Futurology

Importante: O grupo é ativo e o encontro acontece toda segunda (geralmente tem pelo menos 10 participantes, mesmo que não apareçam aqui no aplicativo). A gente se organiza mais por um grupo de WhatsApp do que pelo MeetUp. Entre em contato com Timur para ser adicionada/o ao grupo de WhatsApp. Hallo Leute / Oi, pessoal! Hallo an alle! Montag machen wir einen Sprachaustausch Portugiesisch-Deutsch. Wir treffen uns um 19:00 Uhr im Yorkschlösschen. Es ist egal, ob du bereits gut Portugiesisch sprichst oder erst dabei bist, die Sprache zu lernen, lass uns gemeinsam üben! Wir sehen uns dort :) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Temos um evento bacaninha para quem quer praticar alemão e/ou português em Berlin. Vamos nos encontrar às 19:00h no Yorkschlösschen. Não importa se você já fala bem alemão ou se tá só aprendendo, vamos praticar!

This is a **casual, in-person Mavericks meetup** centered around movement rather than conversation alone. We’ll meet at a bouldering gym, climb at our own pace, take breaks, and let conversations happen naturally in between. There’s no training, no coaching, and no performance expectation. Bouldering is chosen deliberately: it’s simple, physical, and clears mental noise fast. You’re focused on the wall, your body, and the next move—which makes everything else drop into the background. This meetup is about: * moving your body * getting out of your head * spending time with people who don’t need constant explanation * letting connection happen without forcing depth You don’t need to be an experienced climber. If you’re comfortable trying things, resting when needed, and staying curious, you’ll be fine. 📍 **Where:** Ostbloc Hauptstraße 13, 10317 Berlin 🕒 **Duration:** Approx. 2 hours (come and go as it fits) 👥 **Group size:** Limited spots to keep it relaxed and manageable Bring comfortable clothes, climbing shoes if you have them (rentals are available), and a normal human level of social energy. No agenda. No outcome. Just movement, presence, and seeing how it unfolds.

## Wo & Wann? **JEDEN MONTAG** findet die offene Lesebühne des Autorenforums Berlin statt (außer an Feiertagen) **BEGINN**: 20:00 Uhr **ANMELDUNG zum Lesen: ab 19:30 Uhr** beim Moderator des Abends – siehe [Termine](http://autorenforum-berlin.de/wordpress/termine/); Die Teilnahme an der Veranstaltung ist kostenlos. **SCHWARTZSCHE VILLA** **Großer Salon** Direkt am S/U Rathaus Steglitz Grunewaldstr. 55 Der offene Leseabend stellt das Herzstück des Autorenforums e.V. dar. Er steht nicht nur Mitgliedern, sondern grundsätzlich jedem Autor und jeder Autorin offen, der gerne einen unveröffentlichten Text vor Publikum präsentieren möchte. Auch Kritik kann jedermann üben. Wer lieber zuhören möchte, kann einfach am Montagabend um 20.00 in der Schwartzschen Villa erscheinen. Für Lesewillige gilt die unten stehende ausführliche Information (mündliche Anmeldung ab 19:30 Uhr). *Unfortunately at the moment, it's only possible to present German texts. Unpublished texts that are already translated into German are highly welcome!* ## Was erwartet Sie? Im Großen Salon der Schwartzsche Villa treffen Sie auf einen Kreis von Literaturbegeisterten, die Ihrem Text eine ernsthafte und fundierte Kritik spenden. Das Publikum wechselt. Es ist gemischt, geeint durch das Interesse an Texten. Die Autorinnen und Autoren des Abends lesen aus ihren bislang unveröffentlichten Kurzgeschichten, lyrischen Texten, Erzählungen, Romanen, manchmal auch aus Theaterstücken. Die Autoren stellen nicht sich selbst, sondern ihre Texte der Kritik. Wir verstehen uns als Arbeitsbühne. Deshalb wird bei uns nach den Lesungen nicht geklatscht. Die Texte werden nach der Lesung des Autors auf handwerkliche Stärken und Schwächen „abgeklopft“. Es geht im Forum daher nicht um weltanschauliche Debatten. Im Idealfall hat der Autor/die Autorin nach einer Lesung und der Kritik verstanden, wo die Stärken und Schwächen seines Textes liegen, woran es seinem Text noch fehlt, was er ändern sollte und wo er bei seiner Überarbeitung ansetzen kann. Der Abend endet gegen 22.00. Im Anschluss können Sie mit den Autoren im Café der Schwartzschen Villa noch ins Gespräch kommen und manches aus dem Literaturbetrieb erfahren. Wir sind im Kontakt auch mit namhaften Vertretern desselben. Also – nicht gleich verschwinden! Dranbleiben. Reden Sie mit den Forumianern! ## Sie möchten selbst lesen? Wenn Sie selbst im Autorenforum lesen wollen, gibt es einige Dinge zu beachten. Wir bitten Sie sehr herzlich, sich mindestens einmal vor Ihrer ersten Lesung bei uns mit unseren Gegebenheiten vertraut zu machen. Ihren Lesewunsch können Sie dann ab 19.30 Uhr (Einlass) bei der Moderatorin oder dem Moderator eines Leseabends anmelden. **Wir weisen ausdrücklich daraufhin, dass über die Annahme und Reihenfolge der Lesungen die jeweiligen Moderatoren entscheiden und es NICHT zwingend nach der Reihenfolge der Anmeldungen geht!** In der Regel reicht die Zeit nur für drei Autoren je Abend und die Nachfrage ist oft recht hoch. Falls Sie einen lyrischen Text vortragen möchten, bringen Sie bitte mindestens 10 (zehn) Kopien mit, damit Ihr Publikum mitlesen kann. Die Kopien erhalten Sie selbstverständlich zurück. # Wie üben wir Textkritik? Nach der Idee von Maik Turni ## **Anschleichen** **Wie wirkt der Text auf mich?** (Keine Angst vor Adjektiven! ) **Was habe ich gehört?** (Zusammenfassung (Nacherzählung)) **Was blieb unverstanden** (akustisch oder logisch) ## **Unter der Lupe** **Was ist das für ein Text?** (Prosa: Genre? Lyrik: Welche Art lyrischer Text?) **Thema** (Welches Thema berührt der Text? Hat der Autor sein Thema im Griff? Ist es überzeugend/plausibel/gut recherchiert, vielleicht sogar zu faktenreich?) **Figuren** (Wie wirken die Figuren? Wer ist die Hauptfigur? Welches Problem hat die Hauptfigur?) **Perspektive** (Wie verhält sich die Erzählperspektive zum Thema / zu den Figuren?) **Sprache** (Welche Bilder sind stimmig / welche nicht? Was lässt sich zum Rhythmus sagen? Sind die Sätze syntaktisch und grammatikalisch korrekt?) **Dramaturgie** (Schafft der Text es, Spannung zu erzeugen? In welcher Reihenfolge werden die Dinge erzählt?) **Bedeutung** (Gelingt es dem Autor, die Bedeutung, die er seinem Text geben will, auch im Leser entstehen zu lassen?) ## **Klarspüler** Fragen werden an den Text gestellt, nicht an den Autor! Daher sollte der Text antworten. ## **Weichspüler** Wird bei uns nicht verwendet. Aber es gilt: Nicht der Autor wird kritisiert, sondern der Text! Hart zum Text, sanft zum Autor!

-DROP IN - *(English below)* **Lindy Hop \| Swing Dance** Klassen (fast jeden Montag) 19:00 Uhr Starter 20:15 Uhr Improver / Refresher Für mehr Informationen & Kosten, bitte hier schauen: [SWING PATROL KOLLE 37](https://www.swingpatrolberlin.com/sp-kolle37.html) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Classes (almost) every Monday 19:00 Uhr Starter 20:15 Uhr Improver / Refresher For more information & cost, please look here: [SWING PATROL KOLLE 37](https://www.swingpatrolberlin.com/sp-kolle37.html)

Mondays don’t have to be rushed or empty. This Social Butterfly Club Meetup invites you to slow down at the beginning of the week and connect through thoughtful, meaningful conversations. A space for people who like reflecting, listening, and exchanging ideas — without needing to have everything figured out. 🌙 Come as you are. Curiosity is enough. ✨ **Suggested Ice Breaker Question:** *“What’s something you’ve been thinking about a lot lately?”* Orga This meetup is donation based. Your contribution helps keep this community alive and is highly appreciated. You can either contribute in cash or via Buy me a Coffee: [https://buymeacoffee.com/butterflyradar](https://buymeacoffee.com/butterflyradar) Questions? Check our FAQs: [https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/](https://socialbutterfly.berlin/meetup-faq/) Meet your host I’m Julia — a Berlin local who loves bringing people together. My path went from growing up in a dance school to studying philosophy to working in IT support, and somehow all of that led me here: hosting meetups and creating spaces where people can show up, relax, and connect. Insta [https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/](https://www.instagram.com/juwaberlin/) LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-waehnert/) About The Social Butterfly Club 🦋 is a Berlin-based community that has been bringing people together for over three years. Each gathering is part of a larger framework designed to help friendships grow through shared experiences in the city — with a long-term vision of turning Berlin itself into a shared, playful experience. Curious to learn more about the Social Butterfly Club? You can explore the bigger picture and stay connected here: [https://social-butterfly-berlin.kit.com/join](https://social-butterfly-berlin.kit.com/join) Join our Telegram Group: [https://t.me/+OnASVWZ7emhjYzEy](https://t.me/+OnASVWZ7emhjYzEy)

-DROP IN - *(English below)* **Lindy Hop \| Swing Dance** Klassen (fast jeden Montag) 18:15 Uhr Starter 19:30 Uhr Improver / Refresher Für mehr Informationen & Kosten, bitte hier schauen: **[SWING PATROL PANKE](https://www.swingpatrolberlin.com/sp-panke.html)** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Classes (almost) every Monday 18:15 Starter 19:30 Improver / Refresher For more information & cost, please look here: **[SWING PATROL PANKE](https://www.swingpatrolberlin.com/sp-panke.html)**

Liebe Rhetorikfreunde, Habt ihr Lust, die Kunst des Redens zu erlernen? Du kannst als Gast einfach reinschnuppern oder als Clubmitglied das volle Programme nutzen. Mithilfe eines ausgezeichneten praxisorientierten Programms kannst du einen von 11 verschiedenen Lernpfaden auswählen und in 5 aufeinander aufbauenden Stufen lernen: * frei und ohne Blackout zu reden * unterhaltsam und überzeugend zu präsentieren * souverän zu moderieren * Deine Körpersprache wirkungsvoll einzusetzen * spontan zu einem vorher unbekannten Thema zu pitchen Haben wir dich neugierig gemacht? Ganz gleich, ob du einfach mal „reinschnuppern“ oder dein Können gleich mit einer kurzen Stegreifrede unter Beweis stellen möchtest – wir freuen uns auf dich. Willkommen sind * Redebegeisterte * Redescheue * Kreative, denen die Werkzeuge zur Kommunikation fehlen * Angestellte/Selbstständige, die besser vor Publikum oder vorm Chef reden wollen Du kannst bei uns alle aktuellen Herausforderungen trainieren: * Präsenztreffen vor Publikum * Onlinetreffen * Präsentieren * Pitchen Wir freuen uns auf rege Teilnahme und Anmeldung. *** Der Eintritt ist kostenfrei. Wir beginnen pünktlich um 19:00 Uhr. Einlass ab 18:45 Uhr.

**BitDevs Bitcoin Socratic Seminar Berlin @ c-base Raumstation** Join us for our monthly interactive **[Bitcoin Socratic Seminar](https://bitdevs.berlin)** in Berlin! We’ll start with pizza and beer (sponsored by [Ordimint.com](https://ordimint.com)), followed by deep-dive discussions on the most interesting *technical* developments in Bitcoin from the past month. Participation by everyone is highly encouraged! Our goal is to foster lively discussion, knowledge sharing, and debate. In the weeks leading up to the event, participants gather topics such as: * New research papers * New BIPs and BOLTs * Network statistics * Technical blog posts * Mailing list and Delving Bitcoin threads * Pull requests and updates from key repos (Bitcoin Core, LND, Core Lightning, Eclair, BDK, rust-bitcoin, LDK, Electrum, …) Each topic is briefly introduced by our moderators and then discussed before moving on. The full list of links will be published at [bitdevs.berlin](https://bitdevs.berlin) 1–2 days before the event — please review them in advance to get the most out of the discussion. **Important details:** * This event is highly technical — best suited for those with a solid grasp of Bitcoin internals. Curious newcomers are always very welcome, but expect in-depth conversations (see the former topics at [bitdevs.berlin](https://bitdevs.berlin)). * Chatham House Rule applies: you may share what was discussed, but not who said it. No livestream, no photos, no recordings. * The evening begins with food and networking; people often stay after the seminar to keep talking. **Co-hosted by:** * [Felix](https://x.com/FelixWeis) * [Freerk](https://x.com/freerko) * [Fabian](https://x.com/fjahr) For background on the idea of BitDevs Socratic Seminars, see [this article](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/articles/op-ed-want-to-learn-about-bitcoin-try-a-local-socratic-seminar).

***Journey to the far reaches of beautiful Norway in Winter to witness one of the most spellbinding phenomena in the natural world by night.*** **HOW DO I JOIN THIS TRIP?** **For more detailed info & to get entry for this trip, click on link below 👇🏽:** [https://www.eventbrite.de/e/norway-northern-lights-dancing-auroras-ancient-culture-tickets-1589618474649?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/norway-northern-lights-dancing-auroras-ancient-culture-tickets-1589618474649?aff=meetup) **If you have WhatsApp, please do join this WhatsApp group below to further discuss about this trip:** [https://go.unt.global/Aurora_Europe_Trips](https://go.unt.global/Aurora_Europe_Trips) **Note: Flights inclusive price can be provided on request from any European city, so you can either join the Whatsapp group to further discuss this or post a comment here in order to get more details on it.** **WHY GO?** What better way to experience the Aurora Borealis aka Northern lights than in the city of northern lights, Alta. In Norwegian, Eventyr means both 'adventure' and 'fairy tale.' This is the perfect word to describe Alta, as it is a perfect place for active adventures in the mountains, forests and fjords that are reminiscent of fairy tale landscapes. The cold and long winters provide excellent conditions for dog sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, and other adventure activities. A modern city in Northern Norway surrounded by the arctic tundra and mountains, Alta is the ideal combination of natural and urban elements. The celestial dance of lights, known as Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is a phenomena as old as Earth’s atmosphere. The first record of Aurora Borealis is believed to be in a 30,000-year-old cave painting in France. Since then, cultures around the world have marveled at its magic, giving rise to many fascinating legends and folklore. In Norway alone, symbols linked to the northern lights are found on the Sámi shamanistic drum. They call it “Guovssahas,” i.e. “the light that can be heard.” During the Viking Age, the northern lights were said to be the armor of the Valkyrie warrior virgins that shed a strange flickering light. Today, locals respectfully refer to the lights as “the green lady.” Please do join our Whatsapp / Telegram channel for updates about our future trips including possible early bird discounts, contests etc. 1. [Whatsapp Channel](https://go.unt.global/travelgroup) 2. [Telegram Channel](https://t.me/urbanaturetravel)

Our friend **Dmitri Katz**, a 10 years+ long time friend and huge supporter of **STEM4Health**, **G4A**, **Digital Health**, and every **Innovation in Healthcare**, is organizing this event. I highly recommend to attend. Please register at https://luma.com/m47avlhj. AI is offering new opportunities to address persistent, high-impact societal challenges. In domains where social and human stakes are high, practical value will depend not only on technical performance, but on how well AI systems are aligned with ethical, institutional, and operational realities. Addressing this need requires sustained, cross-disciplinary collaboration grounded in real-world practice. To this end, **ÆTHOS Berlin** is building an interdisciplinary community of founders, researchers, practitioners, domain experts, and policymakers. ​In this workshop, we will discuss real-world care challenges and the constraints that shape responsible AI use. Participants are invited to contribute practical perspectives. ​**What we aim to produce:** ​The workshop will produce Challenge Briefs: short documents that describe (a) a concrete care problem, (b) its real-world impact, and (c) the key institutional, ethical, and practical constraints involved. Where it emerges naturally, the briefs may also note open directions for work, such as further research or approaches for AI implementation. The briefs will be published publicly after the event and shared as reference material for future research and innovation. ​**Workshop format (2 hours):** * ​Short, problem‑focused inputs from care‑domain experts, early‑stage startups, and other workshop attendees. * ​Small, mixed working groups * ​Each group drafts one brief using a simple structure: Problem · Impact · Constraints · Directions * ​Sharing and discussion ​**Why your participation matters:** * ​Help ensure that actual constraints shape how AI problems are defined * ​Bring institutional, ethical, and operational realities into the discussion early * ​Contribute to challenge definitions that shape the community’s future focus * ​Be acknowledged as a contributing participant in this first workshop ​ **What participation could involve:** * ​Share a real-world care‑domain challenge * ​Contributing to the drafting group * ​Bring a laptop if possible. ​This is an ÆTHOS community initiative. Participants are welcome to share what they are working on, but the focus will remain on problem framing rather than product pitching. If you have questions or would like to help with the workshop, please let us know. Warm Regards, Dmitri Katz ÆTHOS Initiative team [dmitrikatz23@gmail.com](mailto:dmitrikatz23@gmail.com) Place: Æthos Station, 3rd Floor, Lohmühlenstraße 65, Kreuzberg, Berlin

Hier ist jeder willkommen, der die deutsche Sprache üben möchte (egal, ob Anfänger oder fortgeschritten)! Wir treffen uns jeden Donnerstag in Kreuzkölln - es gibt Snacks, Getränke, nette Leute und jede Woche ein neues Thema, zu dem wir uns austauschen. Everyone is welcome here, who wants to practice the German language (whether a beginner or advanced)! We meet every Thursday in Kreuzkölln - there are snacks, drinks, friendly people, and a new topic every week for us to discuss. الجميع مرحب به هنا، من يرغب في ممارسة اللغة الألمانية (سواء كان مبتدئًا أو متقدمًا)! نجتمع كل يوم الخميس في كروتسكولن - هناك وجبات خفيفة، مشروبات، أشخاص لطفاء، وموضوع جديد كل أسبوع لنتبادل النقاش حوله.

Welcome to the PyData Berlin February meetup! We would like to welcome you all starting from 18:00. There will be food and drinks. The talks begin around 18.30 and the doors will close at 18:45. **Make sure to arrive on time!** Please provide your first and last name for the registration because this is required for the venue's entry policy. If you cannot attend, please cancel your spot so others are able to join as the space is limited. **Host**: **GetYourGuide** is excited to welcome you to this month's version of PyData. \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* The Lineup for the evening **Talk 1: How Data (Science) is Transforming Professional Sports** **Abstract**: From Moneyball's linear regression revolution to AlphaGo's Move 37, data science has fundamentally reshaped how we understand and play sports. This talk explores three key dimensions of this transformation: first, how analytics revolutionized scouting and training—from the Oakland Athletics' 20-game winning streak to Liverpool FC ending their 30-year championship drought through data-driven player selection. Second, how machine learning and real-time tracking systems have changed gameplay itself, making the mid-range jump shot obsolete in basketball and revealing chess strategies that had eluded grandmasters for thousands of years. Finally, we'll examine the darker consequences, including how ML-powered microbetting has transformed sports gambling into a $149 billion industry that resembles slot machines more than traditional wagering. This talk offers insights spanning baseball, soccer, basketball, chess, and Go - demonstrating how data science doesn't just optimize existing strategies, it fundamentally questions the assumptions entire sports were built upon. **Speaker**: Kaan Isik **Bio**: Kaan Isik is a Data Scientist at GetYourGuide where he works on the Activity Ranking team. As a member of this team, he focuses on developing and optimizing the learn-to-rank deep learning model that powers real-time activity recommendations for millions of travelers worldwide. His work directly impacts how users discover activities across GetYourGuide's platform, making their travel planning more personalized and efficient. **Talk 2: Can Foundation Models outperform classic ML on structured data? Hands-on experience with TabPFN** **Abstract**: LLMs excel at generalising over text data, but cannot reliably predict outcomes from spreadsheets and databases, which drive most critical decisions across medicine, finance, science and virtually all industries. In this talk, we will showcase how TabPFN, Tabular Foundation Model developed by Berlin-based Prior Labs, successfully generalises over structured data problems, beating classic ML with win rates ranging from 100% to 87%. **Speaker**: Diana Kriuchkova **Bio**: Diana is leading Product at Prior Labs. She is a part of the team developing TabPFN, a foundational model for tasks on structured data. TabPFN was published in the 2025 issue of Nature journal, and has shown to beat classic ML methods like XGBoost in >80% of cases. Diana's former background is in machine learning, and she spent last years leading product at developer-focused startups in Berlin. **Lightning talks** There will be slots for 2-3 Lightning Talks (3-5 Minutes for each) between the two main talks. Kindly let us know if you would like to present something :) \*\*\* NumFOCUS **Code of Conduct** THE SHORT VERSION Be kind to others. Do not insult or put down others. Behave professionally. Remember that harassment and sexist, racist, or exclusionary jokes are not appropriate for NumFOCUS. All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience including people of many different backgrounds. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate. NumFOCUS is dedicated to providing a harassment-free community for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of community members in any form. Thank you for helping make this a welcoming, friendly community for all. If you haven't yet, please read the detailed version here: https://numfocus.org/code-of-conduct \*\*\*

* **NEW IG ACCOUNT: @[neurocrafting.berlin](https://www.instagram.com/neurocrafting.berlin/) (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ\*:･ﾟ✧** Calling all neurodivergent individuals! Are you tired of starting hobbies that you never seem to finish? Join us for an evening of guilt-free creativity where there is absolutely no pressure to complete anything. **!!!!!!!!** **We will making valentine postcards with magazines or newspapers, so please make sure to bring your old magazines/newspapers (as many as you want) to share with everyone! I will provide scissors, glue and paper. ♡** **!!!!!!** **There is a donation of a minimum of 4-5 euros to cover the materials and space.** In case you wish to pay via paypal: neurocrafting.berlin@gmail.com

**Title**: Powering AI Through Data Modernization: Modernizing ETL with Databricks & Unity Catalog In this session, we will discuss how enterprises are modernizing their data platforms by migrating from legacy ETL tools (such as Informatica and traditional data warehouses) to Databricks Lakehouse architecture, and how Unity Catalog enables enterprise-grade governance, security, and discoverability across data and AI assets. We will start with food and drinks at 6pm and then move into the presentation at 6:30pm. The session will cover: * Why traditional ETL platforms are becoming a bottleneck for scale, cost, and AI adoption * How Databricks changes the data engineering and analytics operating mode * The role of Unity Catalog in centralized governance * How this foundation enables AI and Gene.AI use cases on trusted data * Q&A Our speaker for this event is **Hirenkumar Dholariya**. Hirenkumar Dholariya is a Senior Data Engineering Architect with 18+ years of experience modernizing enterprise data platforms for global Fortune 500 organizations, delivering up to 40% system performance improvement and 20–35% infrastructure cost reduction through large-scale migration from legacy ETL platforms to cloud-native Lakehouse architectures. He specializes in Databricks-based data engineering, Unity Catalog–driven governance, and building scalable, secure, and real-time analytics platforms. He has led multiple enterprise-wide transformations from tools such as Informatica and traditional data warehouses to Databricks, establishing governed data foundations using Unity Catalog and enabling advanced analytics and AI use cases on top of trusted data platforms. His leadership focuses on architecting durable data platforms, enabling teams to move faster with confidence, and translating data and AI investments into measurable business outcomes. *

Join us on **Tuesday, February 10, 2026,** for our next **Loudoun CyberTech Event** at **Honor Brewing Company** at **42604 Trade West Dr, Sterling, VA 20166**! Want a custom name tag to enhance your networking opportunities? Register here and yours will be ready at the door: https://share.hsforms.com/1nxjC-D1RQISSo6DBxjhJ4wdwxz1 Please join us for an evening with **David Beabou**t to explore what success actually looks like in a cyber community! Expect a lively, interactive conversation grounded in real world experience, shared learning, and practical insights. With over 17 years in cybersecurity and national security, **David Beabout** brings a rare blend of operational depth and executive leadership, currently serving as **Deputy Global CISO at NTT Security Holding**s, with prior experience at **Deloitte, Booz Allen**, and **U.S. Army Counterintelligence.** He has advised C-Suite leaders and government partners to rearchitect threat intelligence across 900+ companies worldwide and actively gives back through board service with **NightDragon** and as an advisor to **The Cyber Guild.** Bring your ideas, your perspective, and your energy for an engaging February session! **Agenda** 5:30 Social hour and networking begins 6:00 Welcome 6:15 Conversation with **David Beabout** 7:00 Open Mic & Networking Continues 7:30 Adjourn

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

NOVA Adventurers League Campaign: *Baldur's Gate - Descent into Avernus, Session 12* * Based on previous playthrough, expect a total of \~13 sessions. * Players that start the campaign will have priority reservations. * Use of downtime for leveling is strongly discouraged. * **This campaign is full and is closed to new signups at this time.** This event is hosted using the Dungeons and Dragons 5th edition Adventurers League rules. Becoming a member in our Discord and accepting our Code of Conduct is required for play at all of our events. You must join and accept the Discord rules before signing up to any MeetUp events. These rules include but are not limited to: * Assigning your name and pronouns as your server nickname; * Confirming your age as 18 or older; * Participating in a respectful environment for both our AL DMs and your fellow players. **[Join our Discord!](https://discord.gg/mG24YCk7wj) Attending this event indicates that you agree to follow NOVA Adventurer’s League’s Code of Conduct, which can be found in the #code-of-conduct channel on our Discord.** If you do not join the Discord and accept these rules prior to signing up for an event, you may be removed from the MeetUp event or be required to join the Discord and agree to the Code of Conduct at the game table prior to playing.

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

Markos Delphi’s curiosity has taken a tragic turn. A Far Realm entity has taken control of Markos, compelling him to commit evil acts. At it’s command, Markos is using a book called *The Celestial Codex* for some occult ritual. The book’s rightful owner hired adventurers to retrieve *The Celestial Codex* and prevent Markos from using it, but these adventurers fell prey to the horrors of Delphi Mansion. A new group of adventurers—you—must now complete the task. Meanwhile, Markos is close to completing the ritual [Join our Discord!](https://discord.gg/mG24YCk7wj) Attending this event indicates that you agree to follow NOVA Adventurer’s League’s Code of Conduct, which can be found in the #code-of-conduct channel on our Discord

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