Information Science

The **IN-PERSON** Fandorica returns on **Thursday 25th June 2026 from 6pm onwards till late!** That's **Thursday 25th June 2026.** So please do join us for what will hopefully be a day long remembered! We plan on being there till late. So if you can't pop along at the start, then join us when it's convenient for you! It'll all be very relaxed with a welcoming atmosphere. The idea is simply to bring people who have a shared love of all things geek together for a good time! It's all about meeting people and making new friends! Trust me, you won't need an encyclopedic knowledge! Ultimately, it's going to be you all that will make it what it is. Feel free to chat about anything you like! Be as silly or serious as you want! So whatever you're into... Doctor Who, Marvel, DC, Star Wars, The Last Of Us, Stranger Things, Cobra Kai, Disney, Supernatural, Comics, Films, Books, Board Games, D&D, etc, I'm sure we'll all have something in common to talk about! Chat about anything you fancy! Please do RSVP to confirm that you're coming along. If you RSVP to the meetup, you'll also get updated quickly if any details change. So hopefully see many of you at the Fandorica! To make sure that everyone has a fantastic time at the Fandorica meetups, please do familiarise yourselves with the Fandorica Etiquette which can be found here: [https://bit.ly/fandoricaetiquette](https://bit.ly/fandoricaetiquette) **The Fandorica meetups are free to attend for everyone. However Meetup itself does charge a fee to the organiser for the service. So if you enjoy coming along to the Fandorica meetups and want to help keep them running, then you can donate via the Fandorica PayPal page: [paypal.me/fandorica](paypal.me/fandorica).** **Donations to help keep the Fandorica meetups running are optional but every penny helps!** **\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*** **The Mad Hatter is a great meetup pub and we're lucky to be getting it, so can I please also kindly request that you do buy some drinks and snacks at the bar since that makes it worth their while hosting us!** **\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*** As always, you can contact me by either messaging me on here or via the following ways: Website: http://www.fandorica.co.uk Instagram: TheFandorica (https://www.instagram.com/thefandorica) Bluesky: Fandorica.bsky.social Mobile: 07463 621 754 (WhatsApp preferred). See you at a Fandorica soon! :)

**!! Please make sure you get a ticket via Luma as spots are very limited!!** If you want to go from “playing with AI” to shipping real agentic workflows in one evening? Join the London Agentic AI Hack Night on 25 June 2026. Build voice agents, workflow automations & multi-agent systems * Free BimpeAI platform credits + infra * 90 minutes of focused building * Lightning demos judged by pros from Google, Meta, BimpeAI & Byteplus Networking + food in a vibrant Old Street venueOpen to developers, engineers, founders, designers & creative technologists (beginners welcome if you’re ready to build). **[https://luma.com/dnoe595m](https://luma.com/dnoe595m)**

Flamenco Dance Classes for Improvers at Danceworks every Thursday! We will work on the placement of the body, the perception of the rhythm, clapping, footwork, and movements of arms and head. Choreography depends on the level: Alegrías, Bulerías, Tangos, Soleá, etc. If you have dancing shoes and clothes, bring them. Otherwise, don't worry, feel comfortable to dance! When? **Every Thursday** Time: **19:00 - 20:00** Where? **Danceworks** 16 Balderton St, London W1K 6TN Studio 4 Nearest Tube stations: **Bond St.** Marble Arch Cost? £13 per class. **Book here:** https://danceworks.com/london/classes/timetable/ Class bookings become available 7 days in advance. Online bookings close 15 minutes before the class starts but you can book in person up to the start time. **Waiting lists are available.** ***About Maika:*** Maika is a flamenco and Spanish dance teacher with more than 17 years of experience, teaching adults and children in Spain, the United States of America, Mexico, Canada, and UK. She also led flamenco classes at Rey Juan Carlos University from 2013 to 2018. Born and raised in Madrid (Spain), she began studying ballet and Spanish dance at the tender age of nine. Maika studied at Karen Taft Dance Academy and Flamenco Centre “Amor de Dios”, majoring in Spanish Dance at the Conservatory of Dance in Madrid. In 2003, she was awarded a Teaching Methodology Applied to Spanish Dance certificate and then focused her career on dance education. Maika has continued her professional training alongside teachers including Antonio Canales, Alfonso Losa, La Lupi, Rojas and Rodriguez. Maika co-founded the company Spanish Flamenco Tour, based in Miami (USA), a business dedicated to promoting flamenco and Spanish culture, to a local audience. Adding more strings to her bow, Maika embarked on a Master´s Degree in Leadership and Management of Cultural Projects at the Institute of Dance “Alicia Alonso”, Rey Juan Carlos University. Her final master’s project was based on promoting Spanish dance, receiving a First-Class Degree. Maika’s classes are designed to extract every student’s natural ability to dance and show them how wonderful and fun, this art form is.

✨ Peckham Arches & Levels ✨ 📍 Peckham Arches📍 ⏰ 18:30 ⏰ We’re going for £4 pints in Peckham, stating at Peckham Arches and going on to the rooftop at Peckham Levels 🎉 No booking required at all - just turn up and say hello 😊 Please join our whatsapp group to stay informed of all the latest with regards to our events on the day and going forward: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dxcmw5sdjOq5RegETO0hS3](https://chat.whatsapp.com/Dxcmw5sdjOq5RegETO0hS3) **What is all this?** This is a fun enterprise set up purely for the purposes of bringing new people together and having a good time. Our meet-ups are for everyone - all inclusive and welcoming! Our events will follow no particular theme - variety is the spice of life after all - and we'll try to keep a nice mix of different accessible options. **Can I come alone?** Of course!! That's nerve-racking for some but a huge number of our participants come alone and feel equally uncertain about it. The hardest part is only ever the activation energy required to ask that first question or two. **Is there any cost?** We are not making a penny from any of this - It's all done for the pure thrill of the thing itself and with the belief that the monetisation of a fun project is a sure-fire way to suck the joy out of it! We will be selecting some activities that will be ticketed events, but it will simply be up to you to book in if you want to come! **Do I need to sign up?** Usually no! Just show up - but just check the detail of the event above to be sure.

The first session of Menus of Conversation in 2026 will be on Thursday 25th June from 7pm onwards. We will be in the bar section on the ground floor - when you arrive, if you are trying to figure out where exactly we are in the venue, just keep an eye out for the people enjoying themselves! I have started drawing event posters and will draw another poster for next month. I would love it if you would be so kind as to check them out now on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/menusofconversation/ **Price** The event is a pay what you can event. You can tip whatever you think has been a fair price for your event experience. The suggested tip is a minimum of £4-5. You can pay with cash or card on the night. PS, if you've been before, please take a minute to complete my survey! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NZSZD88 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/menusofconversation/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/New-Conversation-104308482323373 **Event Description** This is a social event where people have the chance to have a one-to-one conversation with someone they may or may not have met before using a 'conversation menu' (picture attached). A conversation menu is a list of pre-written conversation starter questions which participants use to have a conversation by discussing the different questions. The questions are generally about some of life's big questions and lead to some interesting conversations about important, fundamental topics which we certainly don't get the opportunity to discuss every day. Some might consider our events to be 'small-talk free zones'. The event brings people together and invites people to discuss topics and answer questions they don't get to discuss on a daily basis, especially with people they don't know. The idea is that the more we talk about topics we don't normally talk about, to people we don't normally talk to in our habitual social circles, the more opportunities, connections and possibilities we create for ourselves. If we discuss different topics with different people, then we achieve different results. Testimonials for the events held so far include: 'For me it was a brilliant success and hopefully it will be for many others. It is a simple idea simply executed, asking people to pair up and discuss a number of questions on a list. And it works! Although I vaguely knew my partner, the questions allowed us time to touch on areas that I think we would have been otherwise unlikely to ever discuss e.g. which parts of your life have been a waste of time?' 'Surprisingly good and thoroughly worthwhile. Suggested questions excellent.' ‘I can heartily recommend coming along to a conversation event. The questions were really thought provoking and led to some fascinating conversations. I really enjoyed the evening and I came away with feeling I’d learned a lot from my conversation partner.” ‘I thought it was a very interesting meeting. I thought it was interesting to try to answer personal questions and listen to the other person.’

This June we're at FundApps offices in HYLO, Bunhill Row. Chris Simon's back in town, and will be joining us to talk about streams and queues; plus Tiago Sousa from SteelEye will be talking about the work they're doing around using AI in comms surveillance. Our hosts at FundApps will be providing drinks and snacks, and there will be plenty of time to chat beforehand and in the pub afterwards. **Chris Simon: It's like 10,000 streams when what you need is a queue** *🎶🎵 A new dev team adopted E-D-A* *Got head of line blocking, on their very first day* *Isn't it ironic, don't you think 🎶🎵* The last few years have seen widespread adoption of Event-Driven Architecture, supported by DDD practices such as event storming. But what does that orange sticky note become when we start implementing our design? Common implementation choices include event sourcing, streaming platforms like Kafka and queuing systems like RabbitMQ. Unfortunately not every orange sticky note has the same operational needs, and many teams remain confused about the differences between these options, resulting in the selection of the wrong paradigm for their needs. This can lead to unnecessary complexity & operational challenges such as head of line blocking, dropped messages, challenges dealing with failed messages, difficulty with adaptive scaling and inadvertently increasing coupling between services. In this talk we'll bring that orange sticky note into the runtime of our system. We’ll start with a deep dive into the similarities and differences between event streaming platforms such as Kafka and queueing systems such as RabbitMq, Azure Service Bus & AWS SNS/SQS. We’ll then look at ways to assess your orange sticky notes to work out which messaging and persistence paradigms suit each one, helping you build more resilient, scalable and loosely coupled event-driven architectures. **Tiago Sousa: AI in Comms Surveillance** In this talk, Tiago shares what it's actually like to build AI for communications surveillance at SteelEye. Financial firms are required to monitor and flag communications for compliance, but making AI work reliably in that context is harder than it sounds. He'll walk through real examples from the trenches: what worked, what didn't, and what he'd do differently. **Tiago Sousa** is a Staff Data Engineer and AI Lead at SteelEye - a platform that helps financial firms monitor and flag communications and trades to stay compliant with regulations. He's spent the last five years building the data and AI systems that make that work. Before that, he did research in bioinformatics, which means he came into fintech from an unusual angle and has the scars to prove it. He's based in Braga, Portugal.

Do you want to meet new people in a relaxing chill atmosphere surrounded by new books? Do you dislike loud and smelly places like pubs and clubs? This is the event for you. Science and Philosophy Book Club is creating a new kind of meetup where people who love books and knowledge can meet new friends in a big book shop. We will explore around different sections of the book shop together as a group while making interesting conversations with each other. We will go to both fiction and non-fiction areas. If you feel shy and feel nervous to come alone, I will make sure you will feel comfortable and accomodate to your needs. I will help introduce you to others so you can go over the barrier of anxiety when approaching a new person. We will meet on the ground floor lounge area of Doubletree Hilton Hotel at 6 p.m. It is an amazing cosy bar with classy vibes. We will wait for everyone to show up while getting some drinks and socializing. At 7 p.m we will head to the Waterstones book store near Russel Square and UCL. After we explore the book store, we will come back to the hotel bar and stay there for the rest of the night. This event requires £5 donation to cover the venue fees. You can pay via cash or card. Thank you for helping the book club!

This is a **theatre** and **livestream** talk from the **Royal Institution of Great Britain.** Evolutionary biologist **Anjali Goswami** explains why life on Earth has evolved to look like it does, and how new technology is changing our understanding **ADVANCE BOOKING AND PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TALK.** **More details and booking instructions on the RI web site:** **[https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/discourse-speed-life](https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/discourse-speed-life)** **SUMMARY** Evolution is a seemingly inconsistent process, switching from long periods of stability to rapid transitions. But what allows some species to survive and adapt to new environments, while others are confined to fossils? Why do some groups diversify into thousands of species, while others remain at small numbers for millions of years? And why do the same forms evolve over and over again in different groups, at different times, and in different places, while many hypothetical forms never evolve at all? In this Discourse, evolutionary biologist **Anjali Goswami** will explore the evolutionary paths that have led to life on Earth as we know it. Using a wealth of fossil data, she will explain how we can piece together the changing tempos of evolution, and delves into how new technology is allowing scientists to understand evolution like never before. You won’t just need to take Anjali’s word for it – you'll be able to hear the data as well, as the evolutionary record for a variety of species is converted to audio. This is a theatre and livestream event for an adult audience, where the speakers and audience in our Theatre are joined by our audience online. **The livestream will go live around 7.20pm, and the talk will begin at 7.30pm. If you register but miss the livestream, the video will be available to you via the same link for two weeks after the event date.** For more information on livestreams, see the information below, or [visit our FAQs page](https://www.rigb.org/whats/faqs-ri-livestreams). Please use the event link you have been provided with. By booking to attend events at the Royal Institution, you confirm that you have read and accept the Ri's [event terms and conditions](https://www.rigb.org/terms-and-conditions). You also agree to abide by [our code of conduct](https://www.rigb.org/about-us/how-were-run/our-code-conduct-ri-visitors), and help to create a great experience for yourself and your fellow participants.

Join us for a special edition of Deeper Discussions, where we dive into thought-provoking **fiction** that challenges perspectives, sparks imagination, and opens doors to meaningful conversations. Whether you're a lifelong reader or rediscovering the joy of novels, this is a space to explore stories that stay with you long after the final page. **This Month's Book - The Passion According to G.H. by Clarice Lispector** It follows a wealthy woman whose encounter in her maid’s room unravels her sense of self and reality. Strange, intimate, and philosophical, it’s a landmark novel of inner transformation. IMPORTANT - Please only RSVP if you are planning to FINISH the book. If you have RSVP'd but think you won't be able to finish the book please change your RSVP to No to make space for others. **How does it work?** *Brief introductions and reflections on what struck you most - Moderated discussion exploring plot, themes, and characters *Open conversation where different interpretations are welcomed ️ - We wrap up by sharing insights and connections made **What to Expect?** **Close Reading:** We go beyond surface-level plot summary. Expect discussions that examine the author's choices, narrative techniques, and the questions left lingering in the silence between pages. **Thoughtful Dialogue:** This isn't a race to share opinions—it's a space for genuine exploration. We listen, we reflect, we build on each other's insights. **Meaningful Connections:** Great fiction holds up a mirror to the human experience. Through discussing characters' choices and moral dilemmas, we often discover something about ourselves and each other. **How to get the most out of this event?** **Finish the Book:** Please attend only if you've completed the book. Spoilers will flow freely, and the richest discussions come from those who've made the full journey. **Ground it in the Text:** Bring your interpretations, but anchor them in what's actually on the page. Quote passages. Reference scenes. Let the author's words guide us. **Respect & Openness:** Every interpretation matters. Make space for quieter voices. Challenge ideas, not people. Stay curious rather than defensive. **Why a Fiction Book Club?** **Explore the Human Condition:** Fiction lets us inhabit lives we'll never live, forcing us to confront questions about identity, morality, love, and loss. **Sharpen Your Thinking:** Close reading develops critical thinking—noticing what the author chose to include, exclude, and how the story is told matters as much as what happens. **Deepen Connections:** Discussing characters' choices and moral dilemmas creates surprisingly intimate conversations with fellow readers. **Who is this event for?** *You find yourself thinking about books long after you've finished them - You want more from book discussions than "I liked it" or "I didn't" *You're curious how others interpret the same story differently - You value thoughtful dialogue over debate ️✨ *You're looking for meaningful connections with fellow readers **What's in it for you?** - **Fresh Perspectives:** Discover interpretations you'd never have considered alone ***Deeper Understanding:** Unpack themes and symbols that enrich your reading ***Genuine Connection: **Bond with others over shared literary experiences *** A Space to Think: **Slow down from the noise and engage with ideas that matter **Ready to dive deeper into stories that matter?** Join us for an evening where fiction becomes a gateway to understanding ourselves and each other. ✨ **We really hope to see you there!** **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** *** Respect: **Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ *** Open-mindedness: **Be open to different perspectives and ideas. *** Active Participation: **Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. ️ **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80) **Keep This Event Free** If this event brings you something meaningful, you can help others access the same transformational experience. Whether it's £5 or £15, every contribution keeps these events accessible to everyone in our community. You'll find a QR code on your conversation sheet during the event, or you can contribute here #SupportYourCommunity [Ko-Fi](https://ko-fi.com/deeperconnections) [Buy Me A Coffee](https://buymeacoffee.com/deeperconnections) [PayPal](https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DDSNCCFCYUEB2)

We will be meeting at The Racketeer! We will divide into smaller groups to discuss this month's book. It will be very obvious when you arrive to the pub, where our group is, but please feel free to give me a call if you are struggling to find us. For new members, shoot me a message on meetup and I will send through my phone number!

Connecting people into Philosophy. All welcome. No previous philosophical experience needed. **What it is** Philosophy in the Park is a fun and friendly space for people to come together and have discussions that get deep. It’s a safe space where active creative thinking is encouraged and enjoyed, and where everyone can explore abstract concepts in a way that combines both sincerity and playfulness. Where the most important question is always - what do you think? **What is Philosophy?** Philosophy is about analysing concepts. It's thinking about thinking. It's not about empiricism or the physical world (eg Science and statistics). It's about abstractions, concepts and ideas (eg Identity, Morality, Mind and Truth). **How Philosophy in the Park Works** * Each hour begins with a group vote on which questions to discuss. You can vote for more than one question if you'd like. * We then break out into groups, each focusing on one of the chosen questions. The question is just a starting point and it's cool if you go on tangents and end up talking about different things. You're welcome to join in and participate or if you'd prefer to sit back and enjoy the conversation, that’s also welcome. * After an hour we regroup, take a quick break and then repeat all over again. So across the 3 hours, we’ll break out 3 times. **Where it is** We meet at Baroness Burdett Coutts Drinking Fountain in Victoria Park (East Park). It is marked down as "13" on the official maps found in the park. Please feel free to bring snacks and drinks with you if you want. After the event finishes most people stay and hang out. There’s a local supermarket to get drinks and snacks, or bring your own. You are very welcome to join us. **Guidelines** In order to make the conversations as fun, interesting and productive as possible please follow these simple guidelines: 1. Keep it Philosophical (No Science, no History, no Sociology, no Evolutionary Psychology, no contestable facts, personal anecdotes etc). 2. Think for Yourself (No phones, no looking up definitions, no name dropping Philosophers / books you've read). 3. Tangents are Cool (Don't worry too much if the subject drifts and you don't answer the question). 4. Keep it Succinct (Like this). 5. Be Excellent to Each Other (But of course). Please remember: It's not about debating and trying to win - it's about listening to people and working collaboratively to increase our collective understanding. **Community** Follow us on instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/londonphilosophycollective/](https://www.instagram.com/londonphilosophycollective/) We have a WhatsApp group if you'd like to continue these conversations between meetings. To join the Philosophy in the Park WhatsApp Group please click here: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/CdFaxJHbeOw9UOfuk7spiK](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CdFaxJHbeOw9UOfuk7spiK) In order to stop spam bots this will take you to a Waiting Room. Once in please write your name, answer the joining question and we will add you to the main chat. **Saying Thanks** If you would like to help support Philosophy in the Park you can buy me a coffee here: [https://buymeacoffee.com/philosophyjoel](https://buymeacoffee.com/philosophyjoel)

**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

💰 **Build Passive Income with AI Ebooks – Masterclass** Build a passive publishing business with AI — from idea to income. ⚠️ Your spot is only held once you complete registration below. ### [🔗 SAVE YOUR SEAT](https://aiventurelab.org/product/AIEbookBusiness?city=Columbus&groupurlname=network-of-book-lovers-and-discussion-meetups&startgmtdatetime=2026-06-30T22:00:00Z) --- What's covered: - Publish across platforms for passive income - Format and list ebooks so they actually sell - Find profitable niches using AI research tools *One system. Recurring income.* ✍️

📊 **Profit from Predictions – Polymarket Strategy** Stop guessing on Polymarket. Learn the analytical system that generates real profit. ⚠️ Complete registration below — RSVP alone doesn't reserve your spot. ### [🔗 CLAIM YOUR SPOT](https://aiventurelab.org/product/Polymarket?city=Columbus&groupurlname=network-of-book-lovers-and-discussion-meetups&startgmtdatetime=2026-06-30T22:00:00Z) --- What you'll learn: - A systematic approach to forecasting outcomes - How to identify high-value markets before the crowd - Polymarket strategies that generate consistent daily profit *The forecasters who win have a system. Get yours.* 🎯

Bienvenue! We host a twice-a-month French conversation club at La Chatelaine on Lane. All levels welcome! Whether you're new to French or running for Président de la République you are welcome here! We often read plays together, play vocabulary games, and generally enjoy the delicious food available at La Chatelaine! We will be at the long table in the back of the restaurant. A bientôt!

**Improving Office in Franklinton** Physical location: Improving Office 330 Rush Alley Suite #150 Columbus, OH 43215 Schedule: 6:00 p.m.: Socialize, eat, and drink. Improving will be providing pizza and beverages. 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Main meeting and presentation(s). Topic: This month Chris Pazsint will be talking about Agentic Coding. How does one use CLI Based Agents, and Agentic IDEs such as Cursor, Kiro, Antigravity? How to include agentic coding plugins for IDEs you already love such as Visual Studio Code. We meet on the last Monday of each Month. Presentations are given by members and friends of this group. If you would like to do a presentation (small or large) on a python topic, please contact Central OH Python at centralohpython@gmail.com

**This event is 2:30 - 4 pm Sunday.** Conversation tends toward intermediate/advanced, but everybody is welcome. If you come and don't see us right away, keep looking. We could be anywhere in the restaurant. Or out on the patio.

📱 **Build a Viral AI Content Brand – Faceless Influencer Blueprint** Launch a content brand that grows on autopilot using AI-generated media. ⚠️ Complete registration to confirm your seat. RSVP is not enough. ### [🔗 CLAIM YOUR PLACE](https://aiventurelab.org/product/AiInfluencer?city=Columbus&groupurlname=network-of-book-lovers-and-discussion-meetups&startgmtdatetime=2026-06-30T22:00:00Z) --- What you'll create: - A monetisation path from day one - AI tools to generate, edit, and post content automatically - A content system that grows on autopilot *Your brand. Your rules. No face needed.* 🚀