Fancy to join a multidisciplinary team to solve the next humanitarian challenge at CERN?
We are looking for innovators, experts, and collaborative individuals from all over the world to come join us for the biggest event of the year on 14-16 October 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Applications to THE Port Hackathon 2016 are open until June 15th!
Your suggestions and comments for the next challenges are also wanted, then send your ideas at ideas@theport.ch, and start the discussion! We'd love to hear from you and here is how you can do it:
>> All our challenges must have
a catchy title
a concise but complete description of the proposed challenge
an outline of goals that could be reached during the hackathon
a list of physical and intellectual resources that are needed to perform the challenge
>> Keep in mind that...
Challenges do not necessarily have to be standalone ones (eg. creation of a completely new prototype)
Challenges can also be quests for specific features that are needed in an already existing open source project
The better the challenge is defined, the more likely a tangible solution can be expected at te end of the hackathon! That is why we will work closely with you in order to refine your proposed challenge to the very best.
Here below you can see an example of challenge proposal from our previous edition:
Q: What is the goal of the THE Port Hackathon 2016?
A: During THE Port Hackathon, the teams develop intense conceptualisations of innovative humanitarian ideas with starting quantitative analysis and conceptual prototypes, so that the best ideas survive and can be driven foreword after the event.
Q: I like the idea! But...what's a hackathon?
A: Originally composed from ‘hack’ and ‘marathon’ this problem-solving workshops started for intensive collaborative work between software developers. As in our case, it is often seen as a collaborative effort focused on innovation and happening during a limited amount of time (e.g. 60 hours).
Q: Do I need to be a hardcore computer specialist?
A: No, other than the word hackathon implies, THE Port hackathons are not necessarily purely software related projects, and could therefore be of all kinds of nature. Thus, we create multidisciplinary teams to add as much variety on skills to the teams as possible.
Q: I already participated to THE Port Hackathon 2015, can I apply to the 2016 edition, too?
A: All applications are open without restrictions, so please do send your application! But, keep in mind, we aim to assemble balanced teams for each edition. In other words: you might have been the perfect fit for the last edition and topic, but if the selection team don't see you fitting this time, please don't feel disappointed.
Q: I'm a current THE Port Ambassador, can I also participate to the next hackathon?
A: Absolutely. Make sure you send us your complete application.
Q: What is the selection process like?
A: The call for applications to THE Port Hackathon 2016 is open until June 15, 2016. Send us your complete application by the deadline. THE Port will review all applications submitted. If you are selected for the next round, you will have either a video interview or will be interviewed by a THE Port member. For those who will be selected after the second round, congratulations! THE Port will send out individual notifications with the team and topic which you will be assigned to.
Q: That was too long - short version, please?
A: Applications accepted until June 15th, 2016
Video interviews between June-July 2016
Notification of team membership and topic in mid-August 2016
Q: Can I bring my own topic?
A: You can suggest a topic if you have a special interest in solving a problem or a need in the humanitarian field through technology. 'Endless imagination' is THE Port Hackathon's motto, and we welcome your ideas! If you indeed have a topic, get in touch with us to talk further about its development.
Q: Can I apply with my own team?
A: Applications are individual. Teams are composed in order to guarantee a healthy mix of people coming from different backgrounds but you should definitely encourage your team members to apply, too.
Q: Do I need to pay to attend?
A: Participation to the event is free of charge. However, you will likely need to pay for your travel and your accommodation since we are able to offer free accommodation only to a limited number of participants.
Q: Can I help you in any other ways?
A: Yes, of course! We are always trying to reach out a diversified audience for every edition of the Hackathon, therefore please help us advertise the 2016 event. You can do it by sharing the event on Facebook, Twitter or your favourite social media; announcing it to maker spaces, fab labs, hackathon communities, universities and research facilities in your country; and by printing and distributing our poster. Tell it to your friends and help us promote diversity!
Disclaimer: THE Port Association is a non-profit association under Article 60 of the Swiss civil code. THE Port does not represent CERN in any way, even if some of its members work or have worked at CERN. Communications and activities by its members are carried out in their spare time and constitute private initiatives. All rights reserved.
