On Monday nights for god knows how long they have had jazz nights on the inside and open mic nights on the outside. Not mathematical and scientific pursuits, but the greatest art I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing being created before my eyes And to me that makes it a place of intellectual pursuits (I’ve always called it the future of culture).
Just as an example I believe Marylin Manson had his official debut at churchill’s. I once watched a kid (wouldn’t be surprised if he was 17 and still in high school) walk up on stage in a dress with a harmonica and guitar...and I’d swear he’d give bob dylan a run for his money. And in all likelihood no one will even know this kids name or be moved/influenced by his music. One of the important things to take away from this article is the reality Newton was in his 40’s before he was “discovered“ living in near isolation as a unregarded professor and it was by happenstance Newton became Sir Newton (having already solved a problem his peer happened to be discussing and the challenge issued).
My insight would actually be these types of groups are everywhere, getting together and discussing and pursuing their passions with other likeminded people, it’s just unless you share the same passion or they are lucky enough to be discovered and transcend to be embraced by society at large they will simply be lost to history like Newton might have been.
Be the change you want to see in the world, I’d start maybe by going to a local university (covid may complicate this) and personally invite a number of professors from various fields to the campus bar for an open mic night. MC it but don’t put any restrictions, if they want to talk about work fine, if they want to read their own poetry fine, I think you’ll be surprised how quickly people in such an environment will share their unknown and undiscovered talents.