public educational talks

**Wine tasting and education**

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Can Artificial Intelligence ‘See’?”** A look at how humans and artificial intelligence systems interpret the visual world in fundamentally different ways, with Arryn Robbins, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Richmond and cognitive scientist who researches visual attention, perception, and category learning. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-can-AI-see) .] Artificial intelligence can now identify faces, categorize objects, describe scenes, and outperform humans on certain visual tasks. But does AI actually “see” the world the way that people do? Or does it arrive at correct answers using representations that differ markedly from human perception? Join Arryn Robbins of the University of Richmond for a fascinating exploration of how humans and AI construct meaning from visual information and a look at comparisons between human perception and AI that reveal just how dynamic and context-dependent our own visual systems really are. Dr. Robbins, who previously has given excellent Profs and Pints talks on flaws and biases in human visual perception, will draw from research in cognitive science, visual perception, and AI vision systems. She’ll explain how human perception is not merely a simple recording of the world, but an active process shaped by expectations, context, goals, and recent experience. You’ll learn how humans form flexible mental representations that allow us to recognize objects across changing environments and conditions, and why those representations continuously adapt as we interact with the world. Many AI systems, by contrast, learn visual categories through statistical patterns in data. They can produce impressive results, but sometimes they also produce strange and unexpected failures, and sometimes they classify images in ways that seem strange to us. Dr. Robbins will discuss what these differences reveal about the nature of perception itself, and why the mismatch between human and AI representations matters for technologies like self-driving cars, medical imaging, facial recognition, and automated surveillance. Important for anyone trying to understand the rapidly growing role of AI in daily life, this talk will explore one of the biggest questions in cognitive science and artificial intelligence: What does it actually mean to “see” and understand the world? (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: “Eye Farm” by Nevit Dilmen (Wikimedia Commons).

Join us for a free educational seminar designed to help you understand the basics of Medicare and feel confident in your coverage decisions. This informative session will cover everything you need to know to get started, including: * **Eligibility** — who qualifies for Medicare and when * **Coverage Options** — understanding the differences between Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans, benefits available to Federal, state, local retirees, and how Medicaid works alongside Medicare for those who qualify * **Enrollment Periods** — key dates and deadlines to avoid costly late penalties Whether you're approaching Medicare eligibility, helping a loved one navigate their options, or simply want a better understanding of your current coverage, this seminar is for you. Our only goal is to make sure you have the knowledge you need to make informed decisions about your healthcare. All are welcome. Bring a friend or family member!

We will be meeting at Starbucks to learn together. Come with an online class you're already going through or an interest and we will try to connect you with a course where you can learn it. Already have a skill you want to contribute to a Kaggle Datascience competition? We will work on these too! Laptop required :)

Sexual health education and testing. Lunch will be served. Discover the Facts. Know Your Status. Did you know that 1:7 individuals are unaware of their sexual health status? The Inova Juniper Program is dedicated to fostering education, prevention, and support while working to reduce the stigma surrounding sexual health awareness. Join us for an engaging and interactive presentation. Take advantage of on-site rapid testing to learn your status! Lunch will be provided, and registration is required. RSVPing on Meetup does not register you with Prince William Public Libraries. To register, [click here](https://pwcgov.libnet.info/event/16474891).

This popular and accomplished Toastmasters club (#4787) is open to everyone, with an average of 25 people per meeting, mainly business professionals from the Reston/Herndon area. Meetings are held on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Tuesdays of the month from 6pm to 7:15pm at Conference Room #2 of the Reston Community Center: 2310 Colts Neck Rd, Reston, VA 20191. Some of the group's members are accomplished professional speakers, while others are just starting down their path of improved public speaking, including many non-native English speakers. Whether you're just starting out and looking to improve your speaking or overcome some nervousness...or looking to gain connections and sharpen your skills, you'll feel connected with the members of Reston Town Center Toastmasters. Stop by. Check us out! Chances are you'll like us so much that you'll be back! For more information: http://towncentertoastmasters.toastmastersclubs.org/

Blackbeard, Calico Jack, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, and a cast of thousands established the first Democratic Republic in the New World, reveling in their freedom and ability to wage warfare as professional thieves. Learn about the Colonial Republic of Pirates from Ed Moore, historian and journalist, from the Maritime Museum in Newport News. Registration required. RSVPing on Meetup does not register you for the program. To register, please [click here](https://pwcgov.libnet.info/events?term=pirates&r=range&start=2026-05-19&end=2030-12-31).