Science & Technology

Meet world-leading researchers from universities and science institutions across the UK at the Royal Society’s public events of cutting-edge science. Tonight's lecture is **"Pathogen assassin: a journey in microbiology"** as the **Royal Society Leeuwenhoek Prize Lecture 2026** delivered by **Sir Michael Ferguson CBE FMedSci FRS**. **This livestream event is free to join and requires prior registration with the Royal Society at the web address below.** **[https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/01/leeuwenhoek-prize-lecture/](https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/01/leeuwenhoek-prize-lecture/)** **SUMMARY** Pathogen assassin: a journey in microbiology. In scientific research, unexpected discoveries and connections are made along the way. Some examples of how microbiology informs human biology, and vice-versa, will be highlighted to illustrate this. The talk will explore how science can provide opportunities to make better, safer medicines and diagnostics for neglected infectious diseases. This will include a description of the complex journey by which new candidate medicines are discovered, optimised and tested, and the international collaborative networks required to span from the laboratory to the patient. Lastly, aspects of the social contract between science and scientists and their public and private stakeholders will be touched upon. **SPEAKER** **Sir Mike Ferguson** is Regius Professor of Life Sciences. He studied in Manchester, London, New York and Oxford before moving to the University of Dundee in 1988. He studies the surface molecular architectures of protozoan parasites and how these influence survival and infectivity. During these studies, Mike and colleagues discovered a new way by which proteins can be attached to cell surfaces, a mechanism which turns out to be widely used in Nature. Wishing to translate discoveries into new medicines, Mike and colleagues established a Drug Discovery Unit in 2006 which has delivered candidate drugs for a variety of infectious diseases. In addition, Mike’s team helped develop a simple diagnostic for human African sleeping-sickness. He also works to provide infrastructure needed to grow Life Sciences companies in an economically challenged part of the UK. ## Attending the event * The event is free to join, please register via [register via Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/royal-society-milner-award-lecture-2025-professor-iryna-gurevych-tickets-1341789300919?aff=oddtdtcreator) * Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually ### Attending online * The lecture can be attended in person at the Royal Society * **Please note** that as this is a free event, we anticipate that not everyone who reserves tickets will use them and we therefore make more tickets available than there are seats. You are highly unlikely to be refused entry but please be aware that admission is on a first-come, first-served basis and not guaranteed. Please arrive early to secure a seat * This event is free to join. Pre-bookable [tickets are available on Eventbrite](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/this-is-not-the-ai-we-were-promised-tickets-1978114900918?aff=oddtdtcreator) * Live subtitles will be available in-person and virtually * Doors will open at 6pm Find [travel and accessibility information](https://royalsociety.org/about-us/contact-us/carlton-house-terrace-london/) on our website. Please [email us](mailto:public.engagement@royalsociety.org) with any access requirements or questions. * You can take part in the live Q&A via Slido * This event will be recorded (including the live Q&A) and the recording will be available on YouTube soon after the event For all enquiries, please contact [awards@royalsociety.org](mailto:awards@royalsociety.org).

Join us at the library to get involved in improving content about Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics on the world’s largest online encyclopaedia! If you would like to play a part in making knowledge accessible and to get together as a community, the Brixton meet-up will show you the ropes to becoming a skilled Wikipedia editor. This month we will focus on enhancing articles about notable women in STEAM from diverse ethnic backgrounds. We will have a look at local history resources and hold general discussions on the subject. Our training team will explain how to participate in Wikiprojects, how to copy-edit articles and more. We will also show you how to upload images to Wikimedia Commons. To make the most out of the session, you can explore Brixton Library’s materials at your disposal and access subscription-based databases (like the British Newspaper Archives) for free! Complete newcomers are welcome to join! There will be fellow editors on hand who can show you the first steps of editing Wikipedia and help you kickstart your Wikipedia journey. For more experienced editors, we will also work together on the Top 50 Report for this year. If you are already a Wikipedia editor, you can register on meta here: [https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meetup/Brixton/13](https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meetup/Brixton/13) You can bring your own laptop or use the library computers. The event will take place on the ground floor of Brixton Library near computers 5 to 8.

Come join us to hear more and try the X39 patch. LifeWave's X39 phototherapy patch won "Stem Cell Innovation of the Year 2025". Come and join us to find out how this amazing patch could help improve the quality of your life and the lives of those you care about. Fututre technology now. Feel younger. Be younger. In this event we will briefly discuss the product and hear via Zoom from a company manager. Everyone will get to try on an X39 patch and take one home for a friend.

IN PERSON STUDY & CONVERSATION GROUP - KNOWLEDGE OF THE HIGHER WORDS. HOW IS IT ACHIEVED ? WITH TREVOR DANCE **Knowledge of the Higher Worlds is an essential book for understanding Rudolf Steiner’s ideas. It contains practical exercises to set one on the spiritual pathway advocated by Steiner – a reliable and safe path based on a rational, scientific approach.** **You are warmly invited to join the study group.** **Further information: trevordance@hotmail.com** This group is run under the auspices of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain and small donations towards expenses are welcome. £ 3 / £2 .

**Kindly note that this is a paid event and the average number of attendees for our events is 60-70 people. You can register on [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-networking-event-women-connector-business-leadership-tickets-1979212241092?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/womens-networking-event-women-connector-business-leadership-tickets-1979212241092?aff=meetup)** Connect with inspiring women entrepreneurs, leaders & professionals at the 37th Women Connector® networking event in London. **London’s Leading Women-Only Business Networking Event** **Women Connector®** is one of London’s most established and highly regarded **women-only business networking events**, bringing together women in business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and founding roles. Now in its **36th edition**, Women Connector® is proudly part of the **London Connector® events portfolio**, sharing the same core beliefs and values that define all London Connector gatherings: **Every relationship is human-to-human first**, and business is approached with a **win-win mindset built on trust, respect, and long-term collaboration**. Women Connector® offers a relaxed yet high-quality environment designed to spark **meaningful conversations, authentic relationships, and lasting professional opportunities**. *“Amazing evening and people—wow! Truly fabulous, strong, independent, intelligent, wonderful, kind, friendly, and beautiful souls that I cannot wait to work with, learn from, and grow alongside.”* ❤️💋🥳 — *Attendee feedback from a previous Women Connector®* **Who Attends Women Connector®?** Women Connector® is created for women who value **both professional growth and genuine connection**. Attendees typically include: * Female CEOs and founders * Women entrepreneurs and business owners * Senior business leaders and professionals * Investors and decision-makers * Female members of the hosting **Hay Hill Private Members’ Club** All attendees share a mindset of **ambition, openness, generosity, and collaboration**, reflecting the core London Connector belief in **mutual value creation**. **Event Experience & Programme** ### **6:00 PM – Arrival & Check-In** Guests arrive, register, and are welcomed by the hosts. **This is an exclusive, guest-list-only event.** ### **6:00 – 10:00 PM – Curated Networking** Enjoy a relaxed yet purposeful evening of hosted networking where you can: * Mix and mingle naturally * Be personally introduced to like-minded women * Build meaningful, long-term business relationships You’ll leave with **valuable connections, fresh ideas, new opportunities**, and the uplifting energy that defines every Women Connector® evening. ## **How Women Connector® Helps You Connect** Women Connector® is intentionally designed to remove the awkwardness of traditional networking: * Fully hosted with facilitated introductions * A **private WhatsApp group** created for all attendees * Opportunity to introduce yourself in advance * Begin building relationships **before the event starts** * A warm, inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels welcomed This reflects the London Connector philosophy that **strong relationships come before transactions**. 🔒 **This is a women-only event** ## **Dress Code** Smart casual, chic, or business attire—choose what makes you feel **confident, comfortable, and yourself**. ## **What Women Say About Women Connector®** *“Thank you once again for a wonderful event and the opportunity to meet such amazing women. It was truly empowering—I hope we have many more like this.”* 🙌🏻🤩❤️ *“What a wonderful opportunity to connect with an educated, progressive group.”* *“I’ve attended many networking events, but the energy in the room was particularly warm and buzzy. Thank you for creating such a special space.”* ## **Refund Policy** Tickets are **non-refundable**. If you are unable to attend, you may **transfer your ticket** to another attendee—simply inform us of the replacement name in advance. ## **Event Disclaimer** Please note that **photos and videos may be taken** during the event and used for London Connector® and Women Connector® social media channels and promotional materials. If you prefer not to appear in any photos or videos, kindly inform the host upon arrival and your preference will be fully respected. * [United Kingdom Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom/events/) * [Greater London Events](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--greater-london/events/) * [Things to do in London](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ttd/united-kingdom--london/) * [London Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/networking/) * [London Business Networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/business--networking/) * [#business](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business/) * [#networking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23networking/) * [#women](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23women/) * [#entrepreneur](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23entrepreneur/) * [#london](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23london/) * [#womeninbusiness](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23womeninbusiness/) * [#londonevents](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23londonevents/) * [#businessnetworking](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23businessnetworking/) * [#women_entrepreneurs](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23women_entrepreneurs/) * [#business_professional](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/d/united-kingdom--london/%23business_professional/)

ENJOY the SPECTACLE of LONDON'S WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL. on this £5 tour. This is a short circular walking tour (approx 2 hours) taking in some of Canary Wharf's most spectacular Winter Lights. For 2026, the festival’s theme is ‘Dreamscape’, which promises an ‘an exploratory journey of the surreal and ethereal’. Expect interactive displays, colourful projections and magnificent installations from world-renowned light artists, as well as pop-up food stalls to keep you fuelled along the way. Afterwards there will be an option to head off to a local bar for something to eat/drink to continue the socialising. **Please note that the meetup point is at Canary Wharf Elizabeth Line Station (Exit near Adams Plaza)** The Tour lasts approx 2.5 hours, so please wear warm clothing. The Tour ends at a large pub in Canary Wharf at around 9pmish. When you arrive at the starting point look for the Ken's Events Flag. Cost of Event £5 : To allow for maximum flexibility for attendees, this event is free to RSVP. The £5 fee is only payable when you attend. Free for members and guests who hold the Ken's Events Membership. Please note that it is your responsibilty to keep walkers ahead in view and to follow the direction of the walk. RISKS: Please dress appropriately for weather conditions and carry a bottle of water and necessary medication. In these walks we use; pavements, and cross busy roads. If you require insurance for these walks then you must arrange this yourself. No dogs on this walk or small children please. Please arrive in good time to allow opportunity to use toilets at the start of the walk as there may not be any toilet breaks available during the walk. WANT TO COME ON ANOTHER WALK? For a list of future walks go to[ http://www.meetup.com/KENS-EVENTS-EXPLORE-LONDON-SECRETS/events/](https://www.meetup.com/KENS-EVENTS-EXPLORE-LONDON-SECRETS/events/) All Ken's Events are subject to a disclaimer. Please click here [http://www.meetup.com/kens-events-explore-london-secrets/](http://www.meetup.com/kens-events-explore-london-secrets/) to find out more about Kens Events/Walks and click on 'read more' to see full disclaimer. Please post no pre-event messages unless you are posting something relevant for the whole group and only post photos of other members with their consent. Kens Events also has a Facebook Page, Instagram and Twitter accounts. [http://www.facebook.com/Kens.events](http://www.facebook.com/Kens.events) Instagram Page [Kenswalks](https://www.instagram.com/weekendgreenwalks/) Twitter [@KenEvents](http://www.twitter.com/KenEvents) Kens Events also has a Facebook Group that you can join. [http://www.facebook.com/groups/Kensevents](http://www.facebook.com/Kens.events) RAIN POLICY: Our walks normally go ahead as planned even if it rains. Light rain is not usually a problem . However if torrentail rain is forecast, please check back to this webpage on the afternoon of the event around 4pm for the latest update. Tell your friends you are going! [https://secure.meetup.com/LONDON-MEETUP-SOCIAL-GROUP-KENS-EVENTS/invite/](https://secure.meetup.com/LONDON-MEETUP-SOCIAL-GROUP-KENS-EVENTS/invite/)

Online Southend Tech Meetup is a weekly online meetup for those interested in coding and tech. Over 18s and living in Essex only. Join Zoom Meetings on **Mondays 7.30pm-9pm** [https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81990702896?pwd=64SEMVGSzyUx9oYebnJyCwwVCEiGF7.1](https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81990702896?pwd=64SEMVGSzyUx9oYebnJyCwwVCEiGF7.1) Meeting ID: 819 9070 2896 Passcode: 013598 We also meet regularly at The Board Games Hut in Southend on the 3rd Thursday of the month, Chelmsford on the 1st Thursday of the month, Basildon on the 3rd Sunday of the month and elsewhere in person on other occasions. See other events on Meetup and [https://www.southendtech.co.uk/](https://www.southendtech.co.uk/)

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!

🌌Ever look up and marvel with insatiable curiosity at both the beauty and wonder of the **universe?** That wild sobering thought that somewhere in the chaos of creation - the emergence of life - the universe became **conscious** enough to look back and ask the fundamental questions; How it all started, our evolution and place in it, and where else in the cosmos other complex life might exist (we know almost every star you see has planets orbiting with up to **20 billion habitable exoplanets** easily in our galaxy alone!)? 🪐🌟🌟🌟 🌍Then RSVP to view the potential life harbouring moons of **Jupiter**, comets, the famous **Orion Nebula** where stars like our sun were born, the majestic rings of **Saturn**, the international space station, well known star fields, remnants of **supernova** witnessed by our early ancestors, multi-star solar systems (think the double sun in Starwars), the Tau Ceti star with **2 Earth like planets** orbiting in the habitable zone, plus a range of other fascinating celestial wonderments (comets, galaxies) over drinks and engaging chats and banter this Jan fully hosted by a passionate amateur astronomer and former global Journalist covering big picture stories including cutting edge science related ones. 🚀In between observing - we'll have **drinks and engaging chats** on all astronomy related topics for those inclined - space exploration, Fermi Paradox, Astrobiology, Cosmology, paleontology, SETI/Drake Equation (I have my own augmented version giving more realistic estimates of likely alien civilisations!), exoplanetology etc as well as non space chatter and banter too. No doubt we'll hear the usual jokes we've all heard before! If those don't make you laugh, my impersonation of Los Angeles ET will! 👽 And to help set the mood and make the night feel even extra galactic, I’ll put my DJ hat to play some space‑themed tunes and songs about the stars! **======= Joining Astronomers Group & Telescopes =======** I'm able to take a limited number of people (please only RSVP if you can make it) to join my friendly informal relaxed London amateur astronomers' club that have been for over a decade with their regulars made up of up to about 150 people. As there will be people attending from this private Astronomers group as well as others from one of my other groups - the total attendees will be far higher than rsvps here and the public liability insurance only covers a max number of people - hence I need to impose strict limits on attendance. Over the years we have enjoyed numerous social evenings of stargazing and thought provoking chatter with people of all ages and varying levels of astronomy knowledge - so complete beginners that are genuinely curious about the universe are very welcome. If you are just looking to meet generic randoms then there are others groups that will better cater for that. The world renowed **BBC Television Sky at Night** also attended our events pre covid and interviewed some of us for it's show that aired on BBC1 in Feb 2019. BBC **Radio London** (94.9 FM / digital) were there Aug 2023 to cover our meteor shower event broadcasting live to millions of Londoners for 3 hours You don't need a telescope as you will be able to view through scopes belonging to me and other club members (as long as you behave responsibly and don't temper with expensive equipment). If you have your own telescope/binoculars feel free to bring along and I can help you setting it up if you're a newbie **==== Food & Drinks With Seating From Warm Indoor Cafe ====** Alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, cider only), hot drinks and food/snacks will be available to purchase from an indoor cafe at the observation point which Regent's park keep open exclusively for the astronomers group so please don't bring your own drinks **==== ITINERARY =====** We will meet outside Camden Station. After a short wait for anyone delayed, I will escort everyone to our observation point in the local park 15 minutes walk away and brief you in terms of what to expect, observing etiquette, tips, equipment handling and take any questions you have - weather general or astronomy/cosmology related. **After Drinks:** Unless I have a very important 9AM Thursday deadline for a client presentation or something that I'm still gonna be writing 2 mins before start - most of us usually head our way back to Camden for another drink. If so - I will annouce the pub when we leave the park **==== What Can You Expect To See (this time of year)? ====** * Orion Nebula * Jupiter and 4 moons * Meteors * Andromedia Galaxy * Saturn, rings & moon * Star clusters such as the Pleiades & Owl Cluster etc * International Space station fly by * Venus & Mercury * Binary & tripple star systems (think planet *Tatooine in* Starwars!), * Neptune * Uranuus * Mars * Our moon * A look towards the galactic centre where that supermassive £22b Labour black hole sits (Sagittarius A) More here from Jodrell Bank Observatory/Astrophysics Centre: [http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/](http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/) Guide to viewing the cosmos for beginners: [https://phys.org/news/2018-05-universe-distant-starstips-cosmology-backyard.html#jCp](https://phys.org/news/2018-05-universe-distant-starstips-cosmology-backyard.html#jCp) **===Weather Dependent=====** The event is subject to clear skies forecasts on the night so if on the actual afternoon of the event the weather forecasts looks unsuitable beyond doubt then I will postpone so please check the event status on the day of the event . If this event is still listed here at 5PM on the day, it will be going ahead at the designated day and time! Happy Stargazing Lucas Skywalker - The Singin, Dancin, DJ-in Astronomer

⚠️ **Please read any of the books voted below** 🙏🏽, and avoid last minute AI summaries. This is a **book club** after all! 😊 18 votes - Behave - Robert Sapolsky 12 votes - Educated - Tara Westover 11 votes - Love's Executioner - Irvin D. Yalom Join us for Deeper Discussions, where we dive into thought-provoking non-fiction books that challenge perspectives, inspire growth, and spark meaningful conversations. Whether you're an avid reader or just curious about exploring new ideas, this is a space to reflect, share, and gain new insights into the world around us. 🌍💡 **How does it work?** * The above books have already been voted on for reading * We will split into groups based on the book you've read 💬 * Everyone shares summary / thoughts 🧠 * Focused Discussion on a specific chapter or topic / theme from the book for 30 minutes 📚 * Open Q&A regarding the book and any related topics ❓ **What to Expect?** 🔍 **Deep Discussions**: We’ll explore key themes, insights, and arguments from this month’s two books 💬📚 💡 **Critical Thinking & Reflection**: Engage in conversations that go beyond surface-level takeaways. Challenge perspectives, question assumptions, and discover new ways of thinking. 🤔✨ 🌿 **Personal & Collective Growth**: Non-fiction books have the power to transform our understanding of society, relationships, and ourselves 🧠🚀 **How to get the most out of this event?** 📝 **Read the Book:** While reading the full book is ideal, even if complete significant amount can help you engage in the discussion. 📖✨ 🗣 **Respect & Openness:** Every perspective matters. This is a space for discussion, not debate. Stay curious, listen actively, and engage with an open mind. 🙏🌱 🤝 **Be Ready to Share & Learn:** What resonated with you? What challenged you? Personal reflections make the discussion richer and more meaningful. 💡🌍 📌 **Why a Non-Fiction Book Club?** 📖 **Expand Your Perspective:** Learn from diverse ideas, and real-world experiences. 🌏✨ 🧠 **Foster Growth:** Engage in stimulating conversations that challenge and refine your thinking. 💭🔄 💬 **Deepen Connections:** Connect with like-minded individuals who value insightful discussions and continuous learning. 🤝📚 **Who is this event for?** * You love exploring ideas that shape the world. 🌎 * You enjoy thought-provoking discussions. 🗣 * You want to engage in meaningful conversations beyond small talk. 💡 * You’re open to challenging your assumptions and learning from others. 🔄 **What's in it for you?** * 💡 **A Space for Reflection:** Step back and think critically about important ideas. * 📚 **New Perspectives:** Gain insights from both the book and fellow participants. * 🤝 **Deep Connections:** Meet others who share a love for learning and growth. **Ready to dive into big ideas?** 🌊 Join us for an evening of engaging, insightful discussions on a book that **challenges**, **inspires**, and **expands** the way we think. 🌟 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)

Time is precious. Here we value non-boring valuable chats and interactions that are fully engaging, soulfully enriching, inspiring, and leave you a bit wiser than when you arrived. In that spirit (mind the pun!), today’s fully hosted laid back social coffee chat will offer a perfect haven for the inquisitive & curious - those drawn to the mysteries of the universe, life and everything in between. A tasty caffeine infused fun afternoon of thought-provoking causal chats exploring spirituality/consciousness and related interconnected topics spanning **philosophy,** **neuroscience**, **parapsychology,** **paranormal.** **cosmology** and **noetic sciences** over a mug of sweet coffee. Hosted by me - a former Reuters journalist & published empirical researcher exploring spirituality topics in pursuant of the "truth" since a teenager, there'll be no strict structure - a relaxed friendly space to openly chat, exchange ideas & experiences without judgement, but I'll preside to promote inclusivity and zone in on specifics to avoid people digressing onto unrelated tangents to ensure like all of our events - particpants derive maximum utlity and insights from attending. We’ll touch on everything from the limits of scientific understanding to exploring the unexplained using practical fun exploratory divination practices drawing on elements of **psychology, metaphysics, epistemology** and **statistical** **probability** of rare events as we do so. Whether you're a practicing "spiritualist", a curious skeptic, or just someone who loves deep conversation on **life’s big questions**, you’ll hopefully walk away more enlightened with some practical tips you can start applying and inspired to explore more! As well as illuminating chats to guide self-reflection, obviously no sprituality event woul be complete without practical tools so there'll be FREE Tarot & I-Ching readings, demonstrations of meditation method to activate super powerful gamma brain waves, and pyschic tests for a bit of fun, laughter & intrigue! **Sample of conversational threads** might include: Are we mere organisms pursuing biological survival or does consciousness exist beyond neurons firing in our brains? What explains peoples' paranormal experiences? What would reality look like If our brains were limitless? Declassified CIA files show that as as well as mind control experiments, the US govt employed mediums and remote viewers. If all mumbo jumbo then why? Is Nirvana just a fantasy of deluded people? Does everything happen for a reason? To clarify - we define spirituality here as an exploration of consciousness, Donald Rumsfeld's unknown unknowns and undiscovered aspects of reality, NOT religion. After all, as my philosophy professor once rightly postulated to me: "If God created Adam, who created God Lucas?" Yep - that inconvenient flaw **debunks every fairytale religion** out there including the oldest religion of them all - paganism - so why is witchcraft still practised outside of **Hogwarts** today? I may also share the latest peer reviewed empirical evidence surrounding **paranormal** and **consciousness** phenomena. **=== POTENTIAL CONVERSATION STARTERS ===** 1. Does consciousness survive death or is Cambridge Astrophysics Professor Brian Cox right in asserting if **ghosts** existed then particle accelerators at CERN would have already detected ghost molecules making Ouija boards kids play? Are Poltergiests 100% hoax? Brain scans indicate thalamocortical circuits in our brain (pathways in the parietal cortex & central lateral thalamus) drive **consciousness -** so how can spirit/mind live on after **brain death**? 2. Is **synchronicity/coincidence** simply randomness disguised in the eye of the beholder or can what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance" (quantum entanglement) explain it? 3. Given **neuroscience**'s infancy with much yet undiscovered - could mediation help access functions outside of our BAU alpha & beta brain wave states? Can **Kundalini yoga** to boost natural **DMT** (dimethyltryptamine) vs drugs like ayahuasca, mushrooms, LSD etc and if so by what mechanism? Do the artifically created neural signatures using magnetic stimulation observed during mystical experiences debunk them? Is the Maharishi Effect real? 4. Are clairvoyants and mediums just good people readers or are they really able to access time and space in non-linear ways? Is Tyler Henry the real deal or just faking it? Was **Abraham Lincolm** precognizant when he dreamt his own fatal assignation? 5. The laws of statistical probability, Drake Equation & common sense tells us there is other non-microbial life out there. So what explains the Fermi Paradox? Was that 1976 WOW signal aliens? How about the recent strange bahaviour of Boyajian's star or Oumuamua/Atlas interstella object that has just entered our solar system? 6. Could metaverse explain deja vu & reincarnation vs theories from the **psychology** literature (Mandela Effect?) or do we just live in a **simulation** as **Elon Musk** proposes? 7. **Stephen Hawking** once said: "The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities" If matter only manifests when observed as the double slit experiments shows, does that mean everything is consciousness? Does the discovery of *quantum superposition /* disappearing neutrons imply **parallel universes**? 8. Do **NDEs** result from neurochemical changes in the brain close to death or something beyond physicality? 9. Can photons omitted by our bodies explain auras that people see? 10. Could limits in our understanding of quantum physics, space and time explain paranormal experiences? 11. What existed before the **big bang** \- how do you get something from "nothing"? I believe our reality is the product of a black hole\. What you reckon? ***So how do we get to the "truth"?*** Both in my journalism days and applying the most advanced empirical research techniques in my client consulting work - it becomes clear the truth is often elusive. No matter how much we triangulate evidence - we can only provide part answers. "All models are wrong, but some are useful" George Box What we think we know and reality diverge leading to that great **paradox of knowledge.** And as the boundary between knowns and unknown converge, we end up with cognitive dissonance and more questions. In that spirit - every credible philosopher & scientist acknowledges - we'll never get to the complete truth but could **experimental methods** get us closer to it? A balanced approach guided by Immanuel Kant's pragmatism and Aristotle's deductive reasoning seems the most rationale framework here but are there any other methodologies? How about the **"spirituality"** toolkit? **=== RENDEZVOUS POINT ===** We will meet in the Penderel's Oak. *283–288 High Holborn, Holborn WC1V 7HP* zone 1 central london so very easy to get to. I'll be wearing a **Starwars identifier** and will share mobile hotline just before event start and table number/location Lucas - The Unenlightened Desperately Seeking Answers

**An illuminating and entertaining talk exploring the themes of space and humanism in literature and reality** Humans live for stories, and we love seeing ourselves reflected in them. After all, fiction is often used both as metaphor and mirror of our society. Alfredo will talk about space and astronomy in the real universe and in the many imagined ones - and how that often overlaps with the expectation and representation of humanists. Following the talk, after a refreshments interval, there will be a Q&A, and we invite people to suggest their favourite fictional representation of a humanist and/or scientists for a lively debate on how we see ourselves and how the world sees us. **Your Speaker** Dr Alfredo Carpineti (he/him): is a queer Italian astrophysicist, science journalist, and social activist. He is the Senior Staff Writer & Space Correspondent for IFLScience where he has worked for 10 years, writing over 6,000 articles that have been read by millions. He is the author of the upcoming pop astronomy book Invisible Rainbows. He is the chair and founder of Pride in STEM, an award-nominated British charity dedicated to supporting and showcasing LGBTQIA+ in STEM and founder of the International Day of LGBTQIA+ People in STEM. **Post event social** As after all our in-person talks at the Old Diorama Arts Centre, we will move on to a local pub for a post event social. So from 8:30 PM we will be going to the [Queen's Head and Artichoke](https://maps.app.goo.gl/nXy9yvWcywRM1Hir6), 30-32 Albany St, London NW1 4EA. **Payment** We ask for a **£5 donation to attend** this talk, which can be paid on the door. (Or pay what you can afford.) If you would prefer to make the £5 donation online or can't attend and would still like to support the event [please click here](https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML71XMH66FX5E/checkout/ALWCDLQ3S7AVPLFZ62PZGXLU). Alternatively you can do a transfer using our account details: Central London Humanist Group, Sort code: 30-94-25, Account number: 19143068, Reference: Talk Beacon **Please note this event will be recorded and we will take photos for publication on CLH media channels. If you do not wish to be featured in video or photographs please contact the CLH team in advance or make us aware at the event.** **Resources and FAQs** …for members, supporters, and participants in CLH activities See [here for our knowledge base](https://clhorganisers.notion.site/Central-London-Humanists-knowledge-base-7ff2374eee1e43c0938123e894f37e5f) packed with important, useful information about the group, the organisers, and what we offer the community. See [here for our code of conduct and complaints policy](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Reeh69cv38DHeBnexNwOAKoeRb2dwDM3k9xaJ2tM5EA/mobilebasic). **Our events are 18+ unless accompanied by a parent or guardian**. We encourage dialogue, debate, and sharing of information, but ask people to keep their comments cordial. Any individual's views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of the group at large.

This is a **theatre** and **livestream** talk from the **Royal Institution of Great Britain.** Join Mathematician and Healthcare Engineer Becky Shipley as she explains how mathematical modelling is driving innovation in the NHS and beyond.. **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-mathematical-tools-transform-world](https://www.rigb.org/whats-on/discourse-mathematical-tools-transform-world)** **SUMMARY** Mathematics is a powerful tool to understand the world around us. It can model the physics, chemistry and biology of a wide variety of systems. But it can also be used to make predictions that can feed into technology, manufacturing and engineering across an array of fields. In our first Discourse of 2026, mathematician and expert in computational modelling **Becky Shipley** explores how mathematics is inspiring new advances across engineering industries. Drawing on her experience in healthcare, she'll visit case studies showing how mathematical problem-solving is improving diagnosis, treatment and patient experience, alongside the newest applications of mathematics. Discover how multidisciplinary engineering principles led to the rapid development of novel medical devices during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to an internationally recognised team led by Becky herself. 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 7.10pm, 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.

This **theatre** and **livestream** is available online from Gresham College to Basingstoke Science subscribers. **ADVANCE BOOKING AND PAYMENT IS REQUIRED FOR THIS TALK.** **More details and booking instructions on the Gresham web site:** **[https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/shape-shells](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/shape-shells)** **SUMMARY** #### Part of: [The Geometry of Nature and the Shape of Things](https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/series/geometry-nature) It is impossible not to marvel at the beauty and regularity of seashells. These intricate forms are crafted by a humble architect—the living mollusc—building them layer by layer. Despite their remarkable diversity, the fundamental geometry of most seashells is governed by simple mathematical rules, resulting in elegant three-dimensional self-similar structures. Beyond this basic framework, molluscs embellish their shells with fascinating features such as wrinkles, spines, and spikes. This lecture reveals how a mathematical theory of seashell growth explains the origins of these features and resolves many enduring questions in biology. **The livestream will go live at 5.55pm, and the introduction will begin at 6.00pm. 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.

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

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

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

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

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)

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