Science

Il vous suffit simplement de vous inscrire sur notre application mobile ChessBar disponible sur IOS et Android, **Gratuit** et pour **TOUS** niveaux !

👋 Qui veut intégrer un groupe d'amis en cours de constitution pour faire des sorties et activités ensemble sur Paris et la région parisienne ? Voici quelques exemples de sorties proposées dans ce groupe : ❇️ apéro, afterwork, bars, restaurants, brunch, pique-nique ❇️ ciné, concert, théatre, musée ❇️ sports (tennis, initiation au golf, hiit, running, escalade, etc.) ❇️ jeux de société (poker, loup garou...) et en plein air (mollky, pétanque...) ❇️ week-end ❇️ et tout ce que tu pourras proposer. 💥💥 Ouverture, respect et bienveillance sont les valeurs qui animent le groupe 💥💥 Si tout cela te parle, inscris toi à notre groupe "Sorties et rencontres amicales - Paris" pour être informé(e) de toutes les sorties, il vient tout juste d'être créé sur Meetup et nous serons heureux de faire ta connaissance lors d'une prochaine sortie 👋 Ne te fie pas au nombre de participants sur Meetup, nous sommes sur plusieurs sites et Meetup est le dernier sur lequel nous avons ouvert un compte. \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* BIEN LIRE ATTENTIVEMENT CI-DESSOUS \*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*\* **NB : INUTILE DE CLIQUER SUR "Participer" SUR CETTE FICHE.** Inscris toi juste au groupe et clique sur "Participer" uniquement sur les activités / sorties qui ont lieu de façon sure et certaine et qui sont toutes précédées des symboles 💥💥 devant leur titre. **Si dans le titre de la sortie il n'y a pas les symboles 💥💥 c'est que la sortie n'est pas confirmée.** Nos sorties (et celle d'autres utilisateurs) sont également publiées sur l'application gratuite de rencontres amicales Weezem : 👉 Appstore : [https://apps.apple.com/fr/app/weezem/id1547233803](https://apps.apple.com/fr/app/weezem/id1547233803) 👉 Google Play : [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.weezemapp](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.weezemapp) Tu peux aussi t'inscrire au groupe Whatsapp Weezem ici pour être informé(e) de nos futures sorties 👉 [https://chat.whatsapp.com/BoYNpq9JUyFB6RbIIDjblC](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BoYNpq9JUyFB6RbIIDjblC) A très vite. Patrice

**Némo Biennial 2025 is back in Paris and across Île-de-France! 🌟** This major event dedicated to contemporary and digital art explores the connections between the real, the virtual, and the imaginary. Expect immersive installations, audiovisual performances, and unique interactive experiences that push the boundaries of creativity. **What’s on the program?** • Artworks and devices that blur the line between humans and machines 🤖 • Captivating sensory and visual performances 🎭 • Innovative creations from artists, designers, and researchers from around the world 🌍 We will be visiting exhibitions at **CENTQUATRE-PARIS**, one of the key venues of this edition. It will be a great moment to share impressions, discuss the artworks, and enjoy an inspiring collective experience together. 💫 More information: [https://www.biennalenemo.fr/](https://www.biennalenemo.fr/) **Want to get more involved?** Become a **co-organizer, event organizer, or assistant organizer** and help plan the outing, suggest ideas, or give a hand so everything runs smoothly. 📩 **How to participate**: Just reply directly to this message on Meetup and let us know your interests or availability. Let’s organize everything together to make this an unforgettable experience! 💫 **Spread the word!** If you have friends or colleagues who might enjoy this kind of cultural outing, invite them to join our Meetup group! The more passionate people we have, the more fun, lively, and inspiring our experiences become. 🎊 See you soon, **The Art&More Team**

*Hi there! 😊* 🎉 An evening to relax, have fun… and meet new people! Want to unwind after your day? Come and share a fun and friendly moment around board games with an open and welcoming community. This afterwork is dedicated to board games, strategy games, and even video games, where internationals and Parisians meet! Everyone can bring or suggest a game, or use the ones available at the bar. 💬 **Concept** It’s a reimagined afterwork, where internationals and Parisians meet to chat or play all kinds of games, with a fun icebreaker bonus. Ask around and find the person with the same numbered sticker as you to win a free shot, all in a bar in the heart of Paris. Arrive whenever you want, but the earlier you come, the more you enjoy suspenseful games! **Practical info:** 🕖 Time: 7pm – 10:30pm 💸 Free with the pass to collect on the free Socializus app 📲 WhatsApp for quick info: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/GYgNbDXz0L91xi7qKTyY51](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GYgNbDXz0L91xi7qKTyY51) **How to join:** * Check the exact address with the free app and free pass: [www.socializus.org](http://www.socializus.org/) * Support the association to cover meetup costs with an annual membership card here: [https://www.placeminute.com/event/afterwork/apero-linguistique-dans-un-bar-secret,36046.html](https://www.placeminute.com/event/afterwork/apero-linguistique-dans-un-bar-secret,36046.html) **Stay connected:** 🔹 Meetup – [https://www.meetup.com/internationals-events-paris/](https://www.meetup.com/afterwork-paris/) 🔹 WhatsApp (info & reminders on D-Day): [https://chat.whatsapp.com/GYgNbDXz0L91xi7qKTyY51](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GYgNbDXz0L91xi7qKTyY51) (Turn on “Receive all” so you don’t miss anything!) 🔹 Facebook Group –[https://www.facebook.com/socializing.with.internationals.in.Paris/](https://www.facebook.com/socializing.with.internationals.in.Paris/) 🔹 Facebook Page – Photos, memories & updates: [https://www.facebook.com/socializing.with.internationals.in.Paris/](https://www.facebook.com/socializing.with.internationals.in.Paris/) 🔹 Socializus: [www.socializus.org](http://www.socializus.org/) 🔹 Become an Organizer: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/KtR79S8Obfs3WTPTIBsoCm](https://chat.whatsapp.com/KtR79S8Obfs3WTPTIBsoCm) and get a free drink 🍴 It’s 100% free because we are a non-profit association, you just need to be friendly. ✦✦ Last-minute changes may happen, but everything is updated via the app with the free pass. To better manage the number of participants, we count on registrations through the free pass. Register only if you’re sure to come – we’re counting on you! 😊 📸 / 🎥 By participating in our activity, you agree to be photographed and/or filmed. Photos and videos will be shared on our social networks and may be used for commercial purposes. You may also post your own photos with the hashtag #socializus 🙌 Beginners, curious people, Uno or Werewolf pros… everyone’s welcome! Come alone or with friends – games always bring people together 🎲

Le café Aux Bonheur des Jeux est désormais ouvert le lundi également = Une soirée jeux de société de plus pour rencontrer de nouvelles personnes ! Venez seul(e), en binôme, ou même à trois ou quatre si vous êtes prêt(e)s à accueillir d'autres personnes à votre table. Prix d'entrée du café-jeux à 10 €, dont une boisson comprise et des jeux à volonté. Pas besoin d'arriver pile à 18h30 pour ceux qui veulent venir en cours de soirée, mais nous ne pouvons garantir les places que jusqu'à 20h, ensuite ça dépendra de l'affluence :)

Monday called and yes, it wants its trivia! See you at the mothership [McBride's](https://www.corcoransirishpubs.fr/ch%C3%A2telet-mcbrides) with Quizmaster Garry! Our quiz night will consist of 4 rounds of trivia on a wide variety of topics, movies and TV, pop culture, geography, fashion, and anything strange and peculiar that comes through the mind of your host! The quiz night is presented in French AND English, because the queen is in f5, if you know what I mean. The quiz is played in teams of 5 people max, with prizes to win for the top teams and the best team name. You can come with your mates (please let us know how many when you sign up, and we’ll book a table in your name) or come on your own and we’ll match you with other quizzers. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to send us a message here. If you are curious about our other projects,[ we have a trivia podcast!](https://pod.link/1503202147/episode/040273c20c130320d5c85cfbe23b6ecc)[ ](https://linktr.ee/Paris_Quiz_Mistress) [Click here for all our updates!](https://linktr.ee/Paris_Quiz_Mistress) See you very soon! The PQM team

Le thème la réunion est "les Synchronicités". Nous serions tous sur la même longueur d'ondes lors du concours de discours invraisemblables ce soir. Venez pour rire et applaudir les concurrents et intervenants techniques dans une ambiance conviviale au club Agora 75 ! [Site internet du club](https://www.toastmasters.agora75.com/) Réunion hybride (sur place et sur Zoom--nous contacter pour recevoir le lien) [Formulaire de contact](https://tinyurl.com/yuy4nxth) Bienvenue à Agora 75 Toastmasters ! Notre club francophone est un groupe dynamique de membres passionnés. Nous nous réunissons les 1e, 3e et 5e lundis du mois pour améliorer nos compétences en prise de parole en public, en communication et en leadership. Que vous soyez orateur expérimenté ou débutant, l'ambiance amicale et bienveillante de notre club vous aidera à renforcer votre confiance et à vous exprimer en toute simplicité. Vous aurez également l’occasion d‘improviser sur des sujets variés et d’apprendre grâce au retour constructif des membres. Ainsi vous développerez vos talents d’orateur et de leadership.

Nous discuterons de **l'augmentation des capacités cognitives.** Lifestyle, compléments alimentaires, nootropiques... nous parlerons des méthodes disponibles, voire hypothétiques, qui permettent d'améliorer nos performances cérébrales, et partagerons nos expériences pour ceux ayant tenté quelque chose ! *** *Envie de parler IA, science-fiction et biohacking autour d’un verre ? On réunit des esprits curieux et technophiles pour échanger idées, projets et questions, dans une ambiance détendue et accessible. Débutants bienvenus, experts également. On explore comment la science et les technologies peuvent améliorer la vie, en théorie et en pratique.* Vous pouvez aussi rejoindre notre [communauté sur Discord](https://discord.gg/K3RjYH4). **Pour nous trouver : à l'étage, cherchez les affichettes "Meetup"**

**===== Inscription via EventBrite ======** Afin d’avoir une meilleure visibilité sur les personnes présentes ainsi que participer à une noble cause, nous demandons une participation symbolique qui sera **entièrement reversée à l’institut Pasteur.** ⚠️‼️ **Toutes les inscriptions doivent se faire au travers de [ce lien EventBrite](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/billets-reconcilier-clickops-et-gitops-adoption-lia-dans-la-recherche-medicale-1978250777328)**. **===================================** 🎉 **Bonjour à vous!** Pour bien commencer l’année 2026 nous vous invitons à un meetup exceptionnel ✨! ❓ Du "ClickOps" sans trahir le GitOps, et une plateforme IA en production sur Kubernetes avec GPU : deux talks concrets pour ceux qui veulent aller au-delà de la théorie. 🎁 Pour ne rien gâcĥer il y aura quelques **surprises**: stickers, tee-shirts ... ainsi que 2 places à gagner pour le [Cloud Native Days France 2026](https://www.cloudnativedays.fr/). Nous tenons à remercier **Scaleway** pour l'accueil dans leurs bureaux à Paris! **📅 Découvrez l'agenda :** \- 19\.00 \- Le GitOps ré\-inventé : Corrigez la dérive d’état avant qu’elle ne se produise\. \(Scaleway\) \- 19:40 \- L’adoption massive de l’IA par les chercheurs de l’Institut Pasteur grâce à Kubernetes\. \(Pasteur / Enix\) \- 20:15 \- Food & Drinks 🍕☕️ Conversations 🗣️🙋 \- 22:00 \- Cloture du Meetup **===== Talks =====** **Le GitOps ré-inventé : Corrigez la dérive d’état avant qu’elle ne se produise** Speaker: * **Damien Dassieu (Scaleway)** Je suis un contributeur actif aux projets Kubernetes (Kubebuilder, controller-runtime, ...). Avec une expérience particulière dans le domaine du Platform Engineering acquise chez Orange et Scaleway dans les équipe Kubernetes as a Service, j’ai un rôle crucial en tant que développeur Go pour permettre la réalisation des idées de chacun. Je contribue actuellement au développement de Syngit, un outil qui comble la séparation entre les principes de GitOps et l’utilisation des outils impératifs pour la gestion de l'infrastructure. Description: Le **GitOps** est devenu une pratique fondamentale dans les environnements Kubernetes, offrant une approche déclarative et contrôlée par version de la gestion de l'infrastructure et des applications. Pourtant, les interactions concrètes avec les clusters reposent souvent sur des outils impératifs tels que kubectl, oc ou des interfaces web qui fournissent un retour utilisateur plus rapides et une **expérience plus intuitive**. Ces outils impératifs valident et envoient des requêtes directement au serveur API de Kubernetes sans prendre en compte Git, ce qui casse le paradigme GitOps. Les conséquences sont le **manque de visibilité, de reproductibilité et d'auditabilité**. Quelle est la pièce manquante pour **allier ClickOps et GitOps** ? Cette présentation introduit une nouvelle façon d’utiliser les outils impératifs en utilisant le GitOps. Ce mécanisme repose sur l’interception des requêtes vers l'API Kubernetes et en les transformant en commits Git. Nous explorerons comment **Syngit** s'intègre de manière transparente avec des outils GitOps tels que **ArgoCD ou FluxCD** pour préserver Git comme source de vérité même lorsque les utilisateurs interagissent avec les clusters de manière impérative. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **L’adoption massive de l’IA par les chercheurs de l’Institut Pasteur grâce à Kubernetes** Speakers: * **Stéphane Fournier (Institut Pasteur)** Directeur des Systèmes d'Information à l'Institut Pasteur depuis 2018, Stéphane Fournier impulse la transformation numérique de la recherche biomédicale. Il a initié divers développements en IA en collaboration avec des équipes scientifiques expertes. Récemment, c'est la plateforme AI Tools qui concrétise cette approche. Basée sur une architecture hexagonale modulaire, elle permet le déploiement d'outils utilisant largement des LLMs publics, ou on-premise lorsque la souveraineté des données est en jeu. * **Jean-Baptiste Masson (Institut Pasteur)** Physicien théoricien, Jean-Baptiste Masson est responsable de l’équipe Decision and Bayesian Computation (DBC-Épiméthée) à l’Institut Pasteur, une unité mixte Pasteur-Inria-CNRS-UPC. Ses recherches portent sur les principes physiques et computationnels qui organisent le traitement de l’information biologique, en lien avec l’environnement sensoriel. Elles couvrent notamment la chimiotaxie bactérienne, les stratégies de recherche olfactive chez les insectes et l’organisation des circuits neuronaux. Il mène également des travaux appliqués en algorithmique médicale (neuroAI), avec un fort accent sur des technologies déployables à l’hôpital, en particulier en imagerie médicale (DIVA et Genuage) et en analyse de données cliniques. * **Alexandre Buisine (Enix)** Avec 15 ans d'expérience dans la technique et le management, il est un passionné d’open-source et de ce qui touche aux conteneurs. Il rejoint l'équipe Enix en 2018 comme directeur général, tout en restant impliqué dans les technos d’infrastructures réseaux et systèmes. Avant Enix, Alexandre a travaillé 3 ans au développement d’un service de réalité virtuelle. Il a également été CTO puis dirigeant de SmartJog, dans les domaines de l'audio-visuel, la transmission satellite, le développement logiciel, les réseaux IP, la distribution de contenus sur Internet. Description: L'Institut Pasteur a déployé un écosystème d\*\*'IA générative\*\* pour ses 2 500 chercheurs, orchestré sur Kubernetes avec trois environnements (dev, prod, GPU) et une chaîne CI/CD GitLab. L’architecture repose sur deux proxies LiteLLM (cloud et on-premise) **unifiant l’accès aux modèles** (Mistral, Anthropic, OpenAI côté cloud ; Perplexity, Qwen, Llama côté on-premise), et assurant le suivi des coûts par token et le load balancing. Cette couche d'abstraction alimente trois catégories de services : LibreChat pour le dialogue généraliste enrichi de **serveurs MCP**, AI Tools pour les usages métiers spécialisés (analyse de publications scientifiques), et des **assistants de codage 100% on-premise** (Qwen-Coder, Roo-Coder) intégrés aux IDE. Kubernetes nous permet de remplacer un modèle open source en quelques minutes et d'ajuster dynamiquement le scaling à la charge. Les défis techniques incluent la **gestion de GPU hétérogènes** dans un cluster Talos sécurisé, la compatibilité entre **anciens matériels et systèmes DGX B200 NVIDIA**, et les **migration Kubernetes à chaud** sans downtime. Entre besoins métier et décisions d'architecture, **nous retracerons le parcours complet** : du prototype développé par un chercheur jusqu'au déploiement en production, en expliquant le rôle des échanges entre scientifiques et équipe infrastructure dans cette plateforme cloud-native. Enfin, nous partagerons les coulisses opérationnelles : architecture, gestion du GPU Operator, stratégies de scaling, et surtout les leçons tirées de nos 6 mois d'exploitation en production. ===== Consentement à la photographie/vidéo ===== Nous pourrons prendre des photos et vidéos lors de l'événement et les utiliser sur les réseaux sociaux et dans des supports promotionnels. Participer au meetup implique que vous consentez à ce que nous prenions des photos et vidéos de vous.

Pendant ce meetup, vous allez découvrir comment l'IA peut ouvrir des horizons créatifs complètement neufs. En novembre est sortie la BD d'anticipation sur l'arrivée des superintelligences, HELO, créée par Flavien Chervet et Nathalie Dupuy. L'IA Midjourney a été utilisée dans le processus de création. Cette création s'inscrit dans la démarche du Studio Entremondes, qui vise à explorer les nouvelles possibilités culturelles offertes par l'IA en création. Du fait de l'utilisation de l'IA dans le processus de création, la BD jouit d'une possibilité inédite : son univers est Open Source ! Tous les prompts et les images de référence utilisés sont disponibles en licence Creative Commons 4.0 sur le site du studio (https://www.studio-entremondes.fr/projets/helo) Ce meetup sera l'occasion de revenir sur l'utilisation de l'IA en création, sur la méthodologie qui a permis de créer la BD et de manipuler l'univers HELO en étant guidé par les auteurs. Un grand merci à l'AGIRC-ARRCO pour leur accueil.

Bonjour à toutes et à tous ! Nous espérons que vous allez bien ! 😊 Nous sommes ravis de vous inviter à une soirée conviviale et sociale. 🕒 **Heure :** 15h00–17h00 📍 **Lieu :** ROSEMONDE BY PATROL ([2 Pl. Edmond Rostand, 75006 Paris](https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x47e671d9bfd52a19:0xb75c6f726c48cc0?sa=X&ved=1t:8290&ictx=111)) 💶 **Participation :** 5 € en **ESPÈCES** pour l'organisation + Commandez une boisson au bar 📱 **Contact :** **[Rejoignez notre groupe WhatsApp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EQr7SpyBTsfFEvaMH84sAM)** (pour la localisation en direct pendant les événements et les mises à jour hebdomadaires). 🔍 **Repérez une PARAPLUIE ROSE** 💗☂️ à votre arrivée ! 💌 Venez seul·e ou avec des ami·e·s — vous repartirez avec de **nouvelles amitiés** et des **souvenirs inoubliables**. 👥 **Concept de l’événement :** Cet événement est l’occasion parfaite de rencontrer de nouvelles personnes, créer des liens authentiques, et passer un bon moment en bonne compagnie — sans pression, que de **bonnes ondes** ! Voici comment ça se passe : 💬 **Discussions en petits groupes** (4 à 6 personnes par groupe) 🔁 **Changement de groupes toutes les 30 minutes** pour rencontrer plein de gens différents 🎲 **Jeux brise-glace et sujets de conversation facultatifs** pour garder une bonne dynamique Que vous soyez nouveau·elle à Paris, de passage, ou que vous cherchiez simplement à élargir votre cercle social, c’est une manière **fun et détendue** de connecter avec des personnes **ouvertes d’esprit**, dans un cadre **créatif et chaleureux**, à deux pas de Gare de Lyon. 🎉 Parfait pour les locaux, les expatriés, les voyageurs, les introvertis, les extravertis — **tout le monde est bienvenu** ! ❗ **Important :** Il s’agit d’un événement **social et amical**, pas d’un rendez-vous amoureux. Merci de contribuer à une **ambiance respectueuse, inclusive et bienveillante**. 📸 Des photos/vidéos peuvent être prises — n’hésitez pas à nous dire si vous préférez ne pas apparaître. On a **hâte de vous voir** et de vous aider à créer de nouvelles amitiés ! 🥳💬 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 **Make New Friends in Paris** Hello everyone! We hope you’re doing well! 😊 We’re excited to invite you to a friendly, social evening at one of Paris’s 🕒 **Time:** 15:00–17:00 📍 **Location:** ROSEMONDE BY PATROL ([2 Pl. Edmond Rostand, 75006 Paris](https://www.google.com/maps/place//data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x47e671d9bfd52a19:0xb75c6f726c48cc0?sa=X&ved=1t:8290&ictx=111)) 💶 **Fee:** €5 in **CASH** for organizing + Order a drink from the bar 📱 **Contact:** **[Join our WhatsApp Group ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EQr7SpyBTsfFEvaMH84sAM)**(for live location during events and weekly event updates) 🔍 **Look for a PINK Umbrella** 💗☂️ when you arrive! **💌 Come solo or with friends —** you’ll leave with new friendships and unforgettable memories. ### 👥 Event Concept: This event is all about **meeting new people**, making meaningful connections, and simply enjoying great company — no pressure, just good vibes! Here’s how it works: 💬 Small-group conversations (4–6 people per group) 🔁 Groups reshuffle every 30 minutes so you get to meet **lots of different people** 🎲 Fun icebreakers and optional conversation prompts to keep things flowing Whether you're new in town, visiting Paris, or just looking to expand your social circle, this is a **fun and relaxed** way to connect with open-minded people in a **cool, creative setting** near Gare de Lyon. 🎉 Perfect for locals, expats, travelers, introverts, extroverts — everyone’s welcome! ❗ **Important:** This is a **social event**, not a dating event. Let’s keep the space respectful, inclusive, and friendly for all. 📸 Photos/videos may be taken — feel free to let us know if you’d rather not be included. We can’t wait to see you there and help you spark some new friendships! 🥳💬

Venez écouter Corentin et Joe parler des premières galaxies de notre Univers jeudi prochain au Dissident Club. Gratuit !

Salut à tous ! ✨ Pour bien lancer cette nouvelle année placée sous le signe de la motivation et de l'énergie, nous avons le plaisir de vous convier à notre tout premier événement de **2026** ! Rejoignez-nous dans les bureaux de **Google** Paris pour une soirée riche en apprentissages et en rencontres. 🤝 📅 Au programme : • **18h15 – 18h45 :** 📝 Accueil, Checkin & Networking. • **18h45 – 19h00 :** 🎤 Mot de Bienvenue: Introduction par l'équipe MongoDB User Group. • **19h00 – 19h30 :** ☁️ "Better Together: GCP & MongoDB Tech", par **Delphin Barankanira**, Executive Leader in Cloud Partner Strategy chez **Google Cloud**. • **19h30 – 20h15 :** 🚗 REX : Cas d'usage RAG avec MongoDB Atlas sur GCP : l'implémentation du RAG avec MongoDB Atlas sur GCP. Avec nos experts invités : **Xianli Li** : Data Scientist chez **Renault Digital** & **Florent Tragni** : Solutions Architect, **Renault Digital** et **Hélène Brulin**, Senior Solutions Architect, **MongoDB.** • **20h15 – 21h15 :** 🍕 Clôture, Apéro & Networking, 📍 Lieu : **Google Paris,** 8 Rue de Londres, Paris, 75009 ⏰ Horaires: **18h15 - 21h15** 💡 Pourquoi venir ? Pour découvrir les dernières tendances Cloud/IA et agrandir votre réseau dans une ambiance conviviale. On vous attend nombreux ! 🙌

**Step into the laid-back charm of Cosy Cave Conversations**, a Parisian philosophy chat that's more relaxed than a cat in a sunbeam 🐈 🌞 Gather with a bunch of easygoing souls, share thoughts on the good life and its mysteries, enjoy a beverage, and have a good laugh. A few things to be aware of: * **Please** **don't show up without a spot** (we aim to keep it cosy and we always have a waiting list these days — check if you’re on the list or the waiting list) * If it's your first event, it's essential you **turn up early, or at the latest on time (<7pm)** so you understand how it works, what the topic is and don't interrupt the session * The **session runs from 7pm to 8:30pm** where we focus on the discussion, but don't worry, you'll have a chance to socialise, introduce yourselves and continue the chat after the session. **If you’re running late** (the curtains are closed), that’s okay, but please wait to join us in the break rather than interrupting the session. * Please read the **tips below** for a good session before coming along **How does it work?** We embrace the café-philo method — proposing intriguing topics on the night (up to 3), choosing one together, and diving into everything from consciousness, community, death and god, while managing to keep it light and easy 🦦 **Forget the stiff atmosphere**, we're all about small groups (\~10 people) and unpretentious chats with no homework required. No need for a philosophy degree, just bring your open mind and a dash of curiosity. **Join us every Wednesday 19h-20h30 at Les Acolytes** — because pondering the profound is better with good company (and a pint). See you there! 🎉 A few tips for a great session: * come with an **open and curious mind** 🧠 * **prioritise listening to others and asking questions** without interrupting or long monologues 👂 * we put a strong **emphasise on giving everyone a chance to contribute to the discussion**, so try and be aware of how much space and time you take up when speaking 🐻‍❄️ * we prioritise **intellectual accessibility**: this is not an academic group therefore we ask to keep any philosophy jargon to a minimum and instead explain any concepts in plain english 🤠 * we are an **apolitical group** that focuses on discussing and exploring philosophical ideas without endorsing or aligning with any specific political or religous ideologies. Our aim is to encourage open, unbiased dialogue centered on philosophical inquiry within a safe and respectful environment 🐥

Members of the public are invited to view the wonders of the universe through the telescopes of NOVAC volunteers at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA. You do not need to be a member of the club or own any astronomical equipment to attend. Telescopes will be provided by the Smithsonian and pre-approved members of the NOVAC. No other personal telescopes are permitted at the event. The event will take place on the bus parking lot of the museum. **Please park your vehicle at the south end of the main visitors lot and follow signs and red lights to the observing site. As a reminder, parking during the event is free.** Have a cosmic question? One of NOVAC's astronomers or museum staff will be happy to help you. As the sky gets dark, be prepared to enjoy the wonders of the night sky! Don't forget to dress warmly. Please check the weather forecast. For lighting, cover a flashlight in red cellophane (the darker the better). Bring along water to keep hydrated. Note: This outdoor event is weather-dependent and may be cancelled because of significant cloud cover or precipitation.

(2024) by Christof Koch, 288 pages [Psychology] • Hardcover • Kindle • Audiobook • Library: https://fcplcat.fairfaxcounty.gov/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&pos=1&cn=613100 Check the How To Find Us section for Zoom Link **(Remember, the Zoom Link is different each month, do not bookmark)** ### Review "A wonderful book."―Sam Harris, Making Sense with Sam Harris “a fun introduction to a number of debates… Mr. Koch’s book provokes questions… and counterarguments, but that’s what gives it life.” ―The Wall Street Journal “Easily the most current, thorough, and helpful exploration of consciousness available. Koch’s light, simple, yet authoritative writing style will appeal to general audiences as well as scientists and researchers. An essential, highly recommended purchase.”―Library Journal “magisterial… charming, sometimes beautiful, and almost always illuminating” ―Science Magazine “an impressive and sometimes exuberant work, showcasing decades of [Koch’s] research”―New Scientist “Koch’s adept use of analogies and entertaining anecdotes — complete with his own near-death experience and psychedelic drug trips — make the book a compelling and surprisingly light read.” ―Science News “undeniably compelling… a smoothly written must-read for anyone interested in a detailed introduction to the relationship between the brain, consciousness, and transformative experiences” ―Ars Technica “Expertly weaving in personal experience with science that few, if any, can speak more authoritatively about, Koch leads us on an amazing journey of consciousness—from birth to death. Deeply personal and infinitely digestible, Then I Am Myself the World is a remarkable must read for anyone interested in knowing their mind.”―Judson Brewer MD, PhD, New York Times–bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety “Koch’s latest book brilliantly navigates the intricate landscape of our mind and our brain, offering insightful perspectives on the nature of conscious experiences, both ordinary as well as extraordinary ones.”―Hartmut Neven, founder and lead of Google’s quantum AI lab “Then I Am Myself the World is the new record of note for the scientific understanding of consciousness. This is an elegant tableau, a travelogue of subjective experience grounded in the latest neuroscience and philosophy traversing religion, science, and a life dedicated to the biggest questions. Filled with crystalline prose, lucid explanation, and revelatory honesty, this book will continue to be read centuries from now.”―Patrick House, author of Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness “What would happen if a hardcore neuroscientist, with encyclopedic knowledge and four decades of experience in his field, were personally confronted with transformative mystical experiences carrying inevitable metaphysical implications? What would happen if the neuroscientist in question were open-minded, humble, but remained rigorously grounded in reason, evidence, and his hard-earned understanding of how consciousness relates to brain structures and function? What would he, the most preeminent professional of his generation, make of his extraordinary experiences? And what if, in addition, the neuroscientist was a modern renaissance man versed in physics, philosophy, the arts, the classics, and could pluck irresistibly evocative metaphors from the Western literary and artistic canon as if leisurely picking apples in early fall? This is what you will find in this treasured book, a whirlwind ride of insight after insight—so many they can’t possibly be all documented in footnotes—that will surprise and delight you from the get-go. ‘Primacy goes to consciousness, not to the objective world,’ he boldly states already on page two, in a prelude of things to come. ‘Everything else follows from there, including the realist assumption of the existence of objects, out ‘there,’ independent of my experiencing them.’ The book embodies the ever-evolving wisdom of a man whose intellectual prowess is only matched by his intellectual honesty. And this man, in the seventh decade of his scintillatingly productive life, has a lifetime of learning to share with you.”―Bernardo Kastrup, executive director, Essentia Foundation “Koch’s first book was entitled The Quest for Consciousness. And such has been Koch’s life, an adventurer’s pursuit of a distant goal, undeterred by the prevailing winds. The reader will learn where this quest has led and, like the author, will be enriched by it. Koch, one of the most accomplished scientists of our time, a mind singularly open to learning and changing, here opens his soul, revealing his vast, scintillating appreciation of nature in all its forms. It is a touching, profound book. Which is as it should be, since consciousness touches everything and is everything we touch.”―Giulio Tononi, University of Wisconsin-Madison ### About the Author Christof Koch is a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute and at the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, the former president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and a former professor at the California Institute of Technology. Author of four previous titles, Koch writes regularly for a range of media, including Scientific American. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Life of Frankenstein,”** on the birth, evolution and impact of a tale of man-made monstrosity, with Bernard Welt, an emeritus professor of arts and humanities at George Washington University who frequently lectures on Frankenstein in literature, cinema, and culture. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-life-of-frankenstein](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-life-of-frankenstein) .] Guillermo del Toro’s lush and lovingly produced film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel *Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus* is just the latest of many iterations of the story to capture the public’s imagination. People have watched Victor Frankenstein give life to his monster in numerous films, on television, and on stage, and even perform “Putting on the Ritz” with him thanks to the comic genius of Mel Brooks. Mary Shelley did not just tell a tale. She spawned the modern genre of speculative fiction and gave rise to a myth that would crop up in debates over nature versus nurture and other matters. Even today it stokes anxieties over the potential impacts of robotics, artificial intelligence, and genetic engineering, by evoking the image of a monster turning on its progenitor. Come gain a new appreciation of Mary Shelley’s creation with the help of Dr. Bernard Welt, who has studied the relationship between nightmares and the horror genre and is the author of *Mythomania: Fantasies, Fables, and Sheer Lies in Contemporary American Popular Art.* Dr. Welt will start by telling a literary origin story almost as famous as Frankenstein itself, of how an 18-year-old Shelley started writing *Frankenstein* in 1816 while staying in a villa on Lake Geneva with two of her era’s leading poets, Lord Byron and Percy Bysshe Shelley, her lover. Housebound by foul weather, the three read Gothic tales of ghosts and monsters and challenged each other to produce something even more terrifying. Mary dreamed up a story of a man who defied death by creating a living being out of scraps of deceased men harvested from graveyards and anatomy labs. The resulting novel, *Frankenstein*, published anonymously in 1818, would by that century’s end become a touchstone in philosophical discourse on the nature of humanity and in political discussions of imperialism and populism. By the 21st century, Mary Shelley (as she became) had earned a more significant place in the literary canon than Byron and her husband Shelley. We will examine how this grisly tale became a landmark of modern thought and look at the part played by numerous film adaptations from the first years of cinema to the present day. (Door: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From a Theodor von Holst engraving in an 1831 edition of *Frankenstein* published by Colburn and Bentley of London.

Join PSW Science® on January 23 at 8 PM as we welcome Lecturer Gordon Guyatt, Professor of Medicine and Health Research Methods at McMaster University, for the Presidents' Lecture. During the question and answer period, in-person attendees and live stream viewers may ask the speaker questions, and in-person attendees may also engage with the speaker during the post-lecture reception. Refreshments are served. For more information on this meeting, please visit: https://pswscience.org/meeting/2529/ The meeting will be held in the John Wesley Powell Auditorium, adjacent to the Cosmos Club. The Powell Auditorium is located at 2170 Florida Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008. Use of the Cosmos Club is restricted to the Powell Auditorium, the entryway to the auditorium, and the restrooms immediately outside the auditorium. Please note there is no onsite parking available. PSW Science, founded in 1871, is one of the oldest scientific societies in Washington D.C. Now, over 150 years later, we celebrate the Society's rich history and contributions to scientific discovery and cross-disciplinary collaboration. For information on how to become a member of PSW Science and membership benefits, please visit https://pswscience.org/join/

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Satanic Panics,”** a look at waves of fear of demonic activity as an American tradition, with Luxx Mishou, cultural historian and former instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy and area community colleges. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/nv-satanic-panics) .] The 1980s found the United States gripped by fear of Satanic cults targeting children. They were believed to be corrupting young ones in daycare centers and tempting teens through subliminal messages on heavy metal albums or through the quiet inclusion of demonic rituals in role-playing games. Satanic serial killers supposedly stalked the suburbs. Doctors helped patients uncover what were claimed to be repressed memories of ritualistic satanic abuse. Parents, police, and politicians were urged to protect impressionable youths from both moral and physical danger. With Satanic cults deemed to be a real and material threat, it was a frightening time for everyone, including those who suddenly came under suspicion for doing evil deeds. Then, suddenly, it all faded from public consciousness, just as surely as did eighties fads such mullet haircuts, leg warmers, and Cabbage Patch Kids. Why did it all start? Why did it stop? And has this happened before or since? Hear such questions tackled by Luxx Mishou, a cultural historian and media specialist who has long researched the devious and villainous in cultural artifacts. She’ll discuss moral panics as a longstanding cultural tradition, with each new one stemming from fear of cultural shifts and shaped by the time and place where it occurred. Among the panics we’ll look into are the Red Scare of the 1950s and the public response to the gruesome 1969 murders committed by the Manson Family. Delving into the 1980s panic, Mishou will describe how it began with the 1980 publication of psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder’s memoir *Michelle Remembers*, detailing the suppressed memories of ritualistic abuse reportedly suffered by a patient. As that book quickly became a best seller, its ideas saturated American culture. A California daycare center became the focus of a three-year investigation, followed by three years of trials, based on allegations that its owner had engaged in secret ritualistic abuse of the children in its care. Mishou will lead you through the media that convinced the public that devil worshipers were among them, and she’ll talk about how reactions to imagined threats can have very real social costs. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

Ready for the **FIRST Loudoun CyberTech Event of 2026** \- featuring the **Loudoun County CISO**?!?! Join us on **Tuesday, January 13, 2026,** at **Honor Brewing Company** at **42604 Trade West Dr, Sterling, VA 20166**! Want a custom name tag to enhance your networking opportunities? Register here and yours will be ready at the door: https://share.hsforms.com/1J8_8W2-vSe2WSqQbnxxz0Adwxz1 Are you prepared for what cyber threats will define 2026? Which ones matter and which should be ignored? What does modernization look like in 2026 at the intersection of risk, cost, and security? Join us for an exciting evening with the **Loudoun County CISO** and our spotlight speaker, **Dr. Elizabeth Di Bene**, as she explores these questions and addresses what to expect in cyber in 2026! **Dr. Elizabeth Di Bene** is the **CISO** for **Loudoun County Government,** overseeing information security strategies with a focus on risk management, data analytics, and SaaS. She brings more than 20 years of cyber leadership experience across the federal government and private sector, including roles at **CACI International,** **the U.S. Department of Justice,** and the **U.S. Marine Corps** where she also served in cyber leadership roles at **Marine Corps System Command**. Dr. Di Bene is nationally recognized for her expertise in network and information security and is a frequent industry speaker and FinOps ambassador. Join us next month to meet **Dr. Elizabeth Di Bene** to learn what should matter most for cyber in 2026! **Agenda** 5:30 Social hour and networking begins 6:10 Welcome 6:20 Spotlight Speaker - **Dr. Elizabeth Di Bene** 6:50 Q&A 7:00 Open Mic & Networking Continues 7:30 Adjourn