Space Exploration

Happy January NYPGrs! For this quarterly IN-PERSON get together we are booked at the Trio Bar in the North York Novotel Hotel, for Tuesday, January 27th from 5pm to 10pm for drinks, snacks, catching up and comparing notes with our circle of very scientific friends new and old!! We know there are a lot of members who live too far away to attend this informal gathering, but if you can make it, we’d love to see you! We’ve moved the time back to 5pm for people who can come earlier but can’t stay late.. We'll be there at 5pm waiting for you!! The in-person attendance limit is 20 with a waitlist..so if you’ve RSVPd and can’t make it after all, it will be appreciated if you can change your RSVP accordingly. If you have a question ahead of time, plz send Betty a Meetup message. So, NYPG members..whether you come early or later, we look forward to seeing you who can make it in person, on Thursday, January 27th from 5pm to 10pm for an evening of cheer and catchup! Betty and Mohsen +++++++++++++++++ About the North York Physics Group (NYPG) NYPG was established in 2007 and now has almost 2,000 members. Our monthly virtual meetings provide a venue for learning from members and guest academics and scientists. We also have video lectures covering on all aspects of Physics. Our quarterly In-Person meetings are for touching base and catchup for those who can attend personally.) We encourage our members to submit presentations or help us find great Physics presenters, whether they be professional academics, post-grads, or just physics enthusiasts. Within our 3 hour +/- meetup, each member gets to learn and discuss many aspects of Physics. And then there's the No Holds Bar for more informal discussions. The only "formal" qualifications you need to join is a sincere personal desire and enthusiasm for Physics; to keep yourself informed and to courteously share your insights. **BTW**: Some members have asked if we will be going back to in-person regular meetings. That would be nice, but, many of our attendees are at too much of a distance, or prefer not travelling, so the virtual meetings work well. However, we are looking into possible hybrid meetings, meaning that an appropriate, free meeting space with reliable internet service is a must. In the meantime, we are having quarterly in-person informal meetings just to meet and catchup. We hope to see you at our next one!! Mohsen and I would like to thank our Organizing Team: Linda, Dan, Larry and Aaron for their past and present dedicated support of NYPG. Thank you TEAM! Betty and Mohsen.

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $35 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

***This is a ticketed event, please register on [luma](https://luma.com/27b9w1n5) to reserve your spot.*** [​](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrin-gardhouse-988691175) Kathrin Gardhouse presents her draft paper on how liability insurance could function as a form of private regulation for frontier AI, translating catastrophic risk into enforceable safety standards rather than box-ticking compliance. The talk outlines a proposed “minimum insurability pathway” for AI developers and explores whether and how a narrow, restrictive insurance mandate could meaningfully reduce catastrophic AI risks while complementing public regulation. ​​**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 attend in person, join our live stream starting at 6:30 pm via [this link](https://www.youtube.com/@Trajectory-Labs/live). ​​This is part of our weekly **[AI Policy Tuesdays ](https://luma.com/trajectory-labs?k=c)**series. Join us in examining questions like: * ​​How should AI development be regulated? * ​​What are the economic and social implications of widespread automation? * ​​How do we balance innovation with safety considerations? * ​​What governance structures are needed for safer AI?

\*These classes are not a language exchange, but instead are meant to be a step in between so that students feel confident maintaining in depth and grammatically correct oral conversations outside of class\* \***Meetup event numbers only tend to show new students registering and do not include returning students attending class.** **Per class, there is an average of 7 students.** The first 2 classes are free and then only cost between $15 and $35 depending on which type of class you want to continue with\* These French, English (For Spanish and French speakers only), and Spanish classes are primarily meant for adults who are travellers, or who are planning to live in a French, English, or Spanish-speaking country. The classes are primarily oral-based through guided conversations. They will teach you how to handle conversations in situations such as **"Going to the Convenience Store"**, **"Making Plans"**, **"Negotiating Prices"**, and **"Going out for a Drink"**. To ensure that students get used to using the language automatically, students will learn to maintain contextual conversations with timing before moving on to the next lesson. Call (647)787-9953, e-mail us info@monkeylingo.ca, or visit monkeylingo.ca for more information! **Online and private classes are also available!** No other language classes are as conversational as these ones. We guarantee it! Cheap parking can be found using the "Spot Hero" app.

**❗️IMPORTANT❗️ Please register only on Luma: [https://luma.com/tjrvpd6v](https://luma.com/tjrvpd6v)** ​ In this session, we’ll walk through building a real product landing page — the kind you’d actually ship for a startup, side project, or portfolio. Starting from a Figma design, we’ll move all the way to production-ready code using modern AI tools like Cursor and MCP. ​This is a practical, honest look at how modern designers work closer to real product delivery. ​ ​🧠 **What we’ll cover** ​• Turning Figma designs into reusable code components • Translating a design system into clean, consistent code • Adding subtle motion and interactivity • Where AI fits into a modern design-to-code workflow ​No laptop needed — this is a guided, walkthrough-style session focused on learning and inspiration. ​ 📅 **Date & Time:** January 27, 6:00 PM 🎟 **Entry:** Free ​ ​🎙 **Speaker:** ​[Nima Tahami](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nimatahami/) is a product designer, builder, and educator with 15 years of experience turning ideas into shipped products. He has taught 18,000+ students worldwide through best-selling Figma courses and is currently building CueClip, an AI video editor, while helping teams bridge the gap between design and code. ​ ​👥 **Who should join:** ​• Mid+ product designers • Design-minded engineers and builders • Anyone curious about AI-powered product workflows ​ ​📅 **Agenda:** ​6:00 PM — Doors open 6:30 – 6:45 PM — Event intro 6:45 – 8:00 PM — Main session with Nima 8:00 – 9:00 PM — Networking ​ ​✨ Come for the learning, stay for the conversations. Friendly, practical, and community-driven — we can’t wait to see you.

​Come join our wintertime PATH walk! ​​\*\*(We're meeting INSIDE the Eaton's centre next to the big Christmas Tree at % Arabica Toronto Eaton Centre)\*\* ​​Start your Saturday morning off right. ​​The mindful miles brings together a group of curious people to meet up and walk 10k-ish steps at 8am every Saturday. ​​It is a space for people who love wandering conversations, without the pressure of networking or speed dating. ​​We will meet up at **% Arabica** (inside on the 1st floor\*\*: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/JsUBWoFPCMzjhxwT6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/JsUBWoFPCMzjhxwT6)\*\*) at 8 am and then head into the PATH for our walk. ​​After the walk, you are invited to join us for an optional 20-minute mindfulness practice, followed by our weekly [Foodcourt Fairgrounds](https://www.meetup.com/happy-town/events/312838411/).

​​**Important registration information: ​​To participate in this event, please join [Apart Research's Discord Sever](https://discord.gg/Bu7h9qZJ) prior to the start of the hackathon.** ​​This hackathon focuses on building that missing infrastructure. You'll have one intensive weekend to create verification protocols, monitoring tools, privacy-preserving compliance proofs, or coordination systems that could enable enforceable international cooperation on AI safety. ​**Top teams get:** ​**💰 $2000 in cash prizes + Fast track to:** * ​**Your Next Job at [Lucid Computing](https://lucidcomputing.ai/)** * ​**The MIRI TGT Fellowship** * [​](https://apartresearch.com/fellowships/:QfRYyF7d7)**[The Apart Fellowship](https://apartresearch.com/fellowships/:QfRYyF7d7)** ​​You will work in teams over one weekend and submit open-source benchmarks, detection tools, scenario analyses, monitoring tools, or empirical research advancing our understanding of AI trajectories. [​​​​​​Trajectory Labs](https://www.trajectorylabs.org/), the jamsite, provides a comfortable and spacious coworking space along with coffee, tea, and other refreshments (meals not provided, but there are many nearby options). Other locations will also be taking part!

​(This will take place shortly after our weekly morning walks, the mindful miles.) ​Welcome to the Foodcourt Fairgrounds. ​We gather as a group in the basement food court of the Aura Concourse Shopping Mall, where a series of hosts will run low-key activities (writing, chats, hobbies, etc.). ​It’ll be a lovely time, especially cause you'll be there.

New Rules: Starting now, we are asking that each person contribute $2 towards maintaining this page. Without our space here on MeetUp, there is no group. So we ask that you bring a tooney when you come to keep us operational. Thank you very much! Thank you to everyone who has ordered something to eat or drink. It's very important that we each make a purchase, even just a tea or coffee, to maintain our welcome. Mil veces, gracias!

***Tickets must be purchased in advance!*** [https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-hottest-ai-blockchain-tech-finance-networking-event-tickets-1980337550924?aff=Fbinterest](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-hottest-ai-blockchain-tech-finance-networking-event-tickets-1980337550924?aff=Fbinterest) **Welcome to the Toronto AI, Blockchain, Tech & Finance Networking Event!** Welcome to the Toronto AI, Blockchain, Tech & Finance Networking Event! Join us for an exciting evening of dynamic networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration in the heart of Toronto. This in-person event will take place at IDK Social Bar, a modern venue designed to spark connections and conversations among forward-thinking professionals. Whether you're passionate about artificial intelligence, blockchain, finance, or cutting-edge technology, this event is your gateway to building meaningful connections, exploring new opportunities, and engaging with Toronto’s most ambitious innovators. ### 🌐 Event Highlights * Networking Opportunities: Connect with AI experts, blockchain innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs shaping the future of tech and finance. * Collaboration & Partnerships: Discover synergies and potential ventures across industries at the intersection of AI, blockchain, and fintech. * Future Trends: Stay ahead by exploring the latest breakthroughs in AI applications, blockchain adoption, and financial technologies driving global transformation. ### 👥 Who Should Attend? * Professionals: Build valuable connections in AI, blockchain, finance, and technology. * Entrepreneurs & CEOs: Exchange insights with other founders and business leaders. * Investors & VCs: Discover innovative startups and promising ventures. * Developers & Engineers: Meet peers working on AI-driven and blockchain-powered projects. * Job Seekers & Recent Graduates: Explore career opportunities in high-growth industries. * Startups & Project Managers: Recruit talent, find partners, and showcase your innovations. * Media & Influencers: Connect with industry thought leaders and innovators. ### 📅 Date & Location When: Wed\, Jan 28th\, 2025 \| 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM Where: Mademoiselle Toronto ### *✨ The Stellar Socials Experience* At Stellar Socials by Limitless, we specialize in curating premium networking events that bring together professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders across North America. Our mission is to inspire collaboration, innovation, and growth by facilitating authentic connections in stylish, high-energy environments. Expect a relaxed yet purposeful evening where organic conversations flow. Whether attending solo or with colleagues, you’ll leave with new contacts, fresh insights, and opportunities for collaboration. ### 📲 Join Our Community * Instagram: [@stellarsocialsbylimitless](https://www.instagram.com/stellarsocialsbylimitless/ "https://www.instagram.com/stellarsocialsbylimitless/") * Facebook: Stellar Socials by Limitless * TikTok: @stellar.socials

The Ethereum Developers Meetup in Toronto (and surrounding area) is back for 2026! Our first guest of the year will be [Jan Gorzny](https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jangorzny), co-founder of the Ethereum Layer 2 [Zircuit](https://www.zircuit.com/), the safe haven for onchain finance. Jan is a co-founder of Zircuit. He is an experienced researcher in algorithm design and formal methods and is interested in all things rollups, plasma, and beyond. At Zircuit, Jan's research is focused on sequencer-level security, minimizing proof generation time, and developing novel methods to check the correctness of zero-knowledge circuits. He received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo in 2022. Regardless if you're new to the Ethereum community or have been in this community for years, we'd love to get Toronto, Waterloo and surrounding area Ethereum builders bonded together to create and build synergies. Please join us for some refreshments and enjoy a couple hours surrounded by like-minded builders of Ethereum. RSVP here and follow our Luma group calendar here: https://luma.com/ethereumdevelopers

The Future of Software Needs Product Leaders Who Build With Purpose Join GitLab and Obsidi® for an exclusive Tech Talk in Toronto—designed specifically for mid- to senior-level product managers who are shaping the next era of technology and want to accelerate their impact. As a global DevSecOps leader, GitLab is transforming the way products are built, shipped, secured, and scaled in a fully remote-first world. This event explores how GitLab’s AI-driven development, secure product practices, and inclusive culture are setting new standards for product leadership across the industry. This isn’t just a tech conversation—it’s a career catalyst. Connect directly with GitLab product leaders, hear how they navigate complex roadmaps at global scale, and discover what it takes to lead product with clarity, influence, and vision. **Why Product Managers Should Attend** * **Advance your career trajectory** \- Engage with GitLab’s product recruitment team\, explore open roles\, and uncover how your experience aligns with their global product strategy\. * **Learn from product leaders building at scale** \- Gain insights from GitLab’s senior product and engineering experts on leading AI integration\, driving security\-first product decisions\, and building in a DevSecOps world\. * **Expand your influence and network** \- Connect with fellow product professionals and innovators across the Obsidi® community who are charting new paths in tech leadership\. 💻 Can’t attend in person? Join virtually and take part in the conversation online. **[CLICK HERE](https://app.obsidi.com/event/8ce930f5-5e50-433f-8b0b-b747518fd855?utm_source=obsidi&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=TechTalk-2026-jan-29&utm_content=meetup-hyperlink&utm_obsidi_source=events)** to register

Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program: Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there! Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

While some are still meeting online, this is an in person event. Please note that we have attendees of all levels of speaking, including some native speakers. All are welcome! Also, as we meet at the same time and place each week, many don’t RSVP on the app, so we will likely have more attendees than noted here. Note: if you are asked to pay and upgrade the Meetup app, this is not necessary. You can ignore this and still attend our meetings.

Love, museums? How about an experience with an adult twist? This event will be different as tickets are required to be purchased through COSI ($37: No add on required) Come by yourself or come with a guest. Most of our members work the following day so a little fun before calling it a night can never be a bad idea.  Experience the ultimate fusion of flavor and innovation at COSI After Dark: Cocktails and Chemistry on February 12! A dozen of Columbus’ top mixologists will compete in a science-infused cocktail invitational, crafting imaginative drinks that blend creativity, chemistry, and competition. Guests will enjoy included samples from all 11 contenders and cast their votes to crown the evening’s champion. Featuring award-winning local spirits and cutting-edge techniques, this 21+ event transforms COSI into the city’s most spirited laboratory, and an unforgettable night that’s perfectly mixed for your Valentine’s week. COSI After Dark: Cocktails & Chemistry is on February 12, 7pm - 10pm,

Confidence can be cultivated in many ways—through reflection, conversation, creativity, and practice. In this Confidence Lab session, we’ll explore one powerful pathway: **building confidence from the inside out through physical expression and movement**. This experience is designed to help you reconnect with your body as a source of insight, self-trust, and presence. We’ll begin by grounding into what’s bringing you here, creating space to notice how your body is showing up and what it’s holding. From there, you’ll be guided through accessible movement exercises that invite awareness and choice—isolating different parts of the body, experimenting with movement, and practicing what it feels like to take up space intentionally. Next, you’ll participate in a small-group dance lesson led in a supportive, low-pressure environment. No dance experience is needed. The focus is not on performance or perfection, but on expression, curiosity, and allowing yourself to move with confidence as you are. We’ll close with a reflective group discussion, exploring what emerged during the experience and how these insights can be applied beyond the studio—how you inhabit your body, how you carry yourself, and how you show up in everyday life. **What to know:** * Wear comfortable clothes and shoes that you feel good moving in * No dance experience required * Light snacks and beverages will be provided This session is for anyone interested in deepening their relationship with confidence by listening to their body, expanding their capacity for self-expression, and practicing self-love as an embodied experience. **Featured Speaker: Mary Grace** Mary Grace, the dynamic force behind MG Choreography & Boutique, has been transforming special occasions with her unique blend of artistry and passion for over seven years. As a proud Latina, with Venezuelan and Mexican heritage, Mary brings a rich cultural perspective to every choreography she creates. Her dedication to dance is matched only by her commitment to empowering others through the joy and elegance of movement. Mary’s journey began with a simple passion for dancing, which quickly grew into a thriving business. She specializes in crafting personalized choreography for weddings, quinceañeras, and sweet sixteens, ensuring each event is unforgettable. Determined to make a significant impact in Ohio, Mary established the first-of-its-kind brick-and-mortar location that not only offers a space to practice these beautiful dances but also provides a boutique experience for purchasing or renting exquisite dresses and tuxedos for these special moments. Mary Grace is more than just a business owner; she is a trailblazer for Latina women in the community, dedicated to bringing elegance, joy, and a touch of her vibrant heritage to every event she touches. **What is Confidence Lab?** Confidence Lab is a monthly community experience for bold, thoughtful leaders building confidence from the inside out. Whether you’re launching a business, leading a team, navigating change, or simply striving to show up more fully—you belong here. Our work demands clarity, courage, and conviction—but the pace of daily life can erode our sense of self. Confidence Lab creates space to reflect, reconnect, and grow with others doing purpose-driven work. It’s designed for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, creatives, corporate professionals, activists, and anyone ready to lead with authenticity and impact. ***Please note:*** *All are welcome! If cost is a concern, please use promo code PUBLIC to access a free ticket—we want you to join us.*

## Details \#\# Learn Infrastructure\-as\-Code \(the FUN Way\) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: DevOps Columbus - Azure CBUS - Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint DevOps Columbus, Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. \#\#\# What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time \#\#\# Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐

At Unity of Columbus, our Youth and Family Ministry nurtures the spiritual growth of children and families through love, joy, and practical spiritual teachings. Each Sunday, children explore timeless spiritual principles through stories, creative activities, music, and group sharing in a safe and welcoming environment. Our program encourages children to discover their own inner light, express kindness, and develop a personal connection with God. Together, we celebrate diversity, cultivate understanding, and inspire each child to live with purpose and compassion. Parents and families are invited to join in this uplifting journey of learning, laughter, and spiritual connection.

## Learn Infrastructure-as-Code (the FUN Way) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: Azure CBUS × Columbus HashiCorp User Group × DevOps Columbus** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint Azure CBUS, Columbus HashiCorp User Group, and DevOps Columbus meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. ### What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time ### Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐 Want to be a speaker? submit your talk to our Call for Presenters!!! https://sessionize.com/azure-cbus-2026/