Computer Engineering

Where does genuinely new stuff come from, and what does the answer obligate us to do? We are primates, evolved for the African Savana, with meat machines in our heads. These meat machines can do something curious: they can imagine. Even further, they can be “creative”; that is, they can imagine something “novel”. At first glance, imagination seems like a cute quirk. We can imagine fantasies, tell fun stories, paint pictures, make gadgets. Some of these stories we deem “creative” or “novel”. But what actually counts as “new/creative”? The commonly used notion for “creative” in various domains of study is the creation of something “novel” and “useful/appropriate”. “Novel” ensures the new idea/invention is not just a basic recombination of old things. “Useful/appropriate” ensures that the idea is meaningful, reveals something interesting, and is not just a random mess. Both of these terms are broad and contentious (intentionally so). Who defines what is “novel” or useful/appropriate”? Should it be defined by the individual who originated the idea, or by the social judgment of peers, or specifically by experts, or by history/those who come later? The **Systems Model** recognizes that “creativity” is not a property determined by individuals, but through an interaction between the domain/field of innovation, the social ecosystem (gatekeepers, institutions, etc.), and the innovation itself. Other views emphasize the **cognitive mechanisms** of creativity. New ideas do not emerge “de novo”, they emerge from a recombination of past ideas, with a novel “transformation of the problem space”. Hence, an individual needs to make the creative leap with regards to themselves (their past experiences, cultural knowledge, etc.); it is a mental operation. Even if their new idea might already be known to someone else/the public, if they themselves did not know it, it is still a novel creation for them. Thus the question: Is there a rigorous notion that can tell whether something is “truly novel”, or even quantify how much? And who decides? Beyond the domain of fiction and art, our meat sack brains can also imagine things like multiple dimensions, 4D space, invisible forces, and other notions that at the time were heavily criticized as fanciful thinking (imaginary numbers, non-euclidian geometry, microscopic germs). Our minds were shaped by natural selection to solve savanna-scale problems — predators, social hierarchies, thrown objects. There's no selection pressure for imagining or grasping 11-dimensional string theory or quantum field theory. Feynman himself suspected we might not be able to understand wavefunction collapse or superposition. And human working memory is sorely limited. It is surprising that these ideas turn out to be “*real”*. They explain the physical world and give us tremendous power over it. Sometimes, increasing our power over the physical world depends on creating ever more “novel” ideas/absurdities (e.g. Infinite dimensional vector spaces. Subatomic particles. Quantum phenomena. etc.) Outlandishness is not sufficient for scientific success, but those ideas that yielded the greatest increase in understanding/power were often the most outlandish. In other words, the degree of “creative novelty” in science is proportional to the degree of increased physical power we gain. Is there a limit to what our brains can conceive? Science and art are very different domains. But therein lies the puzzle: the process of creativity deployed in science seems no different from the process of creativity deployed in art; so perhaps the same process is generating novelty in both. This suggests a tantalizing unity of what it means to be “novel”. If the same process generates “novelty” in 2 (seemingly) different branches: art and science, and one branch leaves physical traces, then “novelty” might not be mere arbitrary social judgment. Discussion Questions: * What counts as “creative”/”novel”? Who judges this? Is it an individual or social or objective judgment? How do we know whether something is “new” or not? Are we just “doing whatever we do?” * Operationally, how does creativity work? How does creativity “create new things”? Where does the newness come from? * Is the process of creativity in art, social science, natural science, engineering, technology, all the same underlying process? * If it is the same underlying process, how does “novelty”/creativity in science relate to creativity in art? * What’s the difference between imagination, creativity, and knowledge? * Is society obligated to create the conditions necessary for people to engage their creativity? If we disable people’s creativity, is that a form of mind control?

Free female class; Start your day grounded, refreshed, and energized with our Sunrise Yoga class. As the first light of morning sets the tone, this session gently awakens your body through mindful stretches, breathwork, and slow-flow movements designed to improve flexibility and circulation. Leave feeling clear-headed, centered, and ready to take on the day ahead. 🌅🧘‍♀️ Connect with me on telegram to confirm your attendance: https://t.me/jsleesm

**LEARN MANDARIN WITH US** **和我们一起学华语/普通话** Come and join us every Saturday afternoon and learn some useful Mandarin from proficient speakers in a friendly and casual atmosphere. Besides learning the language, you will also get to make new friends from all around the world. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate and advanced learner, we welcome you. The meetup starts at 4 pm. We will try our best to arrange seating at this time so that each group has expert Mandarin speakers. If you come later than 4.10 pm we cannot guarantee ideal seating. Seating priorities will be given to those who signed up. **欢迎会说华语/普通话的朋友** 我们非常欢迎会说华语/普通话的朋友来参加我们这个华语/普通话练习小组，帮助来自世界各地的朋友学习华语/普通话。 *** GETTING THERE Take Downtown (blue) Line or Circle (yellow) Line to Promenade MRT. Take Exit C at Promenade MRT, and go up to level 3. LOCATING US INSIDE THE FOOD COURT Look for a round tables section near the wall of the food court away from the stalls. You can drop the Event Host a message if you are lost. NO COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES We welcome anyone who is keen to learn a language or help others learn the language. However, this is NOT the platform for individuals who have other intentions, such as recruiting members for their business or organization or selling products or services. We will not hesitate to ask such individuals to stop attending our meetups.

🎓 Offset Your Course Fee with SkillsFuture Credits for Eligible Singaporeans! 💼 NTUC Members Enjoy Up to 50% Subsidy with UTAP **Click here for more WSET course dates, fees and information** [https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-1-wine-course-singapore/](https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-1-wine-course-singapore/) ## **MASTER THE ART OF SAKE WITH WSET LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATION COURSE** Embark on an elevated journey of sake exploration with the WSET Level 2 Sake course – a captivating odyssey for those seeking a deeper understanding of this exquisite Japanese beverage. Envision a glass filled with a pristine, chilled elixir, releasing a bouquet of enticing aromas that promise an unparalleled experience. Each sip transports you to the heart of Japan, where centuries of perfected sake craftsmanship unfold. If you are currently working in the sake industry or possess basic sake knowledge and are keen to enter into the F&B or sake trade, our WSET Level 2 sake course furthers your sake knowledge in a more in-depth programme. For professionals, knowledge is the key to success. In the realm of sake, a nuanced comprehension of production, diverse flavor profiles, and adept food pairings can shape the trajectory of your career. The WSET Level 2 Sake course has been meticulously crafted to provide you with a comprehensive grasp of sake's intricacies, spanning its illustrious history, production processes to prepare you to be come a sake sommelier. ## **WHAT YOU WILL LEARN** * Explore main sake styles and classifications. * Understand the types of rice that influence sake flavors. * Understand the role and production of Kōji * Tasting over 20 different sakes. * Describe sakes using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake® * Develop analytical tasting skills while exploring the sake style and quality. * Identify different categories & grades of sake ## **WHAT YOU WILL ACHIEVE** * Knowing the key stages in sake brewing and it’s unique processes. * Recognise the distinct features and styles of sake from various regions. * Understanding the art of appreciating sakes. * Be able to properly store and serve sakes * Feel more at confident arounds sakes and learn to buy only the best. * The art of pairing food and sake. ## **YOU ARE NOT ALONE** Many individuals struggle to comprehend the intricacies of sakes, leading to disappointment despite years of experience. Our two-day course provides guidance in developing techniques to train your palate and memory, enhancing your ability to detect sake aromas, flavors, and labels. Become a Sake Connoisseur or Sommelier – it's not an innate gift, but an achievable expertise through training and practice. *Let us help you achieve your dream with the WSET Level 2 Sake course!* 🎓 Offset Your Course Fee with SkillsFuture Credits for Eligible Singaporeans! 💼 NTUC Members Enjoy Up to 50% Subsidy with UTAP **Click here for more WSET course dates, fees and information** [https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-1-wine-course-singapore/](https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-1-wine-course-singapore/)

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 You will need to scan your ID at the door to get a visitor badge. **Abstract** TBD **YouTube Link** TBD

Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/cbus-hug-2026/

Bring your Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, or any other electronic project and join fellow electronics makers for a night of creativity and collaboration! This session is open forum to share your current projects—whether complete or in progress, it’s all interesting! Whether you’re deep into embedded systems, exploring new ideas, or just getting started, you’ll find a welcoming space to collaborate, share, and get inspired. **New to electronics or curious about tinkering?** You’re absolutely welcome. If you’re a beginner and want to experiment, I’ll have a couple of starter kits available so you can try things out—whether that’s blinking your first LED, putting something on a display, or experimenting with simple sensors. No pressure and no experience required—just an interest in learning and building. While we continue to pursue a more permanent venue for this Meetup, we’ll be using public library facilities based on availability. This session will be at the Worthington Park Library in the Olentangy Meeting Room.

We meet to learn and practice American Sign Language and to grow our familiarity with Deaf culture. Facilitated by hearing folks (with a connection to a professional interpreter) using Deaf-created content. People of all ASL skill levels are welcome! As we learn, we hope to connect more with the Deaf community in Central Ohio. Join us as you're able! Come regularly or just once - whatever you're looking for! Each meetup will explore different topics related to ASL/Deaf culture, and will feature time to practice conversation with one another. Just bring yourself and a willingness to learn!

It feels like we just saw each other 🤷. Join members of the local design and UX community for our monthly breakfast. For May we’re stopping in for Rooh’s popup breakfast/cafe concept. You know someone is getting the lobster yuzu croissant, and that’s not even the prettiest thing on the menu!.

We connect you with up to 30 Men or Women tennis partners close to your PLAYING REGION and skill level. This program is less competitive, no champions crowned, no league standings just dedicated tennis partners who want to meet up with you on the courts. Players will meet up to play a tennis match or just to hit around. Just go through the [Join Page](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program) to enter this program. [https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program](https://www.tenniscolumbus.com/partner-program)

**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