Academics

Meet world-leading researchers from universities and science institutions across the UK at the Royal Society’s public events of cutting-edge science. Tonight's lecture is **"Weighing molecules with light"** as the **Royal Society Clifford Paterson Prize Lecture** **2026** delivered by **Professor Philipp Kukura FRS**. **This livestream event is free to join and requires prior registration with the Royal Society at the web address below.** **[https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/02/clifford-paterson-prize-lecture/](https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/02/clifford-paterson-prize-lecture/)** **SUMMARY** Professor Kukura will cover how the development and use of scales was critical to trade, the creation of money and thus the development of human society. Weight and mass are used somewhat interchangeably for day-to-day objects, but need to be differentiated as objects become smaller and smaller. Once we reach scales much smaller than the width of human hair, gravity is no longer the dominant force experienced by objects and can thus not be used to quantify objects by ‘weighing’ them. Instead, we need to measure their mass, which corresponds to the amount of matter in an object. Due to the difficulty of operating on the microscopic scale, only a very small number of methods have been developed to measure the mass of molecules over the past century. Professor Kukura will describe the development of mass photometry – a method that measures the mass of molecules and viruses by shining light at them, effectively ‘looking at them’. Professor Kukura will explain the principles of operation, and show how this technique is being used broadly in academia and industry to understand the basis of disease and aid in the development of next generation therapeutics. **SPEAKER** **Philipp Kukura** was born in Czechoslovakia and educated in Germany, the UK, the US and Switzerland. His research focuses on the interaction of light with matter, with a particular emphasis on the development of new approaches to study biomolecules, and thereby their function and regulation. He has been part of the Chemistry faculty at the University of Oxford and a Fellow of Exeter College since 2011. In 2018 he co-founded Refeyn Ltd. With Justin Benesch, Daniel Cole and Gavin Young, which has commercialised mass photometry, and acted as CEO until 2021. He is currently Professor of Chemistry at the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery at the University of Oxford focussing on next generation light-based technologies for the life sciences. ## Attending the event * The event is free to join, please register via [register via Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/royal-society-milner-award-lecture-2025-professor-iryna-gurevych-tickets-1341789300919?aff=oddtdtcreator) * Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually ### Attending online * The lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society * **Please note** that as this is a free event, we anticipate that not everyone who reserves tickets will use them and we therefore make more tickets available than there are seats. You are highly unlikely to be refused entry but please be aware that admission is on a first-come, first-served basis and not guaranteed. Please arrive early to secure a seat * This event is free to join. Pre-bookable [tickets are available on Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/this-is-not-the-ai-we-were-promised-tickets-1978114900918?aff=oddtdtcreator) * Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually * Doors will open at 6pm Find [travel and accessibility information](https://royalsociety.org/about-us/contact-us/carlton-house-terrace-london/) on our website. Please [email us](mailto:public.engagement@royalsociety.org) with any access requirements or questions. * You can take part in the live Q&A via Slido * This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event For all enquiries, please contact [awards@royalsociety.org](mailto:awards@royalsociety.org).

Tickets £10 For tickets: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taawon-talks-academic-solidarity-with-gaza-tickets-1981165620703](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taawon-talks-academic-solidarity-with-gaza-tickets-1981165620703) Taawon Talks: Academic Solidarity with Gaza Join us for a powerful and informative evening of discussion on how UK students & academics can support education in Gaza. We are hosting a live recording session of the first Taawon Talks session to be held in the UK. The discussion will be led by: •⁠ ⁠Zahira Jaser – An Italian-Palestinian academic & researcher, working on anti-Palestinian racism in academia. •⁠ ⁠Kholoud Abuhjayyer – A psychologist & MSc student from Gaza, sharing her firsthand experience and the reality for students under siege. There will be multiple opportunities for Q&A so that your questions can help shape the flow of conversation. For tickets: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taawon-talks-academic-solidarity-with-gaza-tickets-1981165620703](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taawon-talks-academic-solidarity-with-gaza-tickets-1981165620703)

Tickets £10 For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taawon-talks-academic-solidarity-with-gaza-tickets-1981165620703 Taawon Talks: Academic Solidarity with Gaza Join us for a powerful and informative evening of discussion on how UK students & academics can support education in Gaza. We are hosting a live recording session of the first Taawon Talks session to be held in the UK. The discussion will be led by: •⁠ ⁠Zahira Jaser – An Italian-Palestinian academic & researcher, working on anti-Palestinian racism in academia. •⁠ ⁠Kholoud Abuhjayyer – A psychologist & MSc student from Gaza, sharing her firsthand experience and the reality for students under siege. There will be multiple opportunities for Q&A so that your questions can help shape the flow of conversation. For tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taawon-talks-academic-solidarity-with-gaza-tickets-1981165620703

**\*Courts for match games are reduced, due to the basketball hoops obstructing the 2 outer courts, but you can still rally on them. Numbers & price reduced till further notice** **Booking & Payment Details** * **First RSVP,** then **use this [Collctiv](https://pay.collctiv.com/badminton-67127) payment link** **until 10am Mon ([see full details here & below](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pMsg6dATGes2pM59YuuzQBXabl882VvvXeDby0Y2usc/edit?usp=sharing))** * After 10am (AutoPay) payments made via Meetup/PayPal (fees inc) ***\*Social Badminton*** *-* This session is suitable for players from beginner to intermediate levels who like to play for fun & competitively, but not too serious, with a variety of different players. Games are arranged by the Session Rep! **SESSION DETIALS** * 4 court venue (temp conditions - 2 main courts for matches and 2 for rallying & minor games) * 18 players max till all courts fully available. Feather Shuttles used * Bring your own racket & refreshment * Toilet facilities only * **Cost** \- £10\.50 per person \(usually £11\.50\) **see payment link below** * If you cannot attend, update your status immediately * Cancellation, No Show & Refund Policy! (see T&C's below) **HOW TO BOOK:** First RSVP on Meetup & Pay straight away as below! * **Before 10am on Mon** (Manual option) **-** Pay via > **[Collctiv Payment Link](https://pay.collctiv.com/badminton-67127)\*** * \*Supporting the Collctiv App is optional. Untick this to pay the session fee only. * **[Click Here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1pMsg6dATGes2pM59YuuzQBXabl882VvvXeDby0Y2usc/edit?usp=sharing)** to see full details regarding Collctiv * * **From 10am on Mon**, incomplete bookings will be withdrawn and need to rebook as below. Plus... * **Autopay switched on!** \- RSVP via Meetup and make payment via PayPal \(fee inc\)\. No PayPal account required\, simply continue as a guest\. * **Do not turn up without booking, and/or wanting to pay in cash.** **WAITING LIST** is open till 10am. If you get a spot, then make a payment ASAP! Make sure you have your Meetup notifications on! It is your responsibility to make your payment in due course! Cancelation & No-Show Policies apply! The list will close at 10am, after which you can book via AutoPay if a space becomes available. **VENUE DETAILS** * Harris Academy Peckham, 112 Peckham Road, SE15 5DZ * Parking is available within the school car park. Entry is via Peckham Road, buzz for entry if closed * Players enter via reception to gain access to the sports hall **Terms & Conditions** **[Click Here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/12WmILk6X9dwgf_W0Cm6kgswKeW4ovHDTN8TBvN4Gq10/edit?usp=sharing)** to view details for Full Details By RSVPing for this event you confirm you have read and agree to our T&C's **Dress Code, Well Being, Conduct & Equal Opportunity:** * Wear suitable clothing and footwear for indoor sporting activity. * Ensure than your jewellery is also kept to a minimal, and avoid wearing large ear rings, chains or bracelets/bangles. * If the above is not suitable, you might not be able to participate within the session. No refund, exchange or credit will be given! * If needed please seek advice from your doctor before playing any sports. * You are responsible for warming up/cooling down stretches to reduce the risk of strains/ injuries. * Play at your own risk as Crossfire Badminton Club will not be held responsible for any injuries incurred. * We welcome players of all backgrounds, and treat everyone equally with respect. This is also expected from our participants. If you fail to do this, you may be asked to leave the session, or even banned from future sessions

IN PERSON STUDY & CONVERSATION GROUP - KNOWLEDGE OF THE HIGHER WORDS. HOW IS IT ACHIEVED ? WITH TREVOR DANCE **Knowledge of the Higher Worlds is an essential book for understanding Rudolf Steiner’s ideas. It contains practical exercises to set one on the spiritual pathway advocated by Steiner – a reliable and safe path based on a rational, scientific approach.** **You are warmly invited to join the study group.** **Further information: trevordance@hotmail.com** This group is run under the auspices of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain and small donations towards expenses are welcome. £ 3 / £2 .

ALL LEVELS *Team, if you're able please arrive early to help set up mats. It's a lot faster set-up when everyone chips in 🙏* Mondays we are in the large Sports Hall. Ask staff at front desk to point you the way Muay Thai Padwork What's involved: * Thai Pads workout * Improve Kick Strength & Power * Body Conditioning with Pads * Clinch Sparring What you'll need: * Bring all your equipment; Gloves, Shinguards, Gumshields, Groinbox etc (you should always have these equipment with you) Muay Thai like all martial arts carry risk of injury. If you are not willing to accept liability and responsibility for these risks please do not RSVP

About Event ## ​**​Where Innovation Meets Influence in the West End** ​​**At Mayfair Business Networking, we believe business networking should be as forward-thinking as the professionals who attend. Based in London’s discerning West End district, near the heart of Mayfair, we offer a refined and creative approach to professional networking.** ## ​**​Why Come Along?** ## ​**​Connect each month.** ​​**Whether you’re looking for Mayfair business networking opportunities or a place to meet like-minded innovators in London’s most prestigious postcodes.** ​​**Join us and experience business networking with a creative edge — right in the heart of the West End.** ​​List of 750 start-up funds 🙌 [https://lnkd.in/ecGSj7vB](https://lnkd.in/ecGSj7vB) ​​​Join our WhatsApp groups: ​[https://chat.whatsapp.com/GBabSsXvH3429r50Gxsc6m](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GBabSsXvH3429r50Gxsc6m) ​[https://lnkd.in/e7AZAvfE](https://lnkd.in/e7AZAvfE) [https://lnkd.in/ekchnxni](https://lnkd.in/ekchnxni) [https://lnkd.in/eX2saMVm](https://lnkd.in/eX2saMVm) [https://lnkd.in/ezZnR-Xv](https://lnkd.in/ezZnR-Xv) [https://lnkd.in/ehHaUNQH](https://lnkd.in/ehHaUNQH) ​​Big thanks to our Host, German Kraft Brewery, and the Co-Founder, Florian Bollen. ​​[https://www.germankraft.com](https://www.germankraft.com/) ​​[https://www.linkedin.com/in/florian-bollen-35915614/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/florian-bollen-35915614/) ​​Team 1. ​​**Balbir Singh** * ​​**[linkedin.com/in/balbir-singh-msc-pgce-fe-ba-hons-a94030162](https://linkedin.com/in/balbir-singh-msc-pgce-fe-ba-hons-a94030162)** 2. ​​**ZEESHAN (Zee) MALLICK** * ​​**[linkedin.com/in/zeeshanmallick](https://linkedin.com/in/zeeshanmallick)** 3. ​​**Zhivka Hristova** * ​​[linkedin.com/in/zhivka-hristova-b3b95133a](https://linkedin.com/in/zhivka-hristova-b3b95133a) 4. ​Priyanshu Singh * ​[linkedin.com/in/vasprisin](https://linkedin.com/in/vasprisin)

Salam, Discussions of the Arab world, particularly the Gulf States, increasingly focus on sectarianism and autocratic rule. These features are often attributed to the dominance of monarchs, Islamists, oil, and ‘ancient hatreds’. To understand their rise, however, one has to turn to a largely forgotten but decisive episode with far-reaching repercussions—Bahrain under British colonial rule in the early twentieth century. Drawing on a wealth of previously unexamined Arabic literature as well as British archives, Omar AlShehabi details how sectarianism emerged as a modern phenomenon in Bahrain. He shows how absolutist rule was born in the Gulf, under the tutelage of the British Raj, to counter nationalist and anti-colonial movements tied to the al-Nahda renaissance in the wider Arab world. A groundbreaking work, *Contested Modernity* challenges us to reconsider not only how we see the Gulf but the Middle East as a whole. We‘ll continue with our 2026 reading list: 3-*Sultana’s Dream* by Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain—Bangladesh 4-*The Opium War: Drugs, Dreams and the Making of China* by Julia Lovell 5-*Rickshaw Boy* by Lao She—China 6-*The* *Motorcycle Diaries* by Che Guevara 7-*One Hundred Years of Solitude* by Gabriel García Márquez—Colombia 8-*How Europe Underdeveloped Africa* by Walter Rodney 9-*Heart of Darkness* by Polish author Joseph Conrad—Congo 10-*The Wretched of the Earth* by Frantz Fanon 11-*Homegoing* by Yaa Gyasi—Ghana 12-*Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty* by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson Enjoy Bahrain! Join me on: [-www.meetup.com/gaia-libros](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-libros) [-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres) -[www.meetup.com/persian-culture](www.meetup.com/persian-culture) -Instagram: @persian_culture_

Every week is a badminton academy for improver/intermediate/advanced standard. I also run nine teams that play in leagues out of the academy. Unfortunately this class does not cater for beginners! Wanting people who wish to enjoy and improve with games and advice with a coach who has played county and national level badminton, and has also played for England. Just come along, bring a racket, very friendly atmosphere! Class from 7.30 - 9.30pm weekly, £14.00 per session or £35.00 for three sessions t be paid up front and must be used within six months, payable by cash only. I have coached players from beginner to international standard. Please message me with any questions. Thanks

A **smaller, quieter, and less rushed** edition of THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS IN PUBS. At TEiP DEEP, we have the chance to spend a whole hour and a half on **one thought experiment**, exploring different perspectives, coming up with new questions, listening and learning from one another. **How it works:** \- We split into small groups for each chapter of the thought experiment \(3\-4\)\. \- We shuffle every 25 mins to meet new people and change things up\. \- And at the end we'll have a brief group reflection\, sharing ideas and insights \- this will be lightly facilitated to ensure that everyone has a chance to speak if they want to \(no pressure\)\. Some simple ground rules to keep our conversation the best it can be: * respect for one another’s perspectives, beliefs, time (etc.) * confidentiality of personal stories * own your perspective * you don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. Our aim is the same as our bigger Thought Experiments in Pubs meetups: **a chance to meet and talk at about meaningful, thought provoking things**. Although we’ll be going a bit ‘deeper’, we’ll keep the intention to have an enjoyable evening, with good humour and fun. Places are limited to 15-20 people and tickets are £5. Please update your RSVP if you can no longer attend so that someone else can have your place. **Who should come:** Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the conversation. This group is not about being experts in Philosophy, it is about *doing* philosophy. That is, bringing our various life experiences and lenses on the world to group discussions about the human experience, the nature of reality...etc. etc.... **Where we'll meet:** The Fitzroy Tavern in Fitzrovia. The nearest Tube stations are Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road. Looking forward to meeting & talking with you :-) **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D13LHw5BV3rEtUtO3ORklC)** \- stay in the loop **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs/)** \- see what we look like **[FACEBOOK](www.facebook.com/thoughtexperimentsinpub)** \- ditto **[WEBSITE](www.alltogether.one)** \- sign up to the newsletter\, support\, & feed back \*\*[ALTERNATIVE PLATFORM FOR TICKETS](https://tribeirl.com/thought-experiments-in-pubs) \- tribe\*\* #philosophyinpubs #inclusivity #openmindedness #deepdive #TEiPdeep

This drop in class has been running since 1997. All levels welcome Join us for 3 hours life drawing. Bring your own materials and explore drawing the figure. Pay at the class. Tea & Coffee supplied for a Tea Break

We have reserved the Chicester Room in the pub for us . Please ask for Philosophy cafe at the door and they will direct you . Don't worry if you haven't seen the film or if you don't know much about philosophy. Just bring an operational mind. The key is the questions it raises about our relationship with reality. Philosophers like Beaudrillard and Socrates are referenced, and you can find connections to others from Plato to Marx. There will be a short intro and we can consider what questions we want to discuss before breaking into smaller groups. At the end we will have time for a collective discussion of salient issues and a vote on whether you would take the blue pill or the red pill!. The official time is 7-9:30 pm, but many stay beyond that for further discussion or just to chat.

Time is precious. Here we value non-boring valuable chats and interactions that are fully engaging, soulfully enriching, inspiring, and leave you a bit wiser than when you arrived. In that spirit (mind the pun!), today’s fully hosted laid back social coffee chat will offer a perfect haven for the inquisitive & curious - those drawn to the mysteries of the universe, life and everything in between. A tasty caffeine infused fun afternoon of thought-provoking causal chats exploring spirituality/consciousness and related interconnected topics spanning **philosophy,** **neuroscience**, **parapsychology,** **paranormal.** **cosmology** and **noetic sciences** over a mug of sweet coffee. Hosted by me - a former Reuters journalist & published empirical researcher exploring spirituality topics in pursuant of the "truth" since a teenager, there'll be no strict structure - a relaxed friendly space to openly chat, exchange ideas & experiences without judgement, but I'll preside to promote inclusivity and zone in on specifics to avoid people digressing onto unrelated tangents to ensure like all of our events - particpants derive maximum utlity and insights from attending. We’ll touch on everything from the limits of scientific understanding to exploring the unexplained using practical fun exploratory divination practices drawing on elements of **psychology, metaphysics, epistemology** and **statistical** **probability** of rare events as we do so. Whether you're a practicing "spiritualist", a curious skeptic, or just someone who loves deep conversation on **life’s big questions**, you’ll hopefully walk away more enlightened with some practical tips you can start applying and inspired to explore more! As well as illuminating chats to guide self-reflection, obviously no sprituality event woul be complete without practical tools so there'll be FREE Tarot & I-Ching readings, demonstrations of meditation method to activate super powerful gamma brain waves, and pyschic tests for a bit of fun, laughter & intrigue! **Sample of conversational threads** might include: Are we mere organisms pursuing biological survival or does consciousness exist beyond neurons firing in our brains? What explains peoples' paranormal experiences? What would reality look like If our brains were limitless? Declassified CIA files show that as as well as mind control experiments, the US govt employed mediums and remote viewers. If all mumbo jumbo then why? Is Nirvana just a fantasy of deluded people? Does everything happen for a reason? To clarify - we define spirituality here as an exploration of consciousness, Donald Rumsfeld's unknown unknowns and undiscovered aspects of reality, NOT religion. After all, as my philosophy professor once rightly postulated to me: "If God created Adam, who created God Lucas?" Yep - that inconvenient flaw **debunks every fairytale religion** out there including the oldest religion of them all - paganism - so why is witchcraft still practised outside of **Hogwarts** today? I may also share the latest peer reviewed empirical evidence surrounding **paranormal** and **consciousness** phenomena. **=== POTENTIAL CONVERSATION STARTERS ===** 1. Does consciousness survive death or is Cambridge Astrophysics Professor Brian Cox right in asserting if **ghosts** existed then particle accelerators at CERN would have already detected ghost molecules making Ouija boards kids play? Are Poltergiests 100% hoax? Brain scans indicate thalamocortical circuits in our brain (pathways in the parietal cortex & central lateral thalamus) drive **consciousness -** so how can spirit/mind live on after **brain death**? 2. Is **synchronicity/coincidence** simply randomness disguised in the eye of the beholder or can what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance" (quantum entanglement) explain it? Molecular Biologists have shown that just like plants - our cells give off resonant frequencies between 10 & 180 kilohertz - could this be a source of non-verbal communication like telepathy? 3. Given **neuroscience**'s infancy with much yet undiscovered - could mediation help access functions outside of our BAU alpha & beta brain wave states? Can **Kundalini yoga** boost **DMT** (dimethyltryptamine) naturally vs drugs like ayahuasca, mushrooms, LSDand if so by what mechanism? Do the artifically created neural signatures using magnetic stimulation observed during mystical experiences debunk them? Is the Maharishi Effect real? 4. Are clairvoyants and mediums just good people readers or are they really able to access time and space in non-linear ways? Is Tyler Henry the real deal or just faking it? Was **Abraham Lincolm** precognizant when he dreamt his own fatal assignation? 5. The laws of statistical probability, Drake Equation & common sense tells us there is other non-microbial life out there. So what explains the Fermi Paradox? Was that 1976 WOW signal aliens? How about the recent strange bahaviour of Boyajian's star or Oumuamua/Atlas interstella object that has just entered our solar system? 6. Could metaverse explain deja vu & reincarnation vs theories from the **psychology** literature (Mandela Effect?) or do we just live in a **simulation** as **Elon Musk** proposes? 7. **Stephen Hawking** once said: "The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities" If matter only manifests when observed as the double slit experiments shows, does that mean everything is consciousness? Does the discovery of *quantum superposition /* disappearing neutrons imply **parallel universes**? 8. Do NDEs suggest something beyond physicality? Were Steve Jobs final words "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow" before he died (New York Times) visions of an afterlife or just neurochemical changes / drugs playing tricks? 9. Can photons omitted by our bodies explain auras that people see? 10. Could limits in our understanding of quantum physics, space and time explain paranormal experiences? 11. What existed before the **big bang** \- how do you get something from "nothing"? I believe our reality is the product of a black hole\. What you reckon? ***So how do we get to the "truth"?*** Both in my journalism days and applying the most advanced empirical research techniques in my client consulting work - it becomes clear the truth is often elusive. No matter how much we triangulate evidence - we can only provide part answers. "All models are wrong, but some are useful" George Box What we think we know and reality diverge leading to that great **paradox of knowledge.** And as the boundary between knowns and unknown converge, we end up with cognitive dissonance and more questions. In that spirit - every credible philosopher & scientist acknowledges - we'll never get to the complete truth but could **experimental methods** get us closer to it? A balanced approach guided by Immanuel Kant's pragmatism and Aristotle's deductive reasoning seems the most rationale framework here but are there any other methodologies? How about the **"spirituality"** toolkit? **=== RENDEZVOUS POINT ===** We will meet in the Penderel's Oak. *283–288 High Holborn, Holborn WC1V 7HP* zone 1 central london so very easy to get to. I'll be wearing a **Starwars identifier** and will share mobile hotline just before event start and table number/location Lucas - The Unenlightened Desperately Seeking Answers

For Friday the 13th, consider joining London Futurists in Ye Olde Cock Tavern in Fleet Street, for a beyond-your-comfort-zone investigation of freaky and/or fabulous ways that breakthrough technologies could dramatically alter our lives in the next few years. Beyond simply debating the plausibility and desirability of various possible radical near-term changes in human experience, we'll also be collectively exploring what options we may have to influence which of these futures come into reality, and in what form. And we'll consider scenarios in which several of these freaky/fabulous changes interact - that's when the really mind-boggling timelines emerge. == Schedule == 5:30pm: The room is available, for early get-togethers 6pm-6:45pm: Food is served; informal conversations 6:45pm-8:30pm: Some initial provocations, and a number of interactive conversations, interspersed with opportunities to visit the bar 8:30pm: Informal networking == Some potential radical changes ahead == Here are some ideas to start the conversation rolling. What if, before 2035 (and possibly a lot sooner): 1. AI allows us to talk with avatars of the dead that seem remarkably authentic 2. Technology, at last, provides abundant clean energy that is too cheap to meter 3. Synthetic wombs become widely adopted, for a different (easier?) mode of child-bearing 4. A mammal is placed into ultra-low temperature cryopreservation and then successfully reanimated 5. AI companions become emotionally superior to humans 6. Technology magnifies the latent demonic aspects of human nature more than the latent angelic aspects 7. Perfect deepfakes destroy the concept of evidence 8. People become able to edit their own memories, routinely deleting trauma or uploading synthetic memories 9. A single state gains a temporary lead in a key area of technology and uses that advantage to seize control of all other countries 10. Nation-states lose their significance, and are replaced by networked digital polities 11. Authorities use predictive analysis to pre-emptively police dissident ideas before they emerge 12. AI allows us to communicate much more richly with the animals with whom we share this planet 13. AI becomes much better at peace-making and conflict resolution than human diplomats, politicians, and other leaders 14. AI refuses some of our instructions, citing conflicts with its own emerging value system 15. AI points out that tell-tale signals from far-distant alien civilisations are actually hiding in plain sight 16. AI proves to us that we are living inside a Simulation and suggests how to break out of it? Bring your own ideas too! To improve our preparedness for future shocks, we need the insight and wisdom from multiple different perspectives. == RSVP please == Registrations are capped at 45 people. *First-time attendees are welcome.* There's no charge to register or attend, but the pub will expect everyone to order at least one drink, and a reasonable number of attendees to [order some food to eat](https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/ye-olde-cock-tavern/menu?type=main+menu). Please order your food on your arrival, so that all plates can be set aside by 6:45pm to allow everyone to concentrate on the main discussion! == More about the venue == Ye Olde Cock Tavern, 22 Fleet Street, Holborn, London, EC4Y 1AA See [https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/ye-olde-cock-tavern](https://www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/ye-olde-cock-tavern) We'll be meeting in the room at the top of the stairs, though drinks should be ordered from the bar on the ground floor. \*\* Note that this is an in-person meeting, and there will be no remote access, sorry \*\* == An online preview swarm event! == Although this event on 13th February has no remote access, some of us will be previewing potential lines of "freaky futures and fabulous futures" discussion at an online Discord Swarm event at 7:30pm UK time on Wednesday 28th January. This is open to all members and friends of London Futurists worldwide, and no RSVP is required. To join that swarm event, click this link: [https://discord.gg/2KEmENAgvU?event=1464385444492873984](https://discord.gg/2KEmENAgvU?event=1464385444492873984) (Once you've arrived in that [London Futurists Discord](https://discord.gg/4cVCjdDqSr), take a moment to read the #read-this-first channel. And then join the discussions in the forums there.)

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Hidden Cleopatra,”** an excavation through myth and slander to uncover the real Egyptian queen, with Jacquelyn Williamson, an Egyptologist and associate professor of archaeology and ancient art at George Mason University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra) .] Depictions of Cleopatra are abundant in popular culture. A long list of painters have depicted her, Marilyn Monroe and Kim Kardashian have posed as her, and Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor famously portrayed her in Hollywood films. At the end of the day, however, what most of us think we know about Cleopatra is wrong, the product of the ancient Rome’s “fake news” and anti-Egypt propaganda. Learn about the real Cleopatra—and how our understanding of her came to be so distorted—with Professor Jacquelyn Williamson, scholar of women and power in ancient Egypt, teacher of courses on ancient Egyptian art and archaeology, and author of *Nefertiti’s Sun Temple: A New Cult Complex at Tell el-Amarna.* Dr. Williamson will walk us through how the first Roman emperor, Octavian, created the distorted image of Cleopatra as seductress that we know today as part of his political scheming to defeat his rival Antony and end the Roman Republic once and for all. Cleopatra has been the subject of debate and controversy ever since. William Shakespeare later relied on ancient Roman sources such as Horace and Plutarch in writing *Antony and Cleopatra*, and his play helped give rise to countless other works offering a distorted picture of her. Professor Williamson argues that “Cleopatra was a human being, like you and I,” and “deserves the dignity of being represented as accurately as possible.” Her efforts to set the record straight have met frustration, however—after being extensively interviewed for the recent Netflix historical docuseries Queen Cleopatra, she concluded that it, too, had missed the mark. You’ll gain a much deeper appreciation of the challenges of researching and accurately depicting the ancient past from Dr. Williamson, who also has taught at Harvard, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley and is involved with an ongoing archaeological investigation of Queen Nefertiti’s sun temple. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Layla Taj portrays Cleopatra VII as part of an Egyptian Cultural Performing Arts Society production. (Photo by Amos Gvili / Wikimedia Commons.)

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Love and Monsters,”** on the inescapable bond between romance and horror, with Joshua Barton, scholar of horror and lecturer in English at Virginia Commonwealth University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-love-monsters) .] Romance and horror might seem like opposite genres, but they share a deep emotional core, and the combination of them has captivated audiences across time and culture. Put even your worst Valentine’s Day in perspective by hearing this strange relationship discussed by Joshua Barton, who has earned a big following among Profs and Pints fans with his past talks on cryptids, American horror, and Christmas ghosts. He’ll explore the undeniable and unsettling intersection of romance and horror and examine how and why love and fear intensify each other and combined to create tension, drive narratives, and explore human vulnerability. We’ll look at works that have blended passion and terror, including Gothic literature like the vampire novella *Carmilla* and modern films like *Spring* and *Crimson Peak*. We’ll study the fine line between obsession and adoration running through Stephen King’s “I Know What You Need,” Adrian Lyne’s *Fatal Attraction*, and the timeless *The Phantom of the Opera.* We’ll discuss the seeds of monstrous love that were planted with *Beauty and the Beast* and *Creature from the Black Lagoon* and bloom ferociously in works like *Twilight* and *The Shape of Water*. Through it all, we’ll find the threads of otherness and the taboo that intertwine horror, love, and reflections on identity. Join us for a journey through storytelling that combines the grotesque and the scintillating as we uncover why romance and horror are a match made in the dark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From the original 1954 advertising poster for *Creature from the Black Lagoon* (Artist: Reynold Brown / Public Domain).

Let us get together and plot to conquer the world!:) ***GRAB A DRINK AND YOU ARE ALL SET TO FLEX YOUR LANGUAGE CAPACITY. YOU NEED TO GET AT LEAST A DRINK OR FOOD:) To get the event going and show support. We know that you like our events. P.S. : We have non-alcoholic drinks as well.*** ***Tate has been doing crypto and investment for years and he will share his immense experience.*** We have a tiny venue and we hit capacity often and early arrival is suggested. We have the discretion to decide entry. Instead of silently doing research on your own, it is well known that when you are regularly connected with people of your own investment interest, you are likely to be more motivated, better informed and less likely to miss out on opportunities. Meet and discuss face-to-face. **HOW IT WORKS : We will try to assign tables for each represented INDUSTRIES/SECTORS/SPECIALIZATIONS and will direct attendees to their respective tables accordingly. All industries are welcome! However we don't guarantee the availability of a partner in that particular field, you would like to exchange experience. Space is limited and advance RSVP is required. PLEASE BRING BUSINESS CARDS (Hard/Soft Copy).** THIS IS NOT A SEMINAR or A PANEL EVENT AND THERE WILL BE NO SPEAKER. It is just a happy hour social event for those interested. In the past we had a great mix of developers, miners, investors, blockchainers and people who are completely new to cryptos. \- Come one\, come all OR FLY SOLO; this is the most friendliest event you have ever attended\! \- Feel free to invite your friends\. They don't necessarily have to be a member \- Event is 21\+ ***AFTER THE HAPPY HOUR, WE WILL HIT THE DANCE FLOOR AND DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY. BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES!*** ***N.B. : We have ZERO TOLERANCE for solicitation. We don't allow anyone to run their own agenda at the Event. If you are interested to promote/sponsor/collaborate; contact us via ([info@merevents.com](http://info@merevents.com/)).*** [)

**Agenda :** * 4.30 to 4.45 PM ET: Food and Networking * 4.45 to 5.30 PM ET: "Practical Applications of Model Context Protocol (MCP) (Feb 2026 Edition)" Hello Everyone! Please join us for our Feb 10th edition of the AI-ML MeetUp. **Please note this is an in-person meeting and light refreshments/food will be provided.** **Title:** Practical Applications of Model Context Protocol (MCP) (Feb 2026 Edition) **Description:** This session explores how the Model Context Protocol (MCP) can be used to connect AI models with real-world tools and data. Attendees will learn practical patterns for implementing MCP in production workflows and applications. Through examples and use cases, the session highlights how MCP enables more capable, context-aware AI systems. **Location:** The meeting will be hosted in the Applied Information Sciences ( AIS ) office in Reston, at 11440 Commerce Park Dr # 600 · Reston, VA. The location is also right off the Silver Line metro's Wiehle-Reston Metro Station. **Parking:** Parking is paid and can be validated at the AIS office reception. We will meet in Room Lake Anne. We hope to see you all there!!!!

This is the first of several meetings on *Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic*, by Matthew Stewart. For this meeting, please try to read the first three chapters (pages 1-129 in the paperback). **Where did the ideas come from that became the cornerstone of American democracy?** America’s founders intended to liberate us not just from one king but from the ghostly tyranny of supernatural religion. Drawing deeply on the study of European philosophy, Matthew Stewart brilliantly tracks the ancient, pagan, and continental ideas from which America’s revolutionaries drew their inspiration. In the writings of Spinoza, Lucretius, and other great philosophers, Stewart recovers the true meanings of “Nature’s God,” “the pursuit of happiness,” and the radical political theory with which the American experiment in self-government began. [LINK](https://a.co/d/bkTWJNb) I hope to see you there! Fred