Cognitive Science

**Freedom: Self-Determination, Responsibility, and Human Dignity** Freedom is one of the most important concepts of human life, political philosophy, ethics, and modern law. It does not simply mean doing whatever one wants. Rather, freedom refers to the ability of human beings to make choices, shape their lives, and act as self-determining and responsible persons. To speak about freedom is therefore to speak about autonomy, dignity, rights, responsibility, justice, and the real conditions that make human action possible. Historically and philosophically, freedom has often been understood in different ways. One important meaning is negative freedom. This means freedom from external coercion, oppression, violence, arbitrary state power, and unjust interference. In this sense, a person is free when others do not prevent them from thinking, speaking, moving, believing, or living according to their own choices. Negative freedom is central to human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of individual life. Another important meaning is positive freedom. This refers not only to being free from interference, but also to being able to determine one’s own life consciously and responsibly. A person is truly free when they can reflect on their desires, understand their choices, develop their abilities, and act according to their own reasoned decisions. For this reason, freedom is closely connected to education, self-awareness, moral responsibility, and personal development. However, freedom cannot be understood only as an individual right. It always exists in relation to other people. My freedom must be compatible with the freedom and dignity of others. Therefore, freedom requires responsibility, respect, and limits. A free society is not a society without rules, but a society in which rules protect equal freedom for all. Law can restrict freedom, but it can also secure freedom by protecting people from violence, domination, discrimination, and injustice. Freedom also depends on social conditions. A person may formally have rights, but still lack real freedom because of poverty, lack of education, discrimination, social exclusion, economic dependency, or fear. For this reason, freedom is not only about what people are legally allowed to do, but also about whether they actually have the resources, opportunities, and recognition needed to act freely. Real freedom requires both legal protection and social possibility. Today, freedom is challenged by many modern problems: inequality, digital surveillance, algorithmic control, economic pressure, political polarization, war, insecurity, and the constant demand for productivity and self-optimization. Modern societies often give people many choices, but these choices can also create pressure, anxiety, dependency, and loss of attention. Freedom can be limited not only by open coercion, but also by invisible forms of control, social expectations, and technological influence. Freedom also has everyday and existential dimensions. It appears in the ability to have time, space, privacy, silence, rest, attention, bodily security, and the possibility of beginning again. A person is not only free when they can act, but also when they can think, pause, refuse, make mistakes, remain imperfect, and protect their inner life from constant pressure and visibility. This discussion invites a critical exploration of freedom as a moral, political, legal, social, and personal reality. Freedom is not the absence of all limits, but the ability to live consciously and responsibly within the conditions of human life. Freedom is not only what people are allowed to do; it is also the dignity, responsibility, and real possibility they need in order to shape their lives. *** 📅 Event Details 🗓️ Date: Saturday, 13 Juni 2026 ⏰ Time: 14:30 📍 Location: Hardenbergstraße 10, 10623 Berlin 📱 WhatsApp: For prep materials and directions (Group Chat) [Group Chat Bio KI](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ba8ZAaH2Yuk6FGmD3LLO7H)

Are you ready for an experiment? Let’s mix some cutting-edge science with hilarious improv. Come watch a team of Berlin’s funniest improv nerds and science affiliates deconstruct a real scientific talk from a real scientific person and turn it into... well, Laughing Matter. Come join in the fun and leave the venue knowing more about one or two particular scientific fields of research than you did before. Unless you are a scientist, then we can’t guarantee you won’t somehow know less. Doors: 19:30 Show: 20:00 Tix: https://www.improvworksberlin.com/shows

Meet, Match, MoveOn and Manage or Master Why Meet 1)Meet new People Culture Languages. 2)Not Match Romance, Political Views nor Religion, only Respect and Joy 3) Moveon, advance with your level, goals, and especially share and try Rotate the groups and let others participate a bit. 4) Master the challenges, and Manage to give a Like or appreciate the meetups!! **Thematic** or small Concept: Manage to Bring 2 German Friends and you get a Drink. if you bring your Ex Partner + 2 German friends =2 drinks = thats the Challenge and the Attitude of 2026

RSVP on Luma: [https://luma.com/60nqjrxe](https://luma.com/60nqjrxe?utm_source=Meetup) Silent Reading / Creating Club is a gathering for people who enjoy focusing together in public. Bring a book, a notebook, a sketchpad, knitting needles, whatever you’d like to spend a quiet hour doing. All projects and all participants are welcome. We’re building a community of readers and creators who value depth, presence, and shared silence. The reading and creating isn't the real highlight, though, it’s in the people who return and make it feel like a familiar room. (Please RSVP “yes” only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and others on the waitlist.) Our Meeting Point is the **W66 Café**. There’s no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the café and don’t bring outside food or drinks 🙂 No assignments, expectations, or pressure. Just a shared hour of intentional silence, followed by the opportunity for good conversation. 🕰 Our Agenda **10:30 – 11:00** Arrivals, ordering drinks/food, light social time **11:00 – 12:00** The Great Quiet Hour (Read. Write. Sketch. Code. Think. Sit.) **12:00 – 12:30** Optional socializing: share what you were reading or creating, or simply continue in quiet focus. ## 🏡 House Guidelines To keep this space calm and welcoming for everyone: • Silence during the focus hour (no calls or conversations) • Put cellphones on silent mode • If using technology, please avoid meetings or audio (headphones please!) • Arrive before 11:00 if possible to minimize disruptions

Nice! You are looking for real long time friendship! You might have already lived in Berlin or other big cities and experienced the "Anonymous" culture for a while. Meeting random people over and over and never see the same person again! In order to find "Real Long Term Friendship" in Berlin, do as follows: * You should not care how many people are joining this meetup. You RVSP. Even if only one person is joining. Because if everyone are waiting for everyone else to RVSP, nobody joins and nobody finds a new friend. * You do not care how many people of the opposite sex are joining. You are looking for friends. Finding the best romantic partner in the world, while avoiding not very attractive others, can be your other goal, for another time. Here we are looking for Friends. Real ones. * You are going to risk a very precious property of yours: Your time! Yes, there are thousands of opportunities in Berlin, there might be a rock concert for free, a birthday party you might miss, an important person might call you and invite you spontaneously, but you never find new friends until you decide to risk your time and meet people anyway. "I will check my calendar and get back to you" also does not work. Commit your time and spend it. Trust me, you won't go bankrupt ;-) * You are ready to use your phone as a real phone! You might have been using your phone as a tablet to visit Instagram and Facebook and watch movies. But if you want to find friends, you must know that people might take your phone number and give you theirs. That means they will Call you! And you have to pick up the phone and answer it. If you want to find new friends, you must be ready to do something really hard for the first time after years: Call people first, and if they called you: Answer your phone! * You are going to meet some people twice! That's the point of friendship. We already can experience random encounters with random people in random places one at a time. But that is not called friendship. If you want friends, you must be ready to meet the same person more than once. If you agree with above, RVSP and COME! You will meet other people who think the same way. P.S: Now that you've read all the way down to here, I suggest you [watch this animation](https://player.vimeo.com/video/547249272?h=22f3dd0f6f).

**NVC & Voice Workshop** This workshop brings together **Nonviolent Communication (NVC)** and **voice work** as two complementary paths of exploring how we express, listen, and relate. NVC offers a way to understand what is truly alive in us — beneath judgments, reactions, and habits of language. Voice work opens a direct, embodied channel to express that aliveness — beyond words, through sound, vibration, and presence. When these two meet, something shifts: Communication becomes not only something we *say*, but something we *feel, hear, and resonate with*. Perhaps even something we *are*. **What we'll explore** Throughout the day (or weekend), we will move between these two practices, letting them inform and deepen each other: * How to share authentically — and listen in a way that truly receives another * How voice can reveal what words alone cannot * How we can connect deeply to ourselves and others through our authentic sound * How judgments point toward deeper, meaningful needs * How the **4 steps of NVC** can be experienced not just cognitively, but in the body * How needs live in us — and how they can be expressed through both language and sound * How empathy can be practiced not only through listening, but also through collective voice **We’ll explore this through:** * Guided check-ins (spoken and vocal) * Partner and group exercises * Embodied explorations of resonance and vibration * Reflective moments to integrate insights **The experience** This is a **practice-based, experiential space**. We will move between speaking and sounding, listening and sensing, structure and openness. No prior experience with NVC or authentic voice work is needed — just a willingness to explore and be present. **Practical Details** * **Location:** Kunstquartier Bethanien, Mariannenplatz 2, 10997 Berlin-Kreuzberg * **Dates:** 13th June 2026 * **Time:** 10:00 – 17:00 **Pricing** Sliding scale: €70 – €90 **Who is this for?** For anyone curious about: * Bringing more authenticity into communication * Connecting voice, body, and inner experience * Exploring NVC beyond concepts — as a lived practice * Experiencing connection that goes beyond words **Registration** To register, please fill [this form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2ZWgcUA1GUSlayL0Q--ijZ1lHNYkBWXu60sfRuQEQGA3HdA/viewform?usp=publish-editor). ## Your Facilitators **Martina Pesce** Hi, I'm Martina. I came in contact with Nonviolent Communication (NVC) through a relationship where I started to grasp the beauty of this tool. After 3 years of self-study and occasional practice, I was touched by how this communication allowed me to connect with my mum in conflict, so strongly that I felt love for her for the first time in 20 years. Unsatisfied with the lack of mental health support in the neuroscience research field, I decided to switch careers and dive deep into NVC. I trained as a mediator, counsellor and trainer at the Connecting2life school (Yoram Mosenzon). It was a two-year-long process of embodying the tool and then learning how to transmit it so that it could sink in the body. For a year I've been holding my workshops, courses and 1:1 practice. My approach is based on practice and embodiment. I found NVC very revolutionary and with that respect, I like to let sink in our system a few bits of info at the time, rather than an overwhelming waterfall of theory. **Anne Loek Beernink** Anne Loek has been an actress in film and television during the earlier stages of her professional career. Her deep interest in the power of the human singing voice led her on a profound journey of personal and professional transformation. Her work supports the process of re-wilding, of nurturing a deeper and more authentic relationship with one's own body and innate creative potential. She explore, creates and holds space in the fields of voice, sound, movement, personal growth and ancient wisdom. Her work intends to contribute to connecting one with one's deeper calling. She studied Holistic Voice Therapy and received training in Collective Vocal Improvisation in the UK and Germany. She holds a M.A. in Integral Movement and Performance Studies from Rose Bruford College London in collaboration with the ITPC.

🌈 **Come stroll, stim, and be yourself—whether that means quiet connection or proudly owning your neurodivergence!** *A casual pride walk to celebrate Neurodivergent Pride Week ended with a cozy picnic.* 📍 **Meeting Point:** Landwehrkanal (Kreuzberg) https://maps.app.goo.gl/YB4CFUEtuQXHaYt76 See the exact location link on this page (it’s near the public toilet). Look for the **neurodivergent symbol** (rainbow infinity ♾️✨) and **organizers wearing "Ask Me" rainbow lanyards**. 📍**End Point:** Treptower Park - then relaxing picnic. **If you arrive late and want to catch up, join this Telegram group for the live location:** [https://t.me/+W8Wv9BynkSw0NjMy](https://t.me/+W8Wv9BynkSw0NjMy) **There will be documentation (photos and possibly video) during the event.** **If you don't want to be documented, wear a red crossed out symbol** 🚫 **nametag** (we can provide it but you can also help us by bringing them yourselves—so we can spot you easily) and we'll cover your face. We're asking for your help with this because documentation will still happen—and we want to show our pride in being neurodivergent. **🌿 Walk Vibe:** * **Laid back** – Walk at your own pace, just stay with the group. * **Sensory-mindful** – A quiet walk without added music (though we can’t control external sounds). * **Socializing? Totally Optional!** \- Chat if you feel like it\. \- Or enjoy the quiet\. **\- Nonverbal?** We have **infinity symbol** **tag** for those who prefer not to talk. Just ask an organizer! * **Safe for LGBTQ+ & BIPOC.** No racism, sexism, discrimination, ableism or hate speech—violations mean immediate removal. * This is an **adult-focused (18+)** event, but minors who are neurodivergent may attend if accompanied by a caregiver. * Organizers will provide some **pride items** to carry while you walk, if you’d like. * We will have **bookmarkers about neurodiversity** that we can share with people along the way, and you’re welcome to help if you want. **🎒 What to Bring (Optional, but welcomed):** * Neurodivergent pride items: symbols, shirts, flags, stim toys, etc. * Comfortable shoes, water, snacks, sunglasses/ear plugs – whatever helps you feel comfy. * Picnic blanket – extras welcome! We'll have a designated quiet zone at the end. * food and drinks, to replenish your self during the walk and during the picnic at the end of the wall. * And of course: **your wonderful self. No pressure to “perform” pride – just come as you are.** **🚶Walk Structure:** **Meet-Up @ Landwehrkanal:** * Look for the **rainbow infinity flag/banner**. * Short intro about the route, safety, and general vibe. * We’ll share **live location** on the event page (for late joiners – you can catch up!). **Walking Together:** * Organizers will walk at the **front, middle, and back** to keep the group together. * Need a break? Just signal an organizer! **Arrival @ Treptower Park:** * Time to relax! Spread out a blanket and unwind. * Bring snacks/drinks if you’d like (no pressure to share). * Stay as long or as little as you like – no formal end time. **⚠️ Important Notes:** * Organizers are **neurodivergent volunteers** – we’re here to guide, not to manage care. * Please be responsible for yourself and **mindful of others’ needs**. * Need something? Ask someone wearing an **"Ask Me" rainbow lanyard**. * **Allies are welcome!** Please respect that this is a **neurodivergent-centered space**. **💬 Questions?** DM the event page or drop a comment. Let’s celebrate neurodivergence – together, and at our own pace. 🌟 *(This event is DIY and community-run. Be cool, be kind.)*

Train Your Brain Through Chess A Fun & Interactive Cognitive Agility Experience What if you could challenge your brain, meet interesting people, and learn new ways of thinking — all through play? Join us for a fun, beginner-friendly workshop that combines chess, psychology, strategy, and interactive activities to explore how we think, solve problems, adapt, and make decisions. This is not a traditional chess class. Chess becomes a tool for exploration, collaboration, creativity, and cognitive agility through games, challenges, and guided activities. What to Expect ♟️ Beginner-friendly introduction to chess 🧠 Fun cognitive and strategic challenges 🤝 Team-based and collaborative activities ⚡ Interactive games focused on adaptability and problem-solving 💬 Reflection, discussion, and shared learning 🎯 A relaxed and engaging social experience Skills We Explore • Strategic thinking • Communication • Adaptability • Cognitive flexibility • Problem-solving • Focus and attention • Decision-making under pressure Who Is This For? Anyone interested in: • Personal development • Psychology and human behavior • Strategy and critical thinking • Meeting like-minded people • Fun and meaningful social activities • Learning something new in a supportive environment No chess experience is required. Event Details 📍 Motel One — Invalidenstraße 54, 10557 Berlin 🕒 2 Hours 👥 Small-group experience (6–12 participants) Facilitated by Radwa Omar Founder & Cognitive Agility Facilitator Train Your Brain — Cognitive Agility Through Chess ♟️ Think. Adapt. Play. Connect

Hi everyone, join us on Sunday, June 14, at Monbijou Park for a fun afternoon all about MBTI and other interesting topics. Whether you’re deep into cognitive function theory or you just heard about MBTI this week, we’re happy to have you here. Looking forward to seeing you there! Our group aims to bring together people who are interested in self-development and self-improvement using MBTI and cognitive functions, in order to learn more about the theory and share our experiences with it. Another reason for this meetup is to meet people with whom you might potentially get along really well based on your type. This can lead to meaningful connections :)
Although the meetup is geared towards people who are interested in learning about MBTI theory and using it to improve their lives, our conversations aren’t only about that! We talk about anything and everything. So it's more like a regular social meetup with the aim of avoiding small talk :)
You can also join our WhatsApp group chat here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KzEwl2YD5K9F6adO7kvqPO

Chitta Walks is for people whose days move fast, while the mind never fully lands. Thoughts keep looping even when nothing is urgent. The body moves, but attention is elsewhere. Over time, this disconnect drains clarity and ease. This walk is a simple reset. We meet in Berlin’s Tiergarten and walk at a gentle pace. Parts of the walk are in silence, with light guidance and a few short prompts. The walk itself is the practice, bringing body and mind back into the same moment. No apps. No performance. Just a clear space to slow down and notice what is happening. If you want to slow down without withdrawing from life, join a Chitta Walk. ✨ **What to expect (approx. 90 minutes):** * A short arrival and orientation * A guided silent walk (phones off, no conversation) * One concise science-based impulse on attention or stress * Optional reflection in pairs or small groups * A simple takeaway or experiment for daily life 🚶**Who this is for:** * Professionals, creatives, and people in transition. * People who feel mentally busy and want more clarity and balance. * Those curious about mindfulness, but grounded and practical. * Anyone comfortable with silence and gentle self observation. 🔔 **Practical notes:** * Duration: 60-90 minutes * Wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing * No prior experience needed * Group size is limited to keep the space quiet and focused 🧭 **Facilitator:** My name is Partha Sarathi, you can call me PS. I have lived in Berlin for over 12 years. With a background in physics and materials science, my interest in mindfulness grew through personal experience with stress and health challenges. I facilitate the space and structure of the walk, inviting shared exploration rather than instruction. 🤔 **Why Chitta Walks?** Chitta is a Sanskrit word referring to the mind or field of awareness, used here in a practical, non-religious sense. Chitta Walks is about noticing how the mind works by slowing down and walking together. Mindful walking makes thought patterns visible in real time, while moving and sensing in the world. The name points to a simple capacity: noticing what is happening in the mind without immediately trying to fix, judge, or optimize it. 🌿 **Possible effects:** A calmer nervous system. Clearer attention. A felt sense of being more present in your body. Subtle insights into how your mind reacts under everyday conditions. A quieter, more grounded way of moving through the city. **Come as you are. Walk. Notice. Leave with a little more space inside.**

Silent Book Club is a group of book lovers who enjoy reading together in public. All books and all readers are welcome. (Kindly RSVP 'yes' only if you can make it, so we can save a seat for you and our fellow readers on the waitlist!) This page-turning party will unfold in the Café (1st floor) at the Bode Museum. There's no entrance fee, but please order at least one item from the cafe and don't bring any outside drinks :) No quizzes, no pressure, no assigned books - just a group of book-loving souls basking in the beauty of silent reading. **Our thrilling agenda:** 10:30 am - 11:00 am - Arrivals, ordering drinks/food (social time) 11:00 am - 12:00 pm - The Great Quiet Reading Hour (where silence is the star) 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm - Optional socializing, share your reading adventures or just keep exploring the pages Stay for lunch, and who knows? You might just find your next favorite book over a pizza. NB: If you plan to go for lunch, please consider bringing cash, as some restaurants only accept card payments after a certain amount.

Who is in the mood for some quiet togetherness while catching up on their reading? Let’s enjoy literature or non-fiction together and come to our Reading in Companionable Silence meeting. Miro will welcome members and there is time to socialize and to order some food or a beverage - ca. 30 min. Then we read for an hour in silence. After that - time to exchange impressions, suggestions, ask questions and generally have a good time. There might be a break in the middle in order to allow for more drinks, a bathroom break etc. Only RSVP if you really intend to come and are sure that you can make it. Please don’t waste our hosts‘s time and energy by reserving a spot and then dropping out at short notice.

Sunday afternoon is perfect to play some lazy liar games, if you have nothing better to do. We are a group of friendly people who will teach you how to play these easy social deduction games . Amazing way to meet new people and have some good company during weekend. Today we are saying goodbye to Brewdog - after almost 10 years **IMPORTANT** It's relaxed playing, nothing for ambitious gamers or people who take it too serious. Waiting list policy: When spots open up, we try to bring in a good mix — some regulars we can count on and some new faces to keep things fresh. That means not everyone will get picked every time, but don’t take it the wrong way — it’s just about balance. There’ll always be more chances to join!

German Practice Games – Sprach Café (A2–C1) 🇩🇪☕ Ps : order one drink atleast :) Join us for a fun and relaxed German practice session at our Sprach Café! This event is open to learners from A2 to C1 level who want to improve their German through interactive games, conversations, and group activities. We will practice speaking, learn new vocabulary, and build confidence in a friendly environment. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, practice German, and have fun while learning. 🎲 What to expect: • Language games and speaking activities • Practice conversations in German • A relaxed and supportive atmosphere 💡 Important: The event is free of charge, but please only book a spot if you are sure you can attend, as spaces are limited. We look forward to practicing German together! 😊

**The Neural Revolution Is Happening Right Now — Are You Plugged In?** Imagine typing with your thoughts. Steering a robotic limb with a neural signal. Lifting depression by stimulating a single brain circuit. Loading a skill straight into memory. This isn't science fiction. It's happening in labs, clinics, and startups around the world — and the DC region, home to NIH, the BRAIN Initiative, and DARPA's neural-interface programs, is one of the places it's being funded and built. **This Event Is for You If…** * ✅ You're a **technologist** curious about the computing paradigm beyond screens and keyboards * ✅ You work in **healthcare** and want to see how neural interfaces will reshape patient care * ✅ You're an **entrepreneur** hunting the next real opportunity in deep tech * ✅ You're a **researcher** looking to plug into the broader BCI ecosystem * ✅ You're simply **fascinated** by where neuroscience and technology collide * ✅ You **missed our last meetup** and want to reconnect with the community **Why That List Makes Us Unique in DC** Read it again. A technologist, a clinician, a founder, a researcher, and the merely curious — in the same room, on the same afternoon. That mix is the whole point, and it's what no other event in the region offers. Neuroscience conferences are built for neuroscientists. AI meetups are built for engineers. Healthcare summits are built for clinicians. Each one serves a single silo. Brain computing doesn't live in any one of those silos — it lives in the overlap. So we built the one community in DC dedicated to that overlap: a place where the person decoding neural signals can talk to the person who'll commercialize the device, who can talk to the clinician who'll put it in front of a patient. **What You'll Walk Away With** This isn't just another tech meetup. Because of who's in the room, you get: * **Frontline insight** from people actively decoding neural signals * **Direct access** to the scientists, engineers, and founders pushing BCI forward — not a panel behind a rope line * **Hands-on work** with real neural data and BCI systems * **Career connections** in one of the fastest-growing fields in tech * **First looks** at breakthrough research before it reaches mainstream media **The Stakes Are Real** We're at an inflection point. The next decade decides whether brain-computer interfaces *expand* human potential or *deepen* inequality — whether they're built in the open or behind closed doors, whether the benefits are shared or hoarded. Your voice, your expertise, your perspective shapes which future we get. **Join the Minds Shaping Tomorrow** This is your entry point into the neural-interface revolution — your chance to stand alongside the researchers reading neural code, the engineers building the interfaces, the clinicians treating patients, and the founders bringing it all to market. **Saturday, June 13 · 12:00–3:00 PM** isn't just a meetup. It's the one place in DC where all of those people come together around brain computing. **Come curious. Leave connected. Return transformed.** Because the future of human-computer interaction isn't happening *to* you — it's happening *with* you.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Can Artificial Intelligence ‘See’?”** A look at how humans and artificial intelligence systems interpret the visual world in fundamentally different ways, with Arryn Robbins, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Richmond and cognitive scientist who researches visual attention, perception, and category learning. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see) .] Artificial intelligence can now identify faces, categorize objects, describe scenes, and outperform humans on certain visual tasks. But does AI actually “see” the world the way that people do? Or does it arrive at correct answers using representations that differ markedly from human perception? Join Arryn Robbins of the University of Richmond for a fascinating exploration of how humans and AI construct meaning from visual information and a look at comparisons between human perception and AI that reveal just how dynamic and context-dependent our own visual systems really are. Dr. Robbins, who previously has given excellent Profs and Pints talks on flaws and biases in human visual perception, will draw from research in cognitive science, visual perception, and AI vision systems. She’ll explain how human perception is not merely a simple recording of the world, but an active process shaped by expectations, context, goals, and recent experience. You’ll learn how humans form flexible mental representations that allow us to recognize objects across changing environments and conditions, and why those representations continuously adapt as we interact with the world. Many AI systems, by contrast, learn visual categories through statistical patterns in data. They can produce impressive results, but sometimes they also produce strange and unexpected failures, and sometimes they classify images in ways that seem strange to us. Dr. Robbins will discuss what these differences reveal about the nature of perception itself, and why the mismatch between human and AI representations matters for technologies like self-driving cars, medical imaging, facial recognition, and automated surveillance. Important for anyone trying to understand the rapidly growing role of AI in daily life, this talk will explore one of the biggest questions in cognitive science and artificial intelligence: What does it actually mean to “see” and understand the world? (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: “Eye Farm” by Nevit Dilmen (Wikimedia Commons).

…Transform Our Lives, Work, and World (2024) by Jamie Metzl, 432 pages [Genetics] • Paperback • Hardcover • Kindle • Audiobook • Library: [https://fcplcat.fairfaxcounty.gov/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&pos=1&cn=615082](https://fcplcat.fairfaxcounty.gov/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&pos=1&cn=615082) Check the How To Find Us section for Zoom Link **(Remember, the Zoom Link is different each month, do not bookmark)** ### Review “In Superconvergence, Jamie Metzl takes readers on a magical journey through the science of the intersecting genetics, biotech, and AI revolutions, deeply explores the implications, and challenges us to think creatively and proactively about what comes next. Very few books are absolute must-reads. This is one.”―Siddhartha Mukherjee, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University and author of The Gene: An Intimate History "During the 25 years I have known Jamie Metzl, he has always been ahead of the curve. There is no one better to help us understand and prepare for the fast-approaching technological revolutions. Superconvergence is brilliant. I can't recommend it more strongly."―Sanjay Gupta MD, bestseller author, neurosurgeon, and Emmy-award winning chief medical correspondent (CNN) "Our world is defined by our science and technology—whether we like it or not. The question now is not whether to use these powers, but how best to use them. In Superconvergence, Jamie Metzl takes us on a journey through the new capabilities that are radically transforming ecosystems inside us and around us, challenging each of us to get personally involved with building the future we want."―Beth Shapiro, University of California Santa Cruz evolutionary biologist and author of Life as We Made It: How 50,000 Years of Human Innovation Refined―and Redefined―Nature "In a fine counter-blast to the pessimism of today, Jamie Metzl lays out just how spectacular the future of humanity and planet can be if we harness innovation responsibly and imaginatively to create what he calls the 'spiral of progress.'"―Matt Ridley, author of How Innovation Works, and co-author of Viral: The search for the Origin of Covid-19 “A page-turning journey through space and time that shows us how our lives will be changed by imminent technological advances we once only dreamed of.”―David Sinclair, Professor of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, and author of Lifespan: Why We Age―and Why We Don't Have To “The superconvergence of the genetics, biotechnology, and AI revolutions provides spectacular opportunities for building a better world. It also represents an almost limitless investment opportunity. We were excited to collaborate with Jamie Metzl, one of the world's great experts on how these aspirations can best be realized, including in capital markets. Superconvergence is a master class for imagining, investing in, and building a future we'd like to inhabit."―Jeremy Schwartz, Global Chief Investment Officer, WisdomTree “A clear examination of a transitional moment in the story of life on Earth…. Metzl capably describes recent developments in genetics and biotech and looks at how AI is providing an analytical engine of unprecedented power…. An important book in which the author sets out a path for the future based on his experience and expertise.”―Kirkus “Erudite, optimistic, and timely.”―Science Magazine "[In Superconvergence] Mr. Metzl has identified an important truth: that the convergence of new technologies is galvanizing us to reimagine how to meet urgent challenges in medicine and the environment. It’s a compelling opportunity—provided we manage to sidestep self-induced catastrophes along the way."―The Wall Street Journal ### About the Author Jamie Metzl is a leading technology and healthcare futurist and the founder and chair of OneShared.World. He is the author of Hacking Darwin: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Humanity and four other books and was a member of the World Health Organization expert advisory committee on human genome editing. Jamie previously served in the U.S. National Security Council, State Department, and Senate Foreign Relations Committee and with the United Nations in Cambodia. His work has been featured by most major media organizations around the world, including 60 Minutes, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, Fox, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Times of London, Le Monde, and Paris Match, and his podcast interviews with Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, and others have reached tens of millions of listeners. He lives in New York City. Visit Jamiemetzl.com.

Important: Register on [AICamp website](https://www.aicamp.ai/event/eventdetails/W2026061814) is required for admission. **Description:** Welcome to the AI meetup in Washington DC. Join us for deep dive tech talks on AI, GenAI, LLMs and Agents, hands-on experiences on code labs, workshops, and networking with speakers and fellow developers. **Agenda:** \* 5:30pm\~6:00pm: Checkin, Food/drink and networking \* 6:00pm\~8:00pm: Tech talks and Q&A \* 8:00pm: Happy Hour at Courthouse Social (cross the street) **Tech Talk: Secure Developer Environments in the Age of AI Agents** **Speaker:** Patrick Brown (Coder) **Abstract:** Federal engineering teams are under pressure to ship faster while meeting some of the most demanding security and compliance requirements in the world. In this talk, Patrick Brown of Coder explores how cloud development environments (CDEs) give agencies a foundation to accelerate software delivery without sacrificing control — and why that foundation matters even more as AI-powered coding agents enter the workflow. He'll cover how CDEs keep source code off endpoints, enforce zero-trust access patterns, and provide the consistent, ephemeral infrastructure that both human developers and AI agents need to operate safely at scale. **Speakers:** Stay tuned as we are updating speakers and schedules. If you have a keen interest in speaking to our community, we invite you to submit topics for consideration: [Submit Topics](https://forms.gle/JkMt91CZRtoJBSFUA) **Sponsors:** We are actively seeking sponsors to support AI developers community. Whether it is by offering venue spaces, providing food, or cash sponsorship. Sponsors will not only speak at the meetups, receive prominent recognition, but also gain exposure to our extensive membership base of 5,000+ AI developers in D.C and 500K+ worldwide.

by Stephen Wolfram, 112 pages [Technology] • Paperback • Kindle Check the How To Find Us section for Zoom Link **(Remember, the Zoom Link is different each month, do not bookmark)** **Review** "This is the best explanation of what ChatGPT is doing that I've seen." —Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI (creators of ChatGPT) About the Author Stephen Wolfram is an award\-winning scientist and bestselling author\, and the creator of some of the world's most respected software systems—Mathematica\, Wolfram\|Alpha and Wolfram Language\. For more than 35 years\, he has been CEO of the global technology company Wolfram Research\, as well as responsible for a series of groundbreaking advances in basic science\, including the recent Wolfram Physics Project\.www\.stephenwolfram\.com Stephen Wolfram has had a unique trajectory in science\, technology and business\. Widely known for his discoveries in basic science and his groundbreaking 2002 book "A New Kind of Science\," he has spent more than three decades building what is now Wolfram Language: the knowledge\-based computer language that powers Mathematica and Wolfram\|Alpha and has contributed to countless inventions and discoveries\, as well as to the education of several generations of students\. Wolfram was born in London and educated at Eton, Oxford and Caltech, earning his PhD in physics in 1979 at the age of 20. After a brief but distinguished academic career, he founded Wolfram Research in 1987 and as CEO has built it into one of the world’s most respected and innovative software companies, whose products are relied on by millions of people around the world.

⚡ Reset your direction. Meet someone unexpected. Walk away with fresh clarity. Join us for a relaxed **small-group afternoon event** that blends a light **Inner Coach conversation experience** with a **community potluck lunch**. In February we hosted our first **Inner Coach event**, and many attendees said it helped them notice something powerful — the voice inside that quietly guides better decisions when life gets complicated. This event builds on that idea. Instead of overthinking the past, we’ll explore how to **reset direction for what’s next** — through thoughtful conversation, new perspectives, and the kind of questions that spark real insight. We’ll start with a few short conversation rounds designed to spark reflection, humor, and perspective — and then continue the discussion over food and relaxed conversation. Think **good food, grounded people, and real conversations about what comes next in life.** Held in our **Startup Garage** — a bright, comfortable living-room style space inside a single-family home. (Couches, food, conversation — **not an actual garage** 😊) *** ## **🥘 Potluck Lunch** If you're able, bring something small to share. Homemade or store-bought — both welcome. A dish you enjoy making. A dish that always works Or simply something easy from the store If you're busy, come anyway — the goal is **community, not perfection**. We’ll share a relaxed **afternoon potluck lunch** while continuing meaningful conversations with people navigating their next chapter. *** ## **What You’ll Experience** • Light conversation rounds designed to spark insight • Fresh perspectives from people navigating similar life transitions • Humor, perspective, and grounded conversation • A relaxed environment where ideas and connections happen naturally *** ## **Who Typically Attends** • Professionals in their 30s–40s–50s • Entrepreneurs and builders • Divorced or separated individuals navigating what’s next • People who prefer thoughtful conversation over surface-level small talk Whether you're **resetting direction, building something new, or simply meeting grounded people**, this event is designed for honest connection and fresh perspective. *** Most attendees are navigating life and growth with **curiosity, clarity, and a sense of humor.** 📍 Hosted in a spacious living-room setting inside a single-family home (Ashburn – 20147). Full address and parking details are emailed **2–3 days before the event.** 🌐 Learn more about the community [https://midlifereinvention.co](https://midlifereinvention.co) *** If you're curious about the **Inner Coach vs Inner Critic concept**, here’s a short introduction: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgoDgqppGI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtgoDgqppGI)

### Hopeful Cafe Conversations @Panera Kentlands **You are cordially invited to join in the conversation to catch the positive vibe... a cup of coffee, or another of your favorite refreshment.** **At NEW HOPE CAFE CONVERSATIONS on 3rd Saturdays, Monthly** **Address: Panera, 285 Kentlands Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878** **Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83326239362** ===== **New Hope Workshop**: What is Negativity Bias? How do we get ahead of it to reach more positive outcomes in work, life, and relationships? Discover the difference between goals and outcomes. 1\. How do we reaffirm ones role\, despite negativity bias from others? 2\. The New Hope Community Affirmative Statements of Foundational Principles 3\. Your Perspectives in Conversation **"Star Points Meal Deal"** If you have New Hope "Star Points 💫" you can get a discount on a meal. Also you can earn Star Points, if this is your first time attending Cafe Conversations, in-person. Ask Gene, newhope321community@yahoo.com, 240-848-0808.