Engine Behind Generative AI (Paul Leroy)
- 8:05pm Networking & beers
- 8:30pm Short announcements/updates*
- 8:35pm Pub Quiz (Please bring a pencil & paper)
- 9:30pm End(Networking and beers downstairs)
LLMs 101: Understanding the Engine Behind Generative AI (Paul Leroy)
Go beyond the hype and dive into the fundamentals of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI. This in-person talk will demystify how these powerful models work, explore the critical differences between models and the applications built on them, and discuss the essential topics of data, ownership, and context. Join us for live demonstrations and an open discussion on the real-world capabilities and limitations of this transformative technology.
Paul is a seasoned cloud architect and Senior Google Trainer, he specializes in creating powerful cloud solutions that address real-world business challenges. With a background spanning development, deployment, sales, and strategy, he brings a uniquely holistic perspective to cloud & AI technology.
His passion lies in all things data: its efficient movement, rapid ingestion, and the immense possibilities it unlocks across diverse sources – from IoT devices to high-performance enterprise data pipelines and large-scale data warehouses.
About Reading Geek Night
A friendly and welcoming community for enthusiasts.
Every second Tuesday of the month Reading Geek Night has talks on various topics about science, tech, design & geekery. The usual format is to gather from 7:00pm and commence the talks at 7:30pm. Talks are ~20mins + Q&A with a break of 20mins for networking and beer.
*Before the second session there is an opportunity for any short announcements so please let us know on the night if you would like a slot or 1-2mins.
Look forward to seeing you there!
Get involved and support the community
If you would like to get involved with your local #rdggeek community by giving a talk or hosting a quiz at an upcoming event please contact us via twitter: @RDGGeekNight, Facebook or email us: talks [at] rdggeeknight.org
Speaking slot availability can be found via the website.
47 attendees
Past events
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