Higher Education

Welcome back to our meetup in June. * **06:00 PM** Registration, dinner, networking * **06:30 PM** Talk starts Talk 1: Practical AI from Gemini Embedding 2 for Simplified RAG Search with Rich Context and Less Preprocessing - Imagine the possibilities if you could find a document using an image, or find audio from a report, or find a video with a sentence. \- Simplifies RAG Systems \(one multimodal retrieval pipeline instead of multiple fragmented systems\) \- Less preprocessing \(e\.g\. no transcription needed\) less infrastructure complexity \- Richer context \(text \+ visuals \+ audio\) \- A major step from “document chatbots” to truly context\-aware AI systems Gemini Embedding 2 changes what Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) can fundamentally do. Instead of treating text, images, audio, video, and documents as separate systems, AI can now retrieve and reason across all of them together in one shared understanding layer. This means users can search videos with natural language, retrieve diagrams from spoken conversations, match screenshots to documentation, or ground AI agents with real-world multimodal context — capabilities that were previously complex or unreliable without multiple specialized pipelines. Talk 2: Designing Memory Systems for AI Agents AI agents need memory to maintain context across sessions, learn from experience, and handle long-running tasks. The challenge? Deciding what to remember, where to store it, and how to retrieve it when it matters. In this workshop, you'll learn a practical framework for architecting memory systems that actually work in production. We'll cover: \- Types of memory in agentic systems \- Storage patterns: Where to persist memories and how to structure them for retrieval \- Retrieval strategies: Combining vector search with metadata\, recency\, and other signals \- Memory lifecycle: When to create\, update\, or prune memories to keep your system performant You'll apply this framework by building memory into an AI agent and seeing how different design choices impact behavior. You will be provided with all the resources required to successfully execute the hands-on portions of the workshop, including Jupyter Notebook templates with pseudocode. During the workshop, you will replace the pseudocode in the templates with your code. At the end of the workshop, you will also be able to check your learning and earn a skill badge to share with your network! https://learn.mongodb.com/courses/memory-for-ai-applications ## **Future Talk: TBA** **Awaiting confirmation: Federated Layer to Manage a Multi-Agent Synthetic Workforce** Agents are starting to act as workers in real production systems, and workers need a management layer. The question everyone should take back to your laptop: in my own agent stack, what happens on the second concurrent write, and can I prove, today, under whose authority my agent acted? How do I manage my synthetic workforce in production.

Sip & Sparkle is a laid-back social night for anyone looking to meet new people in a warm, open-minded space — no pressure, no awkward games, no sales pitches. Whether you’re here to make friends, find community, or simply enjoy meaningful conversations over drinks, you’re in the right place. It’s casual, inclusive, and welcoming — just real people getting to know one another. Come solo or bring a friend — we’re all about genuine connections and good vibes. ✨💬🍸 Entrance fee $5: you may redeem a canned drink or a cup of single scoop ice cream of your choice.

You are warmly invited to an intimate dinner gathering created exclusively for **women** who value meaningful connection, thoughtful conversation, and shared experiences. This evening is a gentle space to *meet new faces*, *exchange stories*, and *connect* across different walks of life in a relaxed yet refined setting. Designed for women who enjoy good food, warm company, and purposeful conversations, this gathering offers an opportunity to expand your social circle beyond work and everyday routines. Come together with like-minded women to reflect, connect, and build lasting friendships over food. We look forward to welcoming you into **Her Inner Circle**, where meaningful connections begin. **Note:** Her Inner Circle is a **women-only** community rooted in **authenticity**, **respect**, and **genuine** **connection**. While you are welcome to exchange contacts, we encourage you to do so at your own comfort and discretion.

**Discover the Healing Power of Pranic Healing & Twin Hearts Meditation!** Join us for a complimentary introductory talk, meditation, and healing event on every Tuesdays, 7.30pm\~9.30pm. Pranic Healing is a powerful energy healing modality that can help you achieve better physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health. It is a non-invasive, non-touch healing technique that uses prana, or life force energy, to cleanse, energise, and balance the energy body. During the introductory talk, you will learn more about Pranic Healing, how it works, and the many benefits it can offer. You will also have the opportunity to experience Pranic Healing for yourself with a complimentary session from our Pranic Healing volunteers. In addition to the introductory talk and healing session, you will also get to experience Meditation on Twin Hearts. This meditation is a simple yet powerful practice that can help you achieve inner peace, harmony, and love. It is also a great way to connect with your higher self and with the divine. This event is open to all ages 16 and above, but registration is required. To secure your seat, please sign-up at the link below. We hope to see you there! **Date:** Every Tuesdays **Time:** 7.30pm-9.30pm **Venue:** Downtown Gallery #02-09/10 Open to All, including public, who are 16 years of age & above. *Complimentary!* [Register your seat](https://form.jotform.com/210080203650438)

**Meet new friends (or hang out with old ones) on a fun night out with games , food, and drinks!** **Individuals and groups are both welcome.** Pricing: * $10 for entry to the meetup with unlimited board gaming for the night * Add $2.50 for 1 non-alcoholic drink (excluding milkshakes and spritzers) (U.P. $7) * Add $6.00 for one 300ml draft beer or glass of house wine (U.P. $12) * 20% discount on all additional food orders for the night Prices are before 10% service charge. Prevailing GST is applicable. Please also note the following: * Do be courteous with your RSVP. If you have originally RSVPed but can no longer make it, do update your RSVP before 4pm on that day so that someone on the waitlist can still attend. If you have RSVPed but did not show up before 7.30pm, your spot at the tables will be given to someone else on the waitlist. By signing up for this meetup, I agree to the terms and conditions set above

🏛️ **WHAT'S PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY ABOUT?** Practical Philosophy is a weekly meet-up that brings critical thinkers together for an opportunity to dive deep on a topic, practice communicating, and building a community. All with no ‘official’ philosophy knowledge required! 😎 Practical Philosophy is based on the idea that philosophy should be accessible to all, and not something reserved only for academics. Each week we choose a topic, and the goal is to use the conversation to develop our critical thinking and communication as we explore that topic. The goal is to help develop our Critical Thinking, Communication, and Community 🙌 📓 **HOW DOES IT WORK?** Each week, we pick one topic and discuss it. The topic for the week is shared, generally in the [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dsjl0cwLVxR4tw1jTC1Osx?mode=gi_t), along with jump-off points to get the conversation going. When groups get bigger than 7-8 people, it’s important that we break into smaller groups. This way we are able to maintain a conversational flow as opposed to having our meetups feel like a discourse or lecture. **General Meeting Agenda** Each Practical Philosophy meet-up follows this general timeline: * 19:00-19:15 - People arrive and chat, get to know each other before the ‘official' start. * 19:15-19:25 - Meeting introduction, explanation of Practical Philosophy and the topic for the week, read the guidelines and the overview so attendees know what to expect in terms of timelines. * 19:25-20:45 - Break into small groups - introduce yourselves and general thoughts on the topic, open discussion afterwards. At this point the group can review the ‘jump-off’ questions as needed, but they are just there to help guide the conversation. It’s not obligatory to answer them. * 20:45-21:00 - Bring everyone back together to discuss conclusions of the topic - each group gives a short 1-minute summary. Organizer concludes the meeting and everyone takes a group photo. * 21:00 - The official meeting is over but it’s a great opportunity to get to know people in a non-structured environment, so we often stick around, chat, and get to know each other. **🧧PRICING?** Practical Philosophy Club is FREE to attend! We just ask that if we are meeting in a café, buy a beverage! Some chapters rent a space for us to meet, and they may ask for donations to help contribute to the cost of rent. Donations will always be 100% voluntary though! 💛 **WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY** 🗣 “I feel like Philosophy Club helps someone build their own belief system through a series of perspectives while not promoting what’s right and wrong” - Ekam 🗣 “I got hooked from day 1 (the topic was authority) and felt it was the right place for me. I feel it is a place where people can go to learn and discuss new perspectives and increase critical thinking and community by interacting with people who might challenge your point of views but at the same time encourage you to have openness and mind flexibility.” - Daniel **🤓 FAQ** * ​What will we talk about? What's the topic? ​The topic for the week is shared every Sunday in the Whatsapp group. We try to add the topic to the comment section on this event page as well but if you don’t see it, the topic and the jump-off points will be in our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dsjl0cwLVxR4tw1jTC1Osx?mode=gi_t). * Do I need to study or read anything to attend? No preparation is necessary. This isn’t a study of other thinkers. We want to know what YOU think about the topic, not what an old philosopher thought. If you have a perspective from a religion or a school of thought to share, throw it on the table and we’ll discuss it, but it's not required. * Is there a specific philosophy that Practical Philosophy is focused on? The goal of our meet-ups is to not have dogmatic discussions, and flex our critical thinking muscles. Because of this, we want to hear from every realm of thought, and don't study a particular school. * Is it mostly men that attend? Surprisingly, no! Although philosophy is seen as a Candelabra affair in a dark room with a bunch of guys, our Practical Philosophy meetups are generally 50/50 between genders, and we don’t meet in any dark rooms. * Can I come alone? Of course you can, we encourage it :) * Can I be late? Please don't be! We do have a 15 minute grace period where we allow people to funnel in while we hang out, but after that if you arrive too late, it disrupts the flow of the conversation. * Where do you meet? The location is posted in Meetup and our [Whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dsjl0cwLVxR4tw1jTC1Osx?mode=gi_t) group for this location. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you join the Whatsapp group! If you want to know what other cities have a Practical Philosophy Club, you can see our chapters on our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/practical-philosophy-locations/). **PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY - Making Philosophy Available To All.** ✨ Practical Philosophy hosts weekly, in-person meetups in over 20 countries, including Canada, Spain, Japan, Mexico and many more! 🗺️ \*\*\* Join our [Whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dsjl0cwLVxR4tw1jTC1Osx?mode=gi_t) 👈 Follow us on [Instagram](www.instagram.com/practicalphilosophyclub/) 👈 Our [website](https://www.practicalphilosophy.club/) 👈

TLDR: Discuss travels from Taiwan at a Taiwanese cafe near Buona Vista MRT. “No matter what, I must visit Taiwan one day” Let's hear your Taiwan stories — the ones that surprised you, fed you, moved you, or changed how you see the world. We'll also spend a little time discussing the food, places and the themes featured in the book *Taiwan Travelogue* by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ — the novel that just won the Booker Prize. Come ready to share: * A place in Taiwan that stuck with you * A food experience you still think about * A person you met, a moment that caught you off guard * Or just your honest impressions of the island No need to have read the book to join. We will meet at Monki, a Taiwanese cafe. If the cafe starts filling up later, we may move to another cafe nearby.

Come get to know fellow Nudgers and BeSci enthusiasts! We'll be having dinner at POCHA! Korean Street Dining (Ion Orchard). Entry only reserved for a maximum of 7 particpants for this event, because we want to foster deeper conversations and not overcrowd the restaurant!

## 🌱 Introduction to Gardening **– 28 May** 🌱 We are excited to have a **Introduction to Gardening** SWEE! Day event **28 May**! Join us for a relaxing and enjoyable session where we will have: 🌿 **Seed Exchange** 🪴 **Plant Exchange** 💬 **Simple Gardening Sharing Session** Whether you are an experienced gardener or just starting out, everyone is welcome! Come learn more about gardening, share your experiences, and make new friends who enjoy plants and nature. 😊 👉 Kindly let us know if you are interested in joining the event. 👉 Feel free to bring along seeds or plants for sharing and exchange. If you enjoy gardening and would like to connect with others in the community, we warmly welcome you to join us. **We look forward to seeing you there! 🌸** Please contact Edward at 8533 3971 to confirm your attendance or if you have any enquiries. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Who Are We ?** We are from Bless Community Services SWEE! club, where we organize activities for seniors. Our activities are as follows : | **Day** | **Time** | **Event** | **Remarks** | | --- | ---- | ----- | ------- | | Mon | 8am | Morning Walk | Routes vary weekly | | Wed | 9am | Line Dance | Intermediate class. **$10/mth** | | Wed | 1pm | Ukelele, Rummi-O | | | Thu | 9am | Line Dance | Beginner class. **$10/mth** | | Thu | 1pm | Chi Calligraphy | All 3 levels. **$10/mth** | | Thu | 4pm | Photography Club | **\*Monthly**. Mobile phone photography. | | Fri | 9am | Stretching +Aerobics | | | Fri | 10am | Pickleball | Paddle and ball available. |

**Click here for more WSET course dates, fees and information** 🎓 Offset Your Course Fee with SkillsFuture Credits – No Out-of-Pocket Payment Needed for Eligible Singaporeans! 💼 NTUC Members Enjoy Up to 50% Subsidy with UTAP [https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-1-wine-course-singapore/](https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-1-wine-course-singapore/) Learn the specific skills needed to identify the different styles of wine and enhance your senses to evaluate wine as well as the professionals. You will get into in depth study of the systematic approach which will equip you with the necessary skills through wine tasting. By the end of this course you will be eloquent in the language of wine and have picked up key knowledge of food and wine pairing to further specify your culinary style and taste. Diversify your skills in a fast-growing economy through Level 1 WSET and add value to your career portfolio. This course is also a fun way to get up to speed on what wine is and how it differs by style. Highly suitable for individuals with a strong interest in wine as well as for professionals kickstarting a career in hospitality or F&Bs by enriching service staff to confidently raise the profile of the company’s wines and enjoy increased revenue from every drop sold. **WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:** You will go through the production of wine and learn about the main styles of wines and grape varieties. Our certified WSET wine educators will guide you through tasting techniques and the wine service process. You will get insight into practices and issues in the wine industry and be able to discuss about wines from different regions. You will be evaluating and tasting seven different kinds of wines and identifying good or bad food pairings. **Click here for more WSET course dates, fees and information** Get up to 50% Subsidies With NTUC UTAP [https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-1-wine-course-singapore/](https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-1-wine-course-singapore/)

**Click here for more WSET Level 2 course dates, fees and information** Get up to 50% Subsidies With NTUC UTAP [https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-2-wine-course-singapore/](https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-2-wine-course-singapore/) WSET wine courses are the backbone of Singapore’s F&B and wine industry and a must for anybody considering joining it. This is an internationally recognised wine certification which will help you to advance your career anywhere in the world. If you are currently working in the wine industry or possess basic wine knowledge and are keen to enter into the F&B or wine trade, our WSET Level 2 wine course furthers your wine knowledge in a more in-depth programme. Our experienced WSET certified educators will provide you with the practical skills and technical knowledge required in a career of the complex world of wine. The WSET Level 2 course is also a perfect option for wine lovers looking to increase their wine knowledge in a structured way. Also its the stepping stone to the progress to the WSET Level 3. **WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:** How to taste and describe wine using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine (SAT). Understand the factors that influence a wine’s style, quality and price. Learn & taste 22 grape varieties produced in important geographical indications (GIs) around the world. Interpret key labeling terms to understand the style, flavour and method of production of still, sparkling and fortified wines. Why tannin, acidity and terroir play a role in terms of the wine tastes. Principles of food and wine pairing and the storage and service of wine. Intensive & effective wine palate training by tasting over 40 bottles of wines! **Click here for more WSET Level 2 course dates, fees and information** Get up to 50% Subsidies With NTUC UTAP [https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-2-wine-course-singapore/](https://www.finewines.com.sg/wset-level-2-wine-course-singapore/)

**The Behavior Gap: Where Products Win or Lose** Teams today have more data than ever, and yet many still struggle to understand why customers adopt, engage with, or abandon their products. Teams sprint, ship faster, and chase more signals… all while metrics stall and confidence drops. The missing piece isn’t more data. It’s often the behavioral insight between the metrics, explaining why the numbers move in the first place. Dashboards can tell you what customers did, but understanding why they did it (and how to influence what they do next) requires a deeper blend of insights. This session is about closing that gap. Drawing from real-world experience designing and scaling products as [ZoCo Design](https://zocodesign.com/)’s CEO, [Lacey](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) will share how to cut through the noise and identify the insights that actually change behavior—moving people, and moving metrics. You’ll learn: * Why understanding customer behavior is a quant and qual challenge * How to spot the signals that actually predict behavior change * Where AI accelerates insight, and where it creates distraction * How to get meaningfully closer to customers, without adding more tools This talk reframes how to evaluate performance and identify what levers actually improve it, helping your team to make smarter bets with greater confidence. Every meaningful outcome is driven by behavior change. And when you know how to design for behavior, you stop guessing, and start building things that work. **About Our Speaker** [Lacey Picazo](https://www.linkedin.com/in/laceypicazo/) is the Founder and CEO of ZoCo, a healthcare product studio that turns complex, high-stakes ideas into products that drive real-world adoption. She partners with healthcare organizations to uncover critical care delivery insights, focus product strategy through behavior design, and build solutions that patients and providers actually use. Thanks to our 2026 sponsors: [Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro) More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)

## 🤝 Host Information A co-hosted event by ProductTank Columbus & Women in Product Columbus 💡 About the Workshop AI adoption is stalling across organizations — not because of a lack of motivation or tools, but because it's fundamentally a behavior design challenge. This hands-on workshop applies proven Behavior Design models and methods to help you move from a vague organizational wish to boost AI adoption to 3-5 concrete, testable interventions you can act on starting tomorrow. Whether you're a product manager, on a product team, or just someone trying to get AI to actually stick at work, you'll leave with a clear picture of what's worth focusing on, what to ignore, and how to drive real, sustained adoption — no guesswork required. 🛠️ What to Bring Laptop: Fully charged and ready to go. AI Assistant: Have your favorite AI assistant pulled up. (Dom will be using Claude, but feel free to use whichever assistant you prefer!) 🍕 Logistics & Perks Food & Drink: Pizza and drinks provided! Parking: Plenty of free spaces available on-site. ###

Topic to be announced. **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

I have been studying the question of "self" online with Prof. Ellie Anderson and so I thought a prompt on the "self" might be interesting. Full confession: I had Claude create this prompt and I like it, so here goes: Imagine a thought experiment that merges two classic puzzles: > You undergo a procedure, performed neuron by neuron, in which every biological component of your brain is replaced with a functionally identical synthetic substitute. At each step, your behavior, memories, and personality remain unchanged. When the last neuron is swapped, is the consciousness experiencing the world still you? And — more pressingly — was there ever a continuous "you" to begin with? ### Questions to Wrestle With * If consciousness is purely physical, does the *gradual* nature of the replacement matter, or is it equivalent to being destroyed and rebuilt? * Could there be a "self" without continuity of experience — even moment to moment, while you sleep? On a more practical level, consider the simpler case first: **hemispherectomy** patients — people who have had an entire cerebral hemisphere surgically removed — often retain a strong sense of personal identity and continuity. This suggests "you" are not rigidly tied to specific physical material. But does that vindicate the synthetic neuron case, or merely show that identity is more *flexible* than we thought — not that it can survive *complete* substrate replacement? I used Claude so I could get this out today and let everyone have some time to consider it. Hope to see you at the Oracle. Sorry about the location change two weeks ago. That's what I get for trusting local weather predictions!

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg Instructor - Crow, HPS Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642. Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online. Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only Please come prepared for ritual. Blessings ~ Crow

Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel. Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger. Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life. Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.

QA or the Highway is a one-day, affordable, regional, professional conference featuring real-world experience and thought leadership in the QA and testing industry. This is a ticketed event please register here: https://www.qaorthehwy.com/ Featured Keynote Speakers: **Matthew-Hope Eland** **(Wizard at Leading EDJE)** \- An AI Specialist and Wizard at Leading EDJE who is known to teach software engineering\, AI\, and data science concepts in the most ridiculous ways possible\. Matt has used machine learning to settle debates over whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie\, reinforcement learning to drive the behavior of digital squirrels\, data analytics to suggest improvements to his favorite TV show\, and AI agents to play board games and create an AI agent with the personality of a dog\. Matt is the author of "Data Science in \.NET with Polyglot Notebooks" and "Refactoring with C\#" as well as several LinkedIn Learning courses\. Matt helps organize the Central Ohio \.NET Developer Group\, runs several blogs and a YouTube channel\, has a Master’s of Science in Data Analytics\, and is a current Microsoft MVP in AI and \.NET\. **Tatyana Arbouzova** **(CEO at Innovate QA)** \- Tatyana Arbouzova is an engineering and business leader with a strong background in Quality Engineering across multiple industries\, including Big Tech\, Healthcare\, and Entertainment\. She has held leadership roles at world\-class companies such as Microsoft\, VMware\, Disney\, and The Pokémon Company International\, where she focused on building quality\-driven cultures and scaling teams to deliver high\-impact products\. With decades of experience\, Tatyana has helped organizations transform their quality practices so teams can deliver software efficiently\, confidently\, and with measurable business outcomes\. Today\, Tatyana advises software companies on adopting AI to optimize quality practices and improve how software is delivered at scale\. She is also a passionate community builder and the founder of Innovate QA\, a thriving Seattle\-based community and conference for quality professionals\.