Academics

**Requirements Engineering & AI** Wir haben für den 17.6. zwei grossartige Speakerinnen gewonnen, welche über Requirements Engineering & den Impact von AI berichten werden. Zwei Talks zum **Thema Agenten und Personas** und anschliessend Diskussionen dazu. **"KI goes Hollywood: Gib deiner KI eine Haltung und Rolle. Personas im Zeitalter von KI" von Christina Rohrmoser (LEAN-CODERS)** KI ist nur so gut wie die Perspektive, die wir ihr mitgeben. Doch in der Praxis passiert genau das selten: Personas werden halbherzig erstellt, falls überhaupt – und dann selten bis gar nicht verwendet. Und das, obwohl sie Gold wert sind, wenn es um die Nutzung von KI geht. Ein tiefes Personenverständnis ist der Schlüssel. Nicht als Steckbrief, sondern als fiktive Haltung. Egal ob KI, KI-Agent oder Agentic AI: die Persona ist immer relevant, da sie der KI mitteilt, in welchem Kontext eine Entscheidung zu treffen ist – und für wen. In meinem Talk zeige ich, nach welchen Kriterien eine Persona zu erstellen ist, damit KI die ihr zugewiesene Rolle spielen kann – und wie groß der Unterschied ist, wenn KI rollenlos bleibt. Denn ohne Haltung passiert genau das, was viele Anwender:innen bereits erlebt haben: Die KI antwortet – aber am eigentlichen Problem vorbei. **"KI-Agenten - eine neue Generation von Requirements Engineers?" von Brigitte Rafael** Chatbots sind bereits veraltet, KI-Agenten sind das neue Schlagwort. Wer nicht selbst schon einen Agenten gebaut hat, wird in IT-Kreisen mittlerweile schon fast schräg angeschaut. Aber was können solche Agenten wirklich und wie funktionieren sie? Der Vortrag bietet eine kompakte Einführung in KI‑Agenten – was sie sind, wie sie funktionieren und warum sie zunehmend eine ernsthafte Rolle spielen. Wie sieht das im Requirements Engineering aus? Da Agenten ja quasi alles können, können sie auch einen Requirements Engineer ersetzen? Ein Erfahrungsbericht über ein Experiment dazu rundet den Vortrag ab. **Die Sponsoren** 🏢 Location & Catering wird von [LEAN-CODERS](https://lean-coders.at/) bereit gestellt. **🎤 Call for Speakers & Sponsoren!** Und wenn du selbst etwas erzählen willst oder eine Idee für einen Talk hast, dann melde dich einfach. Auch suchen wir nicht nur Sprecher, sondern neue Lokationen zum Vortragen. 👉 **RSVP now!** Die Plätze sind begrenzt, also melde dich bitte an. Wie immer freuen wir uns sehr auf dich!

**For players with level low intermediate or higher only.** We play on one court with 4 players. **Price** * 20 € for 2 hours * I use the money to cover the costs for the court, balls and rackets. * You can pay via Revolut, PayPal, instant Bank Transfer or Cash. I prefer transfer over cash. **Equipment** * I provide balls (usually Bullpadel Next) * If you need a racket, you can rent it from me for 2 € (limited number available). You can also rent a racket from the venue for 4 € **Cancellation** * Please cancel at least 10h before the event, to give people on the wait list the chance to jump in. Otherwise a late cancellation fee of 10 € must be paid. * Cancel at least 26h before the event in case the wait list is empty. Otherwise a late cancellation fee will be charged * Late Cancellation fees will be donated to Médecins Sans Frontières (Ärzte ohne Grenzen). * I understand that sometimes unexpected things can come up. However, not showing up and failing to let me know is considered disrespectful and goes against the community spirit. People doing uncommented no-shows have to pay the full event fee. **Important** * Playing competitive is allowed (Smashing balls, hitting balls close to opponent player etc.) * We still value fair play and sportsmanship. * Having fun together is way more important as winning. **Other information** * We are respectful and warm with each other. Our cultural and professional background is diverse * The host or regular players can ask misbehaving players to step out from the court * The venue has changing rooms and showers free of charge (for the lockers you have to bring your own padlock) * If you have questions, you can send me a message any time. I speak german too.

Wir freuen uns sehr, das nächste und 9. Circular Economy Open Space Meetup am 17. Juni 2026 bei unserem Gastgeber [refurbed](https://www.refurbed.at/) in Wien zu veranstalten. Mit diesem Event möchten wir Expert:innen, Praktiker:innen und Neugierige aus der Praxis sowie Wissenschaft verknüpfen, um damit unseren Beitrag zu leisten, das Thema Kreislaufwirtschaft in Österreich branchenübergreifend zu verbreiten und voranzubringen. Wir kennen kaum ein besseres Format als [Open Space](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Space) bei dem die Teilnehmer:innen die Möglichkeit bekommen, ihre Fragen, ihr Wissen, ihre Interessen und ihre Erfahrungen schnell und direkt einzubringen, um voneinander zu lernen. Open Space funktioniert folgendermaßen: * Je nach Teilnehmer:innenanzahl gibt es **mehrere parallele Diskussions- und Erfahrungsaustauschgruppen zum Thema Kreislaufwirtschaft**. * Die Agenda wird gemeinsam mit allen Teilnehmer:innen erstellt. * Die **Teilnehmer:innen bringen ihre eigenen Beiträge** **mit** \- egal ob praktische Erfahrungsberichte\, gemeinsames Lösen komplexer Herausforderungen\, theoretische Gedankenspiele\, Diskussion umstrittener Themen oder einfach nur die Beantwortung von ein paar Fragen\. Nur zuhören und lernen ist natürlich auch erlaubt\. * Wie ein Open Space genau funktioniert, erklären wir im Detail vor Ort. **Nimm gerne weitere Mitstreiter:innen mit** bzw. leite diese Einladung weiter. Wir freuen uns auf dich! **Agenda:** ab 18:00h Ankommen, Essen, Trinken und informelles Kennenlernen 18:15h pünktlicher Start des Programms 20:30h Ende **Ort:** Refurbed Marketplace GmbH Jakov-Lind-Straße 7 1020 Wien **Achtung:** * Dieses Event findet ausschließlich vor Ort statt - es wird keine Online-Einwahlmöglichkeit geben. * Dieses Event findet auf Deutsch statt. * Mit der Teilnahme an der Veranstaltung erklären sich alle Anwesenden damit einverstanden, dass Foto- und Videoaufnahmen gemacht und für Marketingzwecke rund um diese Meet-Up Serie verwendet werden dürfen. * Dieses Meetup ist Teil einer Open Space Eventreihe zum Thema Circular Economy in Wien. Unsere wechselnden Gastgeber:innen sind Unternehmen, die sich gerade rund um das Thema Kreislaufwirtschaft etablieren bzw. schon etabliert sind. Mit diesem Meetup möchten wir einen informellen, lockereren Austausch auf Augenhöhe schaffen, um das Thema Kreislaufwirtschaft in Österreich voranzubringen. * Die Anmeldung auf Meetup.com ist kostenfrei.

**Would you love to visit Paris but don't speak a word of French?** *Join my course and consider your problem solved! - If you speak **ABSOLUTELY NO** French yet, you’ve come to the **RIGHT PLACE**! *This course is perfect for **BEGINNERS** and covers basic A1-level skills. There are 9 independent modules, each lasting 2 hours. You are welcome to attend the full course or just individual sessions. **Dates:** Wednesdays – **April 29, May 06, May 13, June 03, thursday June 11, June 17, June 24, July 01, July 08.** **----------------------------------------------------** **Theme on 17.06: Going shopping** **----------------------------------------------------** *This is **NOT** your average language course –* *it’s a relaxed way to play with words and get you excited for your trip!* *By the end of the course, you won’t be speaking perfect French, but you’ll likely be able to buy a baguette, order a drink, ask for directions, and actually understand the answer...* **The primary language of instruction is German, with English translations provided if necessary.** Since I am teaching this course for the first time, participation is **free of charge**. However, I would appreciate a voluntary donation for the neighborhood center hosting the course. The center is an independent social institution funded by donations. **++++** **Du würdest gerne mal nach Paris fahren, aber sprichst kein Wort Französisch?** *Komm in meinen Kurs und dein Problem ist gelöst! - **Wenn du noch GAR KEIN Französisch kannst, bist du hier GENAU RICHTIG!** *Der Kurs ist super für EINSTEIGER und vermittelt einige Basiskenntnisse auf Niveau A1. **Es gibt 9 voneinander unabhängige Module zu je 2 Stunden.** Wer möchte, kann auch nur einzelne Termine besuchen. **Termine:** **Mittwoch 29.04., 06.05., 13.05., 03.06., Do 11.06., 17.06., 24.06., 01.07., 08.07.** **----------------------------------------------------Thema am 17.06.: Einkaufen gehen** ***-----------------------------------*****------------*****----****Dies ist KEIN normaler Sprachkurs - sondern ein lockeres Spielen mit Worten, das dir erst einmal Appetit macht auf die Reise!* *Du wirst am Ende des Kurses NICHT perfekt Französisch sprechen, aber vermutlich in der Lage sein, ein Baguette zu kaufen oder ein Getränk zu bestellen, nach dem Weg zu fragen und auch die Antwort zu verstehen...* **Kurssprache ist Deutsch, mit Übersetzung auf Englisch, wenn erforderlich.** Ich halte diesen Kurs zum ersten Mal, deshalb ist die **Teilnahme kostenlos.** Doch ich bitte um eine **freiwillige Spende für das Nachbarschaftszentrum,** in dem der Kurs stattfindet. Das Nachbarschaftszentrum ist eine unabhängige soziale Einrichtung, die durch Spenden finanziert wird [Nachbarschaftszentrum 15, Wien](https://www.nachbarschaftszentren.at/angebote/selbsthilfe/1/34244-franz%C3%B6sisch-f%C3%BCr-die-reise-mittwoch,-03-06-2026,)

**Start Improv:** [https://www.iicv.at/improvclass](https://www.iicv.at/improvclass) **All our events: [https://www.iicv.at/](https://www.iicv.at/)** **Leader of the session:** [IICV Calendar](https://www.iicv.at/event-calendar) **What is it ?** An open improv session for all experience levels. Come play, explore, and have fun in a supportive, low-pressure environment. **How to register ?** Meetup registration opens on **Sunday 13:00** for the following Wednesday meetup. Should your plans change, we kindly ask you to **cancel.** For security reason, you cannot join the session if you did not registered. **How much ?** Free for IICV members\* 10 Euros for everybody else. You can pay contactless or cash. \* go to [iicv.at](https://www.iicv.at/) to become a member (13EUR per month until you cancel your membership). **Anything to report?** Please give us an anonymous [feedback](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1oidbMUMs_Zz-rSQ9O4HcR_axPG_zvUb1dc1ssG5IWaw/edit) \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* **Meetup priority**: Please do not enroll to meetup priority!!! You can enroll to any open session without having it (just close the adv. window). **Being meetup priority will not give you any advantage in the waiting list** neither as we will insure to respect the real order of priority. **Photograph policy**: Please be aware that photos will be taken during the open session for social media and newsletters. Before any photos are taken, we ask participants for their consent and provide an opportunity to opt out. **Code of Conduct**: We are a Vienna-based international community seeking to explore, play, practice, and perform improvised arts in a group setting. In treating this space with integrity and professionalism, we are committed to facilitating a harassment-free space for all persons regardless of cultural background, disability, gender, sexual orientation, race, etc. Therefore, the IICV will not tolerate any inappropriate behaviour as per our [Code Of Conduct](https://www.iicv.at/code-of-conduct). Repeated violations of our guidelines can and will result in warnings, removal from sessions, or cancelation of membership. The **International Improv Community in Vienna** IICV e.V. ZVR Nr:1236421179

**Summer is heating up, and so is the Vienna tech scene!** We are thrilled to invite you to our next **Google Cloud Meetup this June**. As we head into the summer season, we’re keeping the energy high and bringing the Vienna tech community back together to look past the AI hype and dive straight into **real-world, production-ready deployments**. This June, we are focusing on practical, enterprise-grade execution. How do you take advanced Google Cloud tools and deploy them to solve massive, seasonal operational headaches in traditional industries? Get ready for an evening of deep architectural insights, backend integration breakdowns, and networking with fellow cloud enthusiasts. *\*This event is free of charge and only takes place on-site!\** **Talk #1: Next-Gen Automotive Customer Service: Deploying an AI-Driven Virtual Agent for Jepsen Autogruppe** [[Magnus Wagner](https://www.linkedin.com/in/magnus-wagner1/), Cloud Data & AI Engineer, happtiq - [Miro Michalicka](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michalicka/), Cloud Architect, happtiq] *How do you handle thousands of dealership service calls during tire change season without inflating call center costs? Join us to see how Jepsen Autogruppe developed an AI-driven voice agent using Google Cloud’s CCAI Platform and Dialogflow CX.* *This session covers the deployment of an intelligent virtual agent that automatically schedules seasonal tire changes and workshop appointments while also routing sales inquiries to the right representatives. We’ll explore the underlying multi-dealership architecture, backend integrations with Porsche Informatics Service Booking API and the lead management system AutoCRM, and the DevOps environment driving enterprise-grade efficiency.* **Talk #2: Game Development assistant with Gemini Live and Unity - Real-time Multimodal Pair Programming** [**[Nikolai Danylchyk](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolai-dan/)**, Cloud Customer Engineer, Google] *Discover how next-gen AI can revolutionize your game development workflow. In this session, we’ll explore how Gemini Live integrates with Unity to act as a real-time, multimodal pair programmer. Learn how to leverage voice, sight, and code inputs simultaneously to build, debug, and iterate on games faster than ever before.* **Meetup schedule:** Check-In: 17:30 - 18:00 Talk #1: 18:00 - 18:30 Quiz: 18:30 - 18:45 (w/ some cool gifts) Break & Networking: 18:45 - 19:15 Talk #2: 19:15 - 19:45 Networking & Drinks: 19:45 - 21:00 *Organized by [happtiq](https://www.happtiq.com/) and [Posedio](https://www.posedio.com/)!* **📢 Still want to take the stage?** If you have a story to tell about AI, Infrastructure Modernization, or Cloud Security, we’d love to hear from you for our future events! 👉[ ](https://www.meetup.com/google-cloud-meetup-vienna/?eventOrigin=home_groups_you_organize)[Fill out the Speaker Form here](https://forms.gle/fWX6me3JsxR9Fr518) \*\*\* Language of the MeetUp: **ENGLISH** \*\*\* **Location:** **weXelerate Auditorium, Praterstraße 1** Simply take the U1/U4 to Schwedenplatz. The Auditorium of weXelerate can be accessed via Taborstraße or Praterstraße. If you're arriving by car, [here ](https://goo.gl/maps/YyuFDngPCKbTpveT8)is a garage where you could park. — If you want to maximize your cloud expertise this season, we highly recommend checking out the **/dev/cloud Developer Day with happtiq!** It’s the perfect warm-up event leading right up to our meetup, packed with deeper deep-dives, hands-on insights, and networking. 👉 **[Click here to secure your spot](https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/dev-cloud-developer-day-vienna)** 🎟️ **RSVP now to secure your spot!** \*\*\* If you have any questions feel free to contact us [[hello@happtiq.com](http://hello@happtiq.com/)]. \*\*\*

Welcome to the *Historical and Sociopolitical Circle* part of the Social Book Club! Each month we meet to talk about a book chosen by you! This month’s book is: **Mindf\*ck** by *Christopher Wylie* (\~260 pages). To join, you should have read the book. It's okay if you didn't have the time to finish :) How to get: thalia/amazon/morawa We meet at Hotel Schani Salon in Mariahilferstraße on the 2nd floor (ring the Hotel if the entrance is locked). To support the hotel, you can get drinks there. Book description: *The Cambridge Analytica whistleblower tells the inside story of the data mining and psychological manipulation behind the election of Donald Trump and the Brexit referendum, connecting Facebook, WikiLeaks, Russian intelligence, and international hackers.*

Join us for our regular and casual Friday evening, on playing Padel. We reserve our right to adapt the setup according to the audience level, vibe, health, weather, shape etc SETUP ● 2 courts (2 vs 2), 1 team is rotating or taking a rest court 1: minim 6 players court 2: minim 4 players ● 2 courts - 10-12 people (more players, we make small teams and play shorts, all combination; the hosts have the last word. proposals are welcome) ● The event organisers or experienced player are entitled to send players on the second court ● We are respectfull and warm with each other, our cultural and professional background is diverse. ● New proposals are welcome :). Sometimes we adapt. ● The host toghether with the regular players, can ask new or misbehaved players to step out from the court, in order to maintain the good vibes Price to pay (in cash) (Aprox, for this season, could vary with 1-2 euros) ■ 12 euros for 1h ■ 20 euros for 2h ■ If you need a racket, you can rent it from us for 2 € (if available). Otherwise you can always rent from the venue for 5 €. ■ Cancelation 4-6h, ahead or you pay 12 euros the fee for 1h ● We use the monney to cover the courts rent & subscription for renting, smaller hostings or welcome expenses Important ● New commers, intermediate, out of shape, friendly players are playing on their own risk. If they choose to play with advanced players in a more "competitive" way (hitting the ball in the direction of opponent player is allowed). ● Playing competitive is allowed on the first court ● Playing friendly is our main goal. For this we understand both advanced people, who want to consume their energy, and the social people who play for fun. Please collaborate on the court and don't go to advanced court if you are injured or recovering from illness. ● Please anounce the hosts and/or the players on your court, if you have some injuries or specific conditions. ● We love to play social and all levels. ● Be welcoming with newcomers ● Once you know us (couple of games together), You are welcome to hang out with us, even when you can't play.

# Agentic AI Open Air Summer Meetup A relaxed summer evening directly at the Danube 🌅 Join us for open discussions around the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, AI Agents, and Agentic AI — from emerging trends and real-world use cases to the opportunities and challenges of autonomous AI systems. Whether you are a developer, founder, investor, student, or simply curious about AI — everyone is welcome. The venue offers a true summer atmosphere in the heart of Vienna: Open-air beach bar, sand, hammocks, deck chairs, DJ sessions, and international food options right by the water. 📍 Location Strandbar Herrmann Herrmannpark, 1030 Vienna 📅 Date Friday, June 19, 2026 🕔 Time 18:00 Table Reservation A large table has been reserved under the name "ED PRINZ". If you cannot find the table behind the bar area, please ask the bar staff. Important Food and drinks at the venue are self-paid. I will bring some mini snacks and a few special drinks for the community. Looking forward to a relaxed evening filled with great conversations, networking, AI discussions, and summer vibes by the river. *** # Agentic AI Open Air Summer Meetup Ein entspannter Sommerabend direkt an der Donau 🌅 Gemeinsam sprechen wir über die neuesten Entwicklungen rund um Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, AI Agents und Agentic AI – von aktuellen Trends und praktischen Anwendungen bis hin zu den Chancen und Herausforderungen autonomer KI Systeme. Egal ob Entwickler, Unternehmer, Investor, Student oder einfach AI interessiert: Jeder ist willkommen. Die Location bietet echtes Summer Feeling mitten in Wien: Sandstrand, Hängematten, Liegestühle, Open Air Atmosphäre, DJ Sessions und internationales Food Angebot direkt am Wasser. 📍 Location Strandbar Herrmann Herrmannpark, 1030 Wien 📅 Datum Freitag, 19. Juni 2026 🕔 Uhrzeit 18:00 Uhr Tischreservierung Für unsere Gruppe wurde ein großer Tisch auf den Namen "ED PRINZ" reserviert. Falls ihr den Tisch hinter dem Barbereich nicht findet, fragt bitte einfach beim Barpersonal nach. Wichtig Die Konsumation vor Ort zahlt jeder selbst. Ich bringe kleine Snacks sowie einige Special Drinks für die Community mit. Ich freue mich auf einen entspannten Abend mit spannenden Gesprächen, Networking, AI Diskussionen und sommerlicher Atmosphäre direkt am Wasser. *** ## Note By attending the event, you consent to being photographed in accordance with § 78 Austrian Copyright Act (Urheberrechtsgesetz). Photos and video recordings may be used by DLT Austria for post-event reporting and published on DLT Austria communication channels, including the website, LinkedIn, Instagram, newsletters, and other media formats, without compensation.

**How we play**? Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced Players are welcome. Number of courts depends on the number of players. * 4-5 players: one court * 8-10 players: two courts **Price** * 18-20 € for 2 hours depending on number of players * I use the money to cover the costs for the court, balls and rackets. * You can pay via Revolut, PayPal, instant Bank Transfer or Cash. I prefer transfer over cash. **Equipment** * I provide balls (usually Bullpadel Next) * If you need a racket, you can rent it from me for 2 € (limited number available). You can also rent a racket from the venue for 4 € **Cancellation** * Please cancel at least 10h before the event, to give people on the wait list the chance to jump in. Otherwise a late cancellation fee of 10 € must be paid. * Cancel at least 26h before the event in case the wait list is empty. Otherwise a late cancellation fee will be charged * Late Cancellation fees will be donated to Médecins Sans Frontières (Ärzte ohne Grenzen). * I understand that sometimes unexpected things can come up. However, not showing up and failing to let me know is considered disrespectful and goes against the community spirit. People doing uncommented no-shows have to pay the full event fee. **Important** * Playing competitive is allowed (Smashing balls, hitting balls close to opponent player etc.) * We still value fair play and sportsmanship. * Having fun together is way more important as winning. **Other information** * We are respectful and warm with each other. Our cultural and professional background is diverse * The host or regular players can ask misbehaving players to step out from the court * The venue has changing rooms and showers free of charge (for the lockers you have to bring your own padlock) * If you have questions, you can send me a message any time. I speak german too.

We will meet in a calm and friendly place ( Parc, Café, Restaurant) to explore together some of Jiddu Krishnamurti’s key questions about awareness, relationship, and freedom. There will be no teaching, no authority — only open dialogue and attentive listening. Everyone is welcome, whether you are familiar with Jiddu Krishnamurti or simply curious about life and self-understanding. We’ll start with an open conversation around a theme such as “Listening without judgment” or “Can thought bring clarity?” Please bring openness, curiosity, and a readiness to listen — no books or notes needed. The spirit is not to discuss “what should be,” but to observe together “what is.”

CX Afterhours is a new, intimate gathering for customer experience practitioners in Vienna — no panels, no pitches, no name-tags doing the talking for you. Just CX people from across industries in one room, comparing how they tackle the same customer challenges from very different angles. For our first edition, we're joined by **Barbara Böck, Head of CX at Wüstenrot**, with a talk on: **"From Criticism to Competitive Advantage: How authentic customer insights and critical voices become a central lever for data-driven growth."** We measure experience more than ever and arguably understand it less. Barbara makes the case that the customer who complains is the one who still cares — and that the feedback nobody wants to hear can be your strongest, most honest growth signal, if you know what to do with it. After the talk: open conversation, drinks, and the kind of exchange that's hard to find when you're the only "CX person" on your team. Expect a small, deliberately cross-industry group — banking, insurance, retail, and beyond. Arrive b 6:30pm

This is a group for meeting new people, eating brunch, and having discussions about science, life, philosophy, politics, and people. Anybody is free to join, and we charge no fees. This discussion group aims to have the absolute minimal level of structure necessary to ensure the conversation remains engaging to the majority of people present. In particular, we \*don't\* have fixed order of speaking or timed statements. So far, the balance we've struck is enforcing hand raising when conversation gets intense in order to minimize interruption, and to give the chair (me!) the power to occasionally call a snap election on the conversation topic.

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle. **Optional topic for this meetup: Where is everybody?** In 1950 the physicist Enrico Fermi was talking about aliens over lunch and asked a question that still has not gone away: if the universe is so vast and so old, and even a fraction of those billions of stars have planets, where is everyone? By the numbers the galaxy should be crowded with civilizations. Instead we look up and hear silence. That gap between "they should be everywhere" and "we see no one" is the Fermi Paradox. One of the most unsettling answers is the idea of a **Great Filter**: somewhere on the road from dead chemistry to a galaxy-spanning civilization, there is at least one step that is almost impossible to get past. Maybe the filter is behind us. Maybe life starting at all, or simple cells becoming complex, or intelligence ever evolving, is the freak accident, and we already cleared the hard part. Or maybe the filter is ahead of us, and advanced civilizations reliably wipe themselves out before they spread. Here is the part that messes with people. If we ever found life somewhere else, even pond scum on Mars, most people would call it the greatest discovery in history. But it might be the worst possible news. It would mean life is common, the early steps are easy, and the hard step is still in front of us. So the eerie silence overhead might actually be the best sign we could ask for. **Questions to wrestle with:** * Is it better to be alone? Would you rather we find alien life and learn we are not special, or find nothing and quietly improve our odds of surviving? * Where do you bet the filter sits, behind us or ahead of us, and why? * If it is ahead of us, what is it? Nuclear war, climate collapse, AI, something we cannot even picture yet? And can we do anything about a filter we cannot see coming? * Two principles pull opposite ways here. The principle of mediocrity (the Copernican principle, Sagan's "no privileged place in the universe") says we are ordinary, so what happened on Earth probably happened everywhere, which makes the silence scream louder. The anthropic principle says of course we find ourselves somewhere life was possible, since we could not observe anything else, so our being here may say almost nothing about how common life is. Which lens do you trust, and does the silence still demand an answer once you account for observer selection? * And if we did confirm life out there and had to accept we are not special, what would that do to belief in a higher power, and would shedding (or keeping) that belief help or hurt our odds of pulling together as one species? * Does any of this change how you live, or how humanity should be spending its time and money right now? As always the prompt is optional. Come for the conversation, stay for the drinks, and bring your own questions.

Start your week the right way with Manic Mondays. Giving you an enjoyable Bachata lesson with a push of cool moves. The second hour has Beginner/Intermediate Salsa on 1. You must understand basic Salsa skills to participate. 730pm-830pm Bachata Cool Moves 830pm-930pm Salsa On 1 (Beginner/Intermediate) 15 for One Class 20 for Both Free Parking & Plenty of Dance Space. Viva Dance Columbus 2809 Festival Lane Dublin OH 43017

We're going to GameArena! We'll be in-person at the GameArena Gateway for our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event. Come to play and showcase your games! We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor. Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required). [www.game-arena.co](http://www.game-arena.co/) **Attendees:** Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games is all the better! **Developers:** Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available. Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers. For this event, light snacks from the bar and water will be provided! Though you can purchase you own if you like at the bar: [https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu) Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out. 75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 [https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9) If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)

Join us as we discuss our June pick: Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider! Book description: Even though she's not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true. Brynn's loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who's taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn's connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she's been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart. Packed with knife fights and seafaring adventure, METAL SLINGER is the smash-hit start to the romantic fantasy duology, the Fire & Metal series

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

Evolve exists to provide a welcoming place for professional women to create an authentic community, deeper connections, and confident growth through networking and workshop events. No cliques, no judgement. **Shades of Sisterhood** is a space for women to grow from the inside out through meaningful conversations, personal development, mindset growth, and courageous self-awareness. These gatherings are designed to create deeper connection, expand perspective, and encourage women to become healthier, stronger, and more aligned versions of themselves — both personally and professionally. Through honest dialogue, shared experiences, and intentional conversations around identity, leadership, confidence, relationships, emotional resilience, and growth, women are invited into a supportive environment where they can learn, reflect, heal, and evolve together. This is not about perfection, hustle culture, or surface-level positivity. It is about creating a safe space for women to have real conversations, challenge limiting beliefs, grow in self-awareness, and step more confidently into who they were created to become. At its core, Shades of Sisterhood exists to remind women that growth starts within — and no woman has to navigate that journey alone. Guests are always welcome. We'd love to meet you! **[Click here to join the call!](https://zoom.us/j/7894682064)** \*\*Evolve Women's Network is a membership based networking group. You can find more information at [www.EvolveWomensNetwork.com](https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.EvolveWomensNetwork.com&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0UekYvD4PoVa7WUlFFVHyp). Feel welcome to be our guest anytime!

**Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). Topic: This month Chris Pazsint will be talking about Agentic Coding. How does one use CLI Based Agents, and Agentic IDEs such as Cursor, Kiro, Antigravity? How to include agentic coding plugins for IDEs you already love such as Visual Studio Code. We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact Central OH Python at centralohpython@gmail.com