Affinity groups meeting regularly in the Research Park make the Champaign-Urbana tech community feel smaller. The Data Science User Group, AI User Group, and Champaign Blockchain Meetup convene for a monthly lunch in the EnterpriseWorks atrium to bond over the intersection between personal and professional interests.
For a detailed event schedule, visit the Research Park Calendar.
Data Science User Group
The Data Science User Group aims to build a community of interest around data science to foster learning, collaboration, and networking. The group serves students and professionals, bridging the gap between the analytical sciences and practical applications of industry. Watch previous Data Science User Group meetings on the Research Park YouTube Channel. Topics and speakers from past events have included:
- Contextual Language Models with Shubhanshu Mishra
- Data Science in Healthcare with Stephanie Besser
- Federated Learning with Xiaoyang Wang
- Technology in Agriculture with Mark Moran
This user group generally meets on the first Friday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at EnterpriseWorks. For more information and to RSVP, visit the group’s Meetup page or stay up-to-date on the Research Park calendar.
Note that the Data Science User Group will be on hiatus for the summer and will not meet in June, July, or August 2024.
AI User Group
“Working with AI” is a meetup group for those in the Champaign-Urbana area who are interested in exploring the exciting field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its real-world applications. Led by Brad Miller, the group provides a platform for learning, networking, and collaboration among individuals and organizations working with AI or looking to get started in this field. The AI User Group is open to anyone interested in learning more about AI, regardless of their level of experience in the field. Topics and speakers from past events have included:
- Real-World Applications of LLMs with Lori Moon
- Creating a Small Language Model with Jacob Love
- Prompt Construction with Sam Walker
- Applications of AI in Academia and Consulting with Vishal Sachdev and Jacob Kinsey
This user group generally meets on the second Friday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at EnterpriseWorks. For more information and to RSVP, visit the group’s Meetup page or stay up-to-date on the Research Park calendar.
Champaign Blockchain Meetup
The Champaign Blockchain Meetup group is catered to those interested in distributed ledger technology, including blockchains, cryptocurrency, cryptography, smart contracts, DApps, and more.
This user group generally meets on the third Friday of the month from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at EnterpriseWorks. For more information and to RSVP, visit the group’s Meetup page or stay up-to-date on the Research Park calendar.
Please note that tech meetups are subject to cancellations and schedule changes. Please check our calendar for updates.