Teachers

Join us for a casual, discussion-based meetup focused on the science of reading and related education topics. This gathering grew out of conversations at the Virginia Reading League conference, and the goal is to continue those conversations in a relaxed, thoughtful setting. This is a monthly get-together for educators, tutors, parents, and anyone interested in evidence-based literacy and instruction. Look for the 'Ed Talk Café' placard marking our table.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Physics of Baseball,”** with Scott Paulson, professor of physics and interdisciplinary liberal studies at James Madison University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-physics-of-baseball](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-physics-of-baseball) .] Profs and Pints is offering baseball fans an even bigger treat than Cracker Jack, an exploration of the physics underlying their beloved sport. Professor Scott Paulson, who regularly teaches introductory physics classes that make the physics behind real-world phenomena accessible to all, will discuss the forces and phenomena that come into play in baseball during pitching, batting, and fielding. He’ll toss you basic physics concepts that help explain how baseball’s routine plays got to be that way, and he’ll explain what’s going on in some situations where the laws of physics seem to be violated by what’s happening on the field. Ever wondered why curveballs curve or knuckleballs behave so strangely? You’ll learn how Newton’s laws and the Magnus force explain how pitchers get drastically different results from subtle differences in their releases. Curious about what exactly the “sweet spot” of the bat is? Ever wondered how big an advantage batters get from the thin air of Mile High Stadium? We’ll explore the physics of the batted ball, examining the phenomena of waves and analyzing the interaction of ball, bat and batter with the help of high-speed video. During one of the more exciting scenarios in a baseball game—the close play at the plate—fans often see outfielders throw to an infielder rather than directly to home. We’ll look at the pros and cons of this relay play, known as a “cut-off,” in the context of the physics of projectile motion. Finally, we will also look into high-profile cheating scandals involving corked bats and doctored balls. Dr. Paulson will present models to explain how these alterations to the equipment can benefit the batter and pitcher respectively, and he’ll discuss how much these models are backed up by data. These few hours in a brewpub will forever enhance your enjoyment of time at the ballpark. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Photo by Tage Olsin / Wikimedia Commons

**LOCATION CHANGE as of APRIL 1, 2026:** **Body Grace has moved to 133 Maple Avenue East, 3rd Floor, above the Bear Branch Tavern.** Whether you're new to Insight meditation or an advanced practitioner looking for like-minded people to sit with, you're welcome to join us at our Sunday morning drop-in group, sponsored by the Insight Meditation Community of Washington. Insight meditation cultivates our natural wisdom and compassion. Meditation practice develops concentration, which allows us to calm and steady the mind. This class includes a 30-minute lightly-guided meditation, followed by a short talk and time for questions and discussion. The size of the group usually runs somewhere between 25-40 people in-person and between 12-25 online. Chairs are provided, or you may bring a sitting cushion or bench. You may also use the blankets and bolsters offered by the yoga studio. **We offer both in-person and online attendance.** To learn more about our topics and teachers, view our videos or **get the Zoom link**, visit our [class page](https://imcw.org/event/?eventId=735&utm_source=MeetUp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=vienna-drop-in).

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 :)

New Date and Time starting in May 2026. Saturday Night Chess is now Sunday PM Chess! Casual Chess: informal skittles games or optionally with Clocks (Blitz, Rapid, Quick, or custom time controls). Meetups of Ashburn Chess Club are held on 2nd floor of the Wegmans supermarket, 45131 Columbia Pl, Sterling, VA 20166, located in the Dulles Centre Shoppes Plaza which is just off the Waxpool Road Exit on Route 28 expressway. To find the chess games, take the elevator or stairs up to the 2nd floor mezzanine level. If there are RSVP the host will usually arrive a few minutes early to set up tables in the center mezzanine section located near the Kids Room with the TV. Guests, walk-ins, kibitzers are all welcome too; we request minor children to be accompanied by an adult, and we request only chess players RSVP, members and guests who are attending to play chess, so we have an accurate count of chessboards needed to set up.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Popes and Politics,”** on the history of clashes between pontiffs and world leaders, with Vanessa Corcoran, medieval historian at Georgetown University and scholar of the history of the Roman Catholic church. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-popes-politics](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-popes-politics) .] President Trump recently shocked many by unleashing personal attacks on Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, in a post on the Truth Social platform. Trump has been widely criticized by religious leaders for these remarks, made in response to the pontiff’s advocacy of peace with the U.S and Israel at war with Iran, and for his separate posts of AI-generated images depicting himself as a pope and as Jesus. For his part, Pope Leo has told journalists, “I am not afraid of the Trump administration,” and has found himself at the center of a heated debate over the proper role of any pope when it comes to commenting on global politics. As unsettling as such developments might be to Roman Catholics, they’re hardly unprecedented. Disagreements between popes and world leaders go back to the Middle Ages, and have played a significant role in shaping the Church and its role in the world. Explore the long history of popes’ conflicts with politicians with Vanessa Corcoran, a historian of the Roman Catholic Church who previously has given excellent talks on papal conclaves and the evolution of nativity scenes. She’ll discuss fascinating developments such as the fourteenth century Avignon Papacy, when Philip IV of France got the upper hand in a feud with the Church by pressuring a papal conclave to select a French pope and then getting the church’s leadership relocated from Rome to Avignon for nearly 70 years. In drawing parallels between recent events and medieval attacks on the Church’s authority she’ll describe how today’s anti-Church memes echo the anti-pope and anti-Catholic images that Martin Luther disseminated in large numbers with the help of woodcut printing. We’ll look at tensions between past presidents and past popes over not just wars, but issues such as abortion, stem-cell research, and abortion access. The talk will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the inherent tensions between politics and matters of faith. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: From an 1866 Nicolò Barabino painting of the death of Pope Boniface VIII after he was kidnapped and held captive for three days at the behest of King Philip IV of France (Usher Gallery / Wikimedia Commons).

Regular coffee meetup for people to meet, make new friends, or enjoy general conversations with coffee. Great for those who are new in town or looking for new activities to do! This will be held at Weird Brothers Coffee at Worldgate Centre in Herndon. Afterwards, if anyone is interested, we can grab lunch at whichever nearby restaurant in the shopping center. There’s a TGI Friday’s, a Thai place, a Mexican place, Inchin’s Asian fusion restaurant, and we are open to alternative preferences. Additional Note: If you are on the Wait List, you can still feel free to attend if you wish.