But what meet-ups do you actually mean? I think to really find out what matters to them in their jobs ("normal" people) is to work with them (of course talking can give you some clues but not real understanding of subject). Besides you are just outsider and they will not tell you everything.

I suppose that it's how you go about meeting anybody. Pick a field you think has potential, look up a meeting (say on meetup), go enough to be a regular, drink some beer, talk about it.