Data Science

Authoritarian contexts — e.g. regimes, movements, and personalities — are ubiquitous throughout human history, and can be found across our world today. Analytic political philosophy has tended to shy away from such contexts through idealising the conditions for theoretical research and delineating clearly the scopes for envisioned praxis and efficacy. Even where such contexts feature in analytic political theories, they are either portrayed as definitively and unequivocally defective, or as 'objects' with which democratic societies must engage. This talk posits that such methodological presumptions are fundamentally problematic: not only do they overlook the substantial richness, diversity, and agency of life in authoritarian contexts, they also fail to shed light on how political change - whether it be in the direction of greater political legitimacy or justice - can and should come about in authoritarian contexts. This talk draws upon Dr. Wong's two recently published works — Reparative Justice in Authoritarian States (Routledge, 2025) and "Living the liberal life in illiberal contexts: the case for realist pluralist liberalism", Inquiry (2026). About the Speaker: [Brian Wong](https://www.asiaglobalinstitute.hku.hk/about/people/brian-wong) is an Assistant Professor in Philosophy at Hong Kong University. He is a political theorist and geopolitical strategist whose research examines authoritarian regimes and citizens’ political and moral responsibilities, colonial and historical injustices, and the interaction between domestic politics and foreign policy of states in East Asia, especially China. Brian has taught modules in politics to undergraduate students at Oxford and Stanford Universities, and has delivered keynote speeches across Harvard-Science Po, Carnegie-Tsinghua, Tsinghua, Tufts, and Stanford campuses. Brian is a Hong Kong Rhodes Scholar (2020) and obtained his DPhil in Politics at Oxford University. He holds an MPhil in Political Theory (Distinction) and an MA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (First Class) from Oxford. He co-founded and advises Oxford Political Review, a publication aspiring to bridge the theory-practice gap. **\* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \*** This is a talk with audience Q&A presented by the University of Toronto's Centre for Ethics that is free to attend and open to the public. Unfortunately this talk will not be streamed online as usual. About the Centre for Ethics (http://ethics.utoronto.ca): The Centre for Ethics is an interdisciplinary centre aimed at advancing research and teaching in the field of ethics, broadly defined. The Centre seeks to bring together the theoretical and practical knowledge of diverse scholars, students, public servants and social leaders in order to increase understanding of the ethical dimensions of individual, social, and political life. In pursuit of its interdisciplinary mission, the Centre fosters lines of inquiry such as (1) foundations of ethics, which encompasses the history of ethics and core concepts in the philosophical study of ethics; (2) ethics in action, which relates theory to practice in key domains of social life, including bioethics, business ethics, and ethics in the public sphere; and (3) ethics in translation, which draws upon the rich multiculturalism of the City of Toronto and addresses the ethics of multicultural societies, ethical discourse across religious and cultural boundaries, and the ethics of international society. The Ethics of A.I. Lab at the Centre For Ethics recently appeared on a list of 10 organizations leading the way in ethical A.I.: https://ocean.sagepub.com/blog/10-organizations-leading-the-way-in-ethical-ai

**This is a ticketed event. Please register at [this link](https://luma.com/9cs5o16b).** ​Rubi will cover two topics at the intersection of prediction-making AI and AI alignment: 1. ​How to align prediction making AI 2. ​How to use predictions in the alignment of general agents ​This talk will discuss problems in using AI for predictions and how we might solve them, along with the implications for aligning powerful AI systems. ​​​**Event Schedule** 6:00 to 6:30 - Food and introductions 6:30 to 7:30 - Presentation and Q&A 7:30 to 9:00 - Open Discussions ​​​​​​If you can't make it in person, feel free to join the live stream starting at 6:30 pm, via [this link](https://www.youtube.com/@Trajectory-Labs/live).

### **“Conscious Living”** **An Experiential Community Program for Embodied Consciousness** **Resuming Thursday, May 21, 2026** **On break:** June 4, 2026 **\| Summer break:** July & August 2026 **Thursdays, 7:30 PM (in person)** **Facilitator:** Sophia Barna, M.Ed., M.S.W. **Location: Toronto Theosophical Society,** 792 Glencairn Ave., Toronto, ON **(Basement Room)** “Conscious Living” is a weekly experiential program that bridges the study of consciousness with the practical realities of everyday life. Rooted in the *Map of Consciousness* developed by David R. Hawkins and *A Course in Miracles (ACIM)*, this program invites participants to move beyond theory into lived, embodied awareness. Together, we explore what it means to live “in the world, but not of it” — grounded, present, and engaged, while rooted in higher awareness. The Map of Consciousness serves as our reference point. Each meeting focuses on a specific state of consciousness, blending study and practice so participants not only understand these states intellectually, but also learn to embody and live them in daily life. In addition to the Map of Consciousness, A Course in Miracles (ACIM) provides a complementary framework for the program. ACIM offers practical spiritual principles for transforming perception, cultivating forgiveness, and recognizing the inner guidance of love and truth. Its teachings emphasize the shift from fear to love, the release of judgment, and the practice of conscious choice in every moment. Our gatherings are grounded in the states of Love, Joy, and Gratitude, corresponding to the elevated energy field of 540 on the Map of Consciousness. From this frequency of openness and lightness, we come together to uplift, inspire, and grow in awareness — individually and collectively. ### **✨A Potluck for the Body, Heart, Mind & Soul🌈** Each session is designed as a holistic experience — nourishing all dimensions of being: * **🪷 Food for the Soul:** Guided meditation, self-reflection, and self-inquiry * **🧠 Food for the Mind:** Lectures, presentations, and meaningful group discussions * **✨ Food for the Body:** Embodied practices (movement and dance meditations), singing, chanting * **💗 Food for the Heart:** Love-centered connecting and sharing ### **🌸What to Expect** Together, we will explore different states of consciousness through: * Lectures and presentations * Guided meditation * Self-reflection * Group discussions * Movement and dance meditation * Singing and chanting ### **🌸What to Bring** 1. Coloured clothes — each week a specific colour (ROGVAIV rainbow sequence: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet). *This is an encouraged part of the experience, not mandatory.* 2. Silk or large dancing scarf/veil 3. Notebook, journal, or paper with pens, crayons, markers 4. Your highest vibrational presence in love, joy, and gratitude This is a space where learning becomes lived experience — where insight meets embodiment. *To uphold universal brotherhood without distinction and freedom of thought, all elements of the evening are invitational. Participants may opt out of any component and still be welcome, as long as we engage with one another respectfully.* *This is a participatory series with optional components. In keeping with TTS values, you are welcome to opt in or opt out of any element, and the central expectation is mutual respect.* ### **Reference Texts** 1. Hawkins, D. R. (2012). Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House. 2. Foundation for Inner Peace. (1976). A Course in Miracles. Mill Valley, CA: Foundation for Inner Peace. 3. Barna, S. (2025). Flying Home: Soul Stories for the Little One Within. Toronto: LightPath Publishing. **Registration:** TTS Study Groups, ts.study.to@gmail.com Registration **optional** (for updates and materials). Walk-ins welcome. ### **About the Facilitator:** **Sophia Barna** is an educator and facilitator with a long-standing interest in the relationship between inner life and everyday life: how spiritual principles become livable, embodied realities rather than abstract ideas. Her work bridges consciousness research, reflective inquiry, and practical methods for self-observation and inner transformation. Her background includes graduate training in education and social work, and advanced professional training in EMDR. In “Conscious Living,” she draws on the Map of Consciousness (as developed by David R. Hawkins) and the spiritual psychology of A Course in Miracles, inviting participants to explore themes such as presence, perception, forgiveness, and the cultivation of love, joy, and gratitude through shared practice and dialogue. Her facilitation style is heart-centered, clear, and experiential, with space for participants to learn through reflection, discussion, and embodied exercises. ***Important distinction:*** While Sophia’s clinical experience, education, and skills shape how she holds the space and communicates, this series does not constitute EMDR therapy, psychotherapy or a clinical solution for mental or emotional problems. It is a group experience offered in the spirit of service and public learning, and it should not replace care from a licensed provider in a private and confidential therapeutic relationship.

Python Toronto is back! Join us for our May meetup at the **Thomson Reuters office at 19 Duncan Street, Toronto, ON M5H 3H1 on Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 6:00pm!** If you are interested in giving a talk, we'd love to have you! Please fill out this form – [Submit a Python Toronto talk](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpNKB0Sbs893xp72M4TxmYGrTyLm4Nh1SSXnCqChP9mx6_9A/viewform?usp=header)! Talks are typically short, typically 5 to 10 minutes, and up to 20 minutes if you've really got something to say, and on any topic that would be interesting to a room of Python people. This can be a Python library that has helped you, a research paper you've enjoyed, or an interesting application of AI. The Python meetup is a casual, community-oriented meetup hosted by companies that use Python in Toronto. Talks are short, informal, and sometimes ad-hoc. Space is limited! Register now to hold your spot. **When / Where** * When: **May 21, 2026, 6:00pm to 8:30pm.** * Where: **Thomson Reuters Office - 19 Duncan Street, Toronto, ON M5H 3H1** Come early to enjoy **snacks** and **drinks** provided. **Code of Conduct** Python Toronto is dedicated to providing a welcoming, harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices. We do not tolerate harassment of any form. Sexual language and imagery is not appropriate for this venue, including talks, workshops, parties, Twitter and other online media. Meetup participants violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the meetup (without a refund where applicable) at the discretion of the meetup organizers. Please email elaine@eswong.ca to report any issues.

***Tickets must be purchased in advance!*** 🔗: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/tech-week-toronto-ai-business-tech-finance-networking-event-tickets-1988794903092 Come join us at Tech week for Toronto AI,Business,Tech & Finance Networking Event to connect with Professionals and entrepreneurs. **Welcome to the Toronto AI, Business, Tech & Finance Networking Event!** Join us for an evening of Toronto Tech Week of dynamic networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration right in the heart of Toronto. This in-person event will take place at **Oria On King** , a stylish high end venue perfect for connecting with like-minded professionals in the AI,Business, Tech, and Finance industries. Whether you're looking to expand your network, explore new opportunities, or simply engage with fellow enthusiasts, this event is the place to be. Meet and interact with some of the brightest minds in the industry, including entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals driving the future of Business,Technology and Finance through AI-driven solutions. Don’t miss this chance to expand your horizons and make meaningful connections! **Event Highlights:** * **Networking Opportunities**: Connect with industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of AI, technology, and finance. * **Collaboration Opportunities**: Explore new ventures and partnerships in AI and finance technology by engaging with like-minded professionals. * **Cutting-Edge Trends**: Discover the latest advancements in AI technologies and fintech developments, and how they are transforming the finance,tech, and business sector. **Date & Location:** * **When**: Thur, May. 21st, 2025, 7:00 PM- 10PM * **Where**: Oria On King This exclusive event offers a golden opportunity to elevate your journey in technology and finance. Join us for an unforgettable evening of innovation, networking, and exploration. 🚀 #TechFinanceExpo #AIInnovation #NetworkingRevolution #FinTechConnect **Who Should Attend?** * **Professionals**: Expand your network in a vibrant and engaging environment. * **Job Seekers**: Discover new opportunities or connect with future employers. * **Recent Graduates**: Get insights from industry experts and build your professional network. * **Entrepreneurs & CEOs**: Forge new partnerships and exchange insights with other business leaders. * **Investors**: Find promising ventures and startups ready for investment. * **Project Managers & Startups**: Collaborate on new projects or recruit the talent you need. * **Media Professionals**: Connect with industry innovators and influencers. **Stellar Socials Experience:** At **Stellar Socials by Limitless**, we specialize in creating exceptional networking experiences that bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. Our mission is to inspire collaboration, innovation, and growth by facilitating meaningful connections through curated events that resonate with our diverse audience. This relaxed social gathering encourages organic conversations, allowing attendees to connect without pressure. Whether you're attending solo or with friends, come prepared to meet new people and explore exciting opportunities. With a focus on building valuable relationships, you'll leave with new contacts, fresh insights, and potential collaborations. **Join Our Community:** * **Instagram**: [@stellarsocialsbylimitless](https://www.instagram.com/stellarsocialsbylimitless/) * **Facebook**: [Stellar Socials by Limitless](https://www.facebook.com/people/Stellar-Socials-By-Limitless/61567104153339/) * **TikTok**: [@stellar.socials](https://www.tiktok.com/@stellar.socials?_t=8rruhvs9xN2&_r=1) **Notice of Photography**: *Please note that photos and videos will be taken during the event for promotional purposes. By attending, you consent to being photographed and/or filmed. If you prefer not to appear in media, kindly notify one of the event organizers.*

Everyone is shipping "AI-powered" security. Almost no one is honest about where it works and where it guesses. This month, two DC416 organizers run the same fight from opposite corners. The Thursday talk frames it. The Friday workshop puts it in your hands. THE TALK Amir Hosseinpour covers offense. A year of pointing AI at real production code, plus everything DC416 has tried as a community. Where it actually finds bugs, where it just burns tokens and lies to you about it, and the scaffolding that gets any frontier model behaving the same way regardless of vendor. Cost numbers. The kind that make you reconsider whether that last scan was worth it. And an honest answer to when you should put the LLM down and read the code yourself. KC Udonsi covers defense. Most blue-team tooling was built assuming a human reads every alert. AI breaks that assumption in ways that are not obvious until something goes wrong. KC built his own AI-native breach detector and is running it live, in the room, against real attack data from a Wizard Spider emulation. Not a vendor demo. His own code, real data, in front of the audience. THE SPEAKERS Amir Hosseinpour — DC416 Co-Organizer Drives DC416's offensive AI experiments. Spends his weeks pointing frontier models at real production code, real CVEs, and real bug bounty surface, and writing down what actually moves the needle versus what just burns money. KC Udonsi — DC416 Co-Organizer CISSP. University of Toronto Computer Science. Co-creator of OpenSecurityTraining2's Vulnerabilities 1001 class. Inventor on a TD Bank patent for continuous verification and response platforms. Current focus: AI-native application security and where automation earns its keep on defense. DETAILS Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026 Doors open: 6:15 PM Talk starts: 6:45 PM Location: downtown Toronto, hosted by Stan **Cost: Free RSVP Here: https://events.defcontoronto.ca** WORKSHOP FOLLOW-UP Friday, May 22 — hands-on workshop, 10 AM to 3 PM, hosted by Palo Alto Networks downtown Toronto. Five hours, three mentors (Amir, KC, and Jeet). Build a red-teaming agent from scratch in the offense half, then flip sides and build the core of an AI-native breach detector in the defense half. Bring a laptop. AI access is provided. Only 50 spots available. **Cost: Free RSVP Here: https://events.defcontoronto.ca** SPONSORS Huge thank you to Stan, Palo Alto Networks, and White Tuque for making this possible.

**Though it's coming to late spring, one wonders if spring has even started; nonetheless it is time for another brunch,** The future of the **Halton Peel Humanist Community (HPHC)** of which **Cafe Scientifique** is an initiative is in the balance and we want our members and friends to be aware of the challenges we face. Please join us and share your ideas, and especially what you can contribute to keep it going. We will soon discuss these matters more formally at the Annual Meeting of HPHC, but see no reason why we cannot start the conversation sooner. We’re all ears. ***Apologies for the relatively short notice*** Curious about the brunch menu at the Donegal Arms? You can browse it here: *[Brunch Menu](https://www.instagram.com/p/DLLKR7vP9dB/)* (though no promises it’s fully up to date). **Parking tip:** Try the lot on Hurontario Street, just north of Donegal Arms and the two storefronts next to it.

Struggling with motivation and focus as you hammer away on your manuscript at home? Want to join a community of writers as we embrace the joys and pains (mostly pains) of writing together? Bring your laptop, pen & paper, old-school typewriter, or futuristic writing gadget, and join an enthusiastic community of science fiction and fantasy writers as we work on our current projects in the same space. The format will be similar to our online writing sprints: 30-minute blocks of focused, quiet writing time (the sprints), interspersed with breaks where we can chat, ask questions, and share our writing experiences.

Let’s do some coding together at a cafe! No more working alone in the weekend. Here, we write code together. And I mean together together. Not occupying-the-same-space-but-separate together. Here’s how it works: Jennifer brings her mobile app project, tells everyone that it is like Pinterest for recipes and she’d like to work on the nav bar. Paul and Chloe think Jennifer's project is fascinating, and they join the group. They gather around Jennifer’s laptop and work on the nav bar for 2 hours. Jennifer is the one typing out the code while Paul and Chloe research, brainstorm, and offer suggestions. If you’re feeling stuck on your own project or need a motivation boost, bring it to mob programming! Want to learn by watching how others code and solve problems? Join someone else’s project at this event! Oh and we love your half-done projects that you are a bit embarrassed to share. Absolutely bring those to the event! **Discord**: We use Discord to share screen & code snippets during the event. Also feel free to share your projects here before the event! https://discord.gg/xwjDdVSw3E **Event policy**: * We have 0 tolerance for harassment. * We don’t allow the projects that are not meant to be shared in public such as school assignments, interview tasks, or trade secrets. * The goal is to write code. We discourage you from pitching business ideas here, doing code reviews, or spending the whole event on planning what to do. * Please buy a drink, and tip the barista well.

Join your community of fellow Intuitives and MBTI nerds for a casual evening of engaging conversation. We get together every second Sunday – with a mix of regulars and new friends. There is no fee to attend, though we ask that you support the venue by ordering something to eat or drink. **Feel free to contact event host B. via Facebook/Meetup messenger, or text/call 416-712-8635 for directions**. About the venue: The Pint Public House Nearest Subway: Union Station Map / Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/G5GfXDSQXeifJ5ot5 We make an effort to find pubs that are quiet and introvert friendly, with a section to ourselves. We make no effort to muffle our extroverts, but should they get out of hand, our resident INTJ will use their death stare, to pull them back in line.

[Summary] This meetup is for those who are interested in code, web development, design, cloud, or AI. All levels are welcome, so feel free to bring your laptop and discuss what you are working on or what you are learning. You can share your projects and ideas with other participants freely. There are outlets and WiFi, drinks are about $5 for tea, they take card only. [Price] Attendance is FREE. But you need to buy something from the venue. [Policies] \- We do not tolerate harassment of our members \- We remind users that that this meetup is intended for networking and hobby development\, and any attempts at using this meetup event as a dating platform will not be not be tolerated Further information: https://torontostack.exchange/

Come meet your people! We're a loose crew of tech hobbyists, coders, tinkerers, AI nerds, Linux geeks, self-hosters, and general wizards of the weird and cool. No agenda, no slides, no sales pitches. Just good conversation over drinks. Pull up a stool, tell us what you're building, breaking, or obsessing over lately. We want to hear about your home lab, your AI experiments, your side projects, your rabbit holes. All skill levels welcome, curious beginner or grizzled sysadmin, there's a seat for you. **Drinks are on you. Good conversation is on us.** See you there!

Is Yellowstone National Park really on the verge of a massive eruption? It’s one of the most common questions volcanologists get—and in this session, you’ll learn how to answer it yourself. In this talk, we’ll break down how volcanoes work, why eruptions happen, and how scientists know when one might be coming. Along the way, we’ll tackle common misconceptions and show how monitoring keeps us informed and safe. By the end, you’ll leave with the tools to answer this question like a volcanologist—and maybe correct a few myths along the way. For this meetup Silvia Castilla is returning to the Knowledge Sharing Club to share her expertise. Silvia Castilla is a PhD student in the Earth Sciences department at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on volcanology and isotope geochemistry to understand the processes that occur before volcanic eruptions. Her PhD project involves studying rocks from around the world, conducting stable isotope analyses, and applying these techniques to determine how long it takes for a volcano to erupt. \-\-\-\-\- I will post the location as we get closer to the date.

**Latest Dojo Location!** **Knotty Pine Brewing** 1765 W 3rd Ave, Columbus, OH 43212 We're going to try a new dojo location for a few weeks and see how it works Dojos are informal Python group study sessions where everyone interested in Python gathers to learn about Python, help others with Python, or just hang out. Everyone is welcome from Python beginners to experts. Bringing a laptop is encouraged (we'll have extension cords and power strips). If there's something you want to learn leave a comment on this invite so we can plan ahead. We're looking for speakers for our Monthly Meetups! Fill out the form if you are interested in presenting to the Python Community. https://forms.gle/ehSfUAC2WgR34Crq9

The June Ohio North Database Training user group meeting will be held on **June 2nd, 2026 at 5:00PM**. This will be a **HYBRID** event and we will be joined online by **Sam Nasr.** You're welcome to come meet in-person at our meeting location, the offices of Improving at **[6000 Freedom Square Dr,](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Improving/@41.4004167,-81.6614462,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x8830e5b8255c5919:0xd8297060eb68fe04!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830dc7a0fe35dc9:0xbfc4710ecadfc5c!8m2!3d41.4004127!4d-81.6588713!16s%2Fg%2F1hm3hkqp3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQzMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** **[Unit 110,](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Improving/@41.4004167,-81.6614462,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x8830e5b8255c5919:0xd8297060eb68fe04!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830dc7a0fe35dc9:0xbfc4710ecadfc5c!8m2!3d41.4004127!4d-81.6588713!16s%2Fg%2F1hm3hkqp3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQzMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** **[Independence, OH 44131](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Improving/@41.4004167,-81.6614462,17z/data=!3m2!4b1!5s0x8830e5b8255c5919:0xd8297060eb68fe04!4m6!3m5!1s0x8830dc7a0fe35dc9:0xbfc4710ecadfc5c!8m2!3d41.4004127!4d-81.6588713!16s%2Fg%2F1hm3hkqp3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQzMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)** [Teams Link ](https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/215625630917731?p=vxNb3zudhNj0S6Cg0v)if anyone needs it after RSVP-ing for in person. If you would like to subscribe to our email list outside of Meetup, we have changed platforms recently and you will need to register [here in Kit ](https://ohio-north-data-training.kit.com/b8f036f615)instead to receive emails. Agenda: **5:00 PM EST**: Online and in-person meeting begins with a social hour. This is an unstructured hour where you can join us to catch up and meet other group members before the session starts. There will be food brought in for in-person attendees. **6:00 PM EST**: Elections, announcements, followed by our feature presentation. See below for presentation details. **7:30 PM EST**: Optionally after the main presentations, the in-person crowd may go out for snacks and drinks at a local establishment. We hope to see you there! Session Abstract ### SQL Server 2025: The Developer’s Revolution Explore SQL Server 2025’s new dev features -JSON type, Regular Expressions, and Change Event Streaming for real-time pipelines. See how REST API and Data API Builder turn your data into secure, high-performance APIs. Packed with demos, this session is perfect for developers, DBAs, and architects \*Please note, that we will be using Microsoft Teams for the online portion of this meeting. You may want to join a few minutes early to ensure you do not have any issues. If you are attending in person, there are large TVs at the office, and you do not need to bring a laptop or use Teams.

**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** Like it or not, AI agents are now capable of turning a quickly written paragraph of requirements into a pull request that is ready to be integrated into real-world production applications and it's now our responsibility to make sure AI doesn't go rogue and take down prod - or corrupt our data by misunderstanding the requirements or our existing schemas. In this session we'll explore strategies to protect our codebases through unit and integration testing, documentation, and code review along with additional ways of providing context and guard rails to our AI agents as they carry out the work we've assigned them to do. By the time we're done, you'll have a firm grasp of the problem and understand some helpful options for protecting your codebase from vibe coding mishaps getting YOLOed into prod. **YouTube Link** TBD

**Abstract:** This is a practical playbook for building a production-grade data lakehouse. It walks through foundational principles — naming conventions, least-privilege access, automated CI/CD testing — before diving into medallion architecture. Furthermore, metadata-driven design patterns show how configuration tables and dynamic notebook orchestration eliminates hard-coded pipelines. The deck covers star schema modeling, guidance on choosing between Spark, Pandas, and SQL, and data quality enforcement using DQX with YAML data contracts. Finally, we dive into security best practices and performance optimizations. **Host:** Justin Shea, Mehdi Jeddi, Erik Pak, and Sou-Cheng Choi **Talk Format:** This is a hybrid event. To attend online, join us on Zoom here at 6pm: https://iit-edu.zoom.us/j/89379230295?pwd=NdETyE5sdYuSrvsrBZXSBFkUESBVkg.1 Meeting ID: 893 7923 0295 Passcode: 5t5WYn **Sponsor:** Adyen, UIC College of Business, and PyData Chicago co-host this event. UIC will provide the meeting site. Adyen will sponsor pizza and soft drinks for the onsite participants. **Address:** University of Illinois - Chicago, Douglass Hall, Room 220, 705 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607 **Logistics:** “UIC Douglass Hall” is recognized on Google Maps, which can guide you through campus. Once you arrive, proceed to the second floor, room number 220

**Welcome to Drunken Philosophy** a casual, curious social discussion **Optional topic for this meetup: What's up with all the AI hate?** A recent survey found that 74% of Americans have a negative view of AI, and I want to know why. Come out and debate whether AI is good or bad. My hot take: a labor-saving tool that could potentially help cure cancer gets called dangerous because it might raise unemployment or cause a speculative investment bubble, that tells you a lot more about capitalism and the economic system we live under than it does about the tool itself. As a computer programmer, I think AI is a wonderful tool that has increased my productivity by at least an order of magnitude. I'd go so far as to say Claude Code is the best tool I have ever used. Debate me and name a better one. Is AI potentially dangerous? Yes, but so are a lot of tools. Chainsaws. Steam engines (early ones would occasionally explode and kill everyone in the room). Do you think cavemen sat around debating whether fire could be used as a weapon or for self-harm, and decided not to discover it? I have two friends who hate AI for opposite reasons: one thinks it's a fad and not useful, and the other thinks it's going to take over everything and cause human extinction. Come out tonight, have a friendly debate, and make some friends. No lectures. Friendly crowd. Drop in for one drink and stay if it's fun.

Most people use AI like a search box: they type one sentence, hope for the best, and get frustrated when the answer is generic, wrong, or useless. But getting better results from tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other AI systems is not about memorizing magic prompts. It is about learning how to give the AI better context. In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll break down how to make AI dramatically more useful by improving the way you communicate with it. You’ll learn how to give clearer instructions, provide examples, set constraints, ask for better output formats, and use follow-up questions to turn a mediocre answer into a genuinely useful one. We’ll cover practical techniques you can use immediately for work, learning, writing, coding, planning, research, and everyday problem solving. We’ll also touch on why these same ideas show up in more advanced AI systems, including RAG, agents, evaluations, and AI workflows. No technical background required. Bring your curiosity, your questions, and maybe one real task you wish AI was better at helping you with. **What you’ll learn:** * Why “better prompting” is really about better context * How to structure requests so AI gives more useful answers * How to use examples, constraints, and output formats * How to iterate when the first answer is not good enough * How these skills connect to more advanced AI workflows This meetup is for anyone who wants to move beyond basic ChatGPT usage and start getting more practical value out of AI. LOGISTICS AND PARKING: The talk starts at 7:00 PM. The first half hour is reserved for everyone to get set up and mingle. Free pizza and drinks! The cheapest parking option is to find street parking, which will only cost you a few bucks. Otherwise, park in the nearby veteran's museum lot for $8. It's highly recommended you avoid the nearby $15 garage parking.

NFT's are here to stay folks! This is a group for like minded people interested in understanding, leveraging, using, creating for, profiting from, trading too i suppose, NFT's.. everything around them, complexity, fear and exploits, best practices and more. **PLUS** This group will talk AI ART tools, techniques, artists, video, audio, prototypes and more in the AI assisted production space- ART specifically, but we can get into any aspect of some of the cooler things happening in AI in general.