[Imc-makerspace] Fwd: Great Global Hackerspace Challenge

[Erich Heine]

Hi everyone,

Just over a week ago, I sent an email to the list letting you know that a
small group of us decided to submit an application to a contest called the
"Great Global Hackerspace Challenge".  We have now heard back, and are
totally accepted to the challenge, if we agree.  Unfortunately this is
moving a bit faster than I prefer to do things, but, we need to reply by
tomorrow to get going on this.

Since the space is run by consensus, I would like to get anyone with strong
feelings  on this to weigh in, as there are a few things that must be
decided groupwise:

1. Do we mind the Makerspace Urbana name being associated with this
challenge? (note, there is no contract or anything like that, but we will
need to put a profile of ourself on their site).

2. This constitutes a pretty big donation in equipment, are we OK with that?

3. The subgroup of us that works on this project will be underfoot a lot at
the space for the next six weeks, not to mention our stuff (parts, manuals,
project bits) being there for the duration.

4. Does this meet with the general type of vision and mission that we have
for the space?


Regarding that last point, there are several aspects of this challenge that
fit with the mission of Makerspace Urbana:

+ Developing formal ties with local schools (fits mission)
+ Dedicating time and brain power to the challenge (up to challenge
participants), but also providing a forum for doing so (fits mission)
+ Sending folks to San Fran Maker Faire (fits mission)

Anyway, below is a forward of the message we received for participating in
this challenge. Please review it and discuss here.

Remember: Time is critical on this, post any concerns quickly so we can
resolve any issues that may exist!

Regards, and I am looking forward to working with folks on this!
Erich
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Mitch Altman <mitch at cornfieldelectronics.com>
Date: Sun, Mar 20, 2011 at 4:26 PM
Subject: Great Global Hackerspace Challenge
To: Erich Heine <sophacles at gmail.com>


Hello Erich,

I received so many really great submissions for participation in the Great
Global Hackerspace Challenge!The response was wonderful.I received
submissions from South America, North America, Australia, Asia, and Europe.
There are so many incredible hackerspaces around the world.

Then I had a big problem: I didn't know how to choose which hackerspaces
could participate. I agonized over how to pick only 10 out of all the cool
spaces who emailed me. How to choose? I was only given enough resources to
pick 10. I got back to the folks at Element14, letting them know that it
wouldn't be fair to exclude all but 10 of the hackerspaces. After only a
short while, we all agreed, and the people at Element14 decided they would
provide the resources for all submitting hackerspaces to participate!

*So, congratulations, your hackerspace is part of the Great Global
Hackerspace Challenge!
*
/If you are still interested in participating, please email me as soon as
you can and confirm. You will not be considered to be part of the Challenge
until I receive your confirmation email.
/
_Here's a short summary of the Great Global Hackerspace Challenge_:
- Your hackerspace will create a project to help with education, using
US$900 (or equivalent) provided by Element14. The project must use a
microcontroller and a portable power source.
- You have 6 weeks to complete your project, documenting your project as you
go. All spaces that complete their project will receive 10 soldering setups.
- Three hackerspaces' projects will be chosen as finalists to present at the
Grand Finale at the San Francisco Maker Faire. All three of these spaces
will receive some really nice electronic test equipment. One person from
each space will be flown out to present their project at the San Francisco
Maker Faire over the weekend of 21-May & 22-May.
- One project will be chosen at the Grand Finale at the San Francisco Maker
Faire to receive some extra goodies, including a very nice oscilloscope.

_In case you missed this in the above summary_:
The folks at Element14 also decided that it would be way cool to have a live
presentation for each of the three finalists' projects at the San Francisco
Maker Faire. So, they kicked in enough money to make that happen! Each of
these three people will also be put up in their own hotel room. Start
planning your trip to San Francisco now! :)

Below is a text-only version of the Participation Packet, which gives more
details. Please read it over, and see if you have any questions.

I will also email you separately with a PDF version of the Participation
Packet, which is 5.5MB. If you don't receive the PDF and would like it,
please email me and I'll get it to you another way.

Shortly after I receive an email from you confirming that you want to be
part of the Challenge, you will be contacted by Challenge organizers to
schedule a phone call with your team. They would like these calls to occur
between 21-March and 24-March, depending on your availability.

Best of luck with your project!

Cheers,
Mitch.



*******************************
WELCOME
*******************************


Hello, and welcome to The Great Global Hackerspace Challenge, brought to you
by the very excited folks over at element14!

You are one of thirty hackerspaces from across the globe who have been
chosen to participate in this amazing event, which seeks to stretch your
hackerspace-minded ingenuity to its very limit to create an electronics
build that will make a real, and very positive difference in an educational
establishment. And for you to have a whole lot of fun along the way!

Exactly what that build is, and what solution it provides is entirely down
to you. The only stipulation is that your build must make use of a
microcontroller and a portable power source. We encourage you to reach out
to an educational institute in your area so that you can test your invention
as it evolves, make sure you are answering a genuine educational need, and
hopefully establish a home for your product once the challenge is over.

Within this pack, you'll find detailed information on the equipment
element14 will provide you with to get your creative thoughts flowing, and
your talented hands building, as well as the low down on how to share your
Hackerspace's ongoing progress with the world.

We'd also ask you make sure to read our Great Global Hackerspace Challenge
Pact section, on which we are asking for a virtual handshake from you. It's
our way of establishing mutual ground rules and understanding before the
storm of genius activity begins.

We thank you once again for being a part of this incredible challenge, wish
you the very best of luck, and look forward with great anticipation to
seeing your work as it develops. This is a challenge in which brilliant
minds collaborate so that everybody wins. Onwards!


*******************************
CHALLENGE GUIDELINES
*******************************

Outlined below is a step-by-step guide with all the information you will
need to help make your hackerspace challenge as successful as possible.
There's a great deal to do in a very short space of time, and so we have
created a calendar of key delivery dates which you'll find at the end of
this pack to help you stay on track.

If you have any questions along the way that aren't answered here, please
email hackerspace at element14.com and we'll be sure to get back to you.



******************************
YOUR TOOL KIT
******************************

element14 is providing you with a budget of $900 US to complete your build.
You will be contacted directly to establish exactly how you would prefer to
receive this money. Your microcontroller and portable power source should be
procured using this money, and any additional electronic components you
might need can be purchased from the element14 store. Simply go to the
element14 website (www.element14.com), click on the 'store' tab and then
select your items using your $900 stipend. Your components will then be sent
directly to you.

We ask that you try not add to this budget, as one of the judging criteria
is based on the total cost of the final build, but you are fully permitted
to use any components or items that you might already have at your
hackerspace within your build. We challenge you to be as creative as you
like!


******************************
DOCUMENTING YOUR BUILD
******************************

Core to this challenge is to produce an electronics build that will
ultimately help education, but you can also start to help people learn about
hackerspaces and electronics building along the way by regularly sharing
information on your design. This is also how the judging panel will be able
to track your progress and pick the three semi-finalists, and a minimum of
one weekly update is a mandatory element of the challenge.

Please feel free to share all your exciting moments as they happen, but as a
guideline, content that would be useful for you to provide would be:

Week 1
- Introduce your team (video would be a great way to do this), explain your
hackerspace's philosophy, and provide a top level summary of your first week
Week 2
- Provide a basic outline of the materials you will be using in your build
and any key challenges you anticipate
Week 3
- Provide an update on the status of your build and quick summary of
obstacles encountered and how they are being addressed
Week 4
- Is everything going to plan? Perhaps provide footage of a visit to an
educational institution you're working with
Week 5
- In your penultimate week provide a review of the challenge to date. Is the
pressure on? What have you learned?
Week 6
- This is the time to really showcase your build, why it works and what
features make it stand out


*****************************
HOW TO SHARE
*****************************

You will be required to contribute to your profile page within the element14
community. This is where you can upload your videos and photos and keep
everyone informed via a written blog. You will be able to personalize the
page so that your hackerspace's own unique character shines through. To do
this, go to element14.com, click on �Join Now� if you are not already
registered, using your Hackerspace name, and we will create your page for
you.


****************************
BUILD CRITERIA
****************************

Our esteemed panel of judges will include luminaries from the worlds of
technology and science, education and hackerspacing.

Following the completion of the build period, they will be judging each one
on the criteria below in order to select three semi-finalists to attend the
California Maker Faire for the grand finale on May 22.

Semi-finalists will be notified personally by Mitch on May 6.

Criteria:
- How reproducible is the final project
- How easily can the parts be sourced in locations around the world
- How low cost is the final output
- How well are the plans documented
- How relevant is the project to helping education today
- How inventive and creative is the design and build of the project


*****************************
THE MAKER FAIRE GRAND FINALE
*****************************

The Great Global Hackerspace Challenge will culminate in a live
demonstration of each of the three semi-finalists in front of the panel of
judges at the San Mateo Maker Faire. One team member from the final three
hackerspaces will be flown out to California to attend the Faire and present
their build. Air fare, hotel accommodation and daily food costs will all be
covered by element14 - we'll provide more detail on this if you are
selected.

In the spirit of collaboration over competition, and to thank you for taking
part, element14 will be sending you a set of soldering equipment, including
a soldering station, for your hackerspace once you have completed the
challenge.

Each of the semi-finalist hackerspaces will receive the following prizes:

- Fluke 233 DMM (worth US$300)
- Fluke 381 Clamp Meter (worth US$500)
- Tektronix PWS4205 Power Supply (worth US$865)
- Agilent HH DMM (specific model TBD)

Finally, the build chosen to have that extra sprinkling of hackerspace magic
will receive a suitably rocking prize: a Tektronix MSO2024 oscilloscope
(worth around US$5,600). Start clearing a space in the corner of your
hackerspace now!


********************************************
THE GREAT GLOBAL HACKERSPACE CHALLENGE PACT
********************************************

You won't find any legal language here. We promise. The purpose of this
section is to let you know that if, for any reason you are unable to finish
your project you should let the organizers know as soon as possible.
Particularly if you encounter circumstances beyond your control. We need to
be able to manage expectations so we can accommodate the logistics of the
event; judging, the Maker Faire event and the management of the content on
the community.

This isn't a contract. You won't be signing your life away. We trust you. We
simply want to have the best competition possible.

To quote the 1989 MGM classic 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure' we want
everyone involved in this event to 'Be excellent to each other'. And that
works full circle. We are investing funds into your builds and you are
investing your valuable time and energy into our challenge. In the spirit of
transparency and collaboration we want everyone to succeed and get as much
as they can from this project however we reserve the right to withhold
product and stipend if groups do not deliver on the requirements of the
challenge. We will be in close communication throughout this project and, we
can all work together to avoid any adverse situations.


*****************************
CHALLENGE KEY DATES CALENDAR
*****************************

- Week of 3/21 : Official Challenge Briefing / Q+A
- 3/25: Deadline to create your profile and submit your first blog update
- 4/1: Deadline for Hackerspace Challenge Blog Post 2
- 4/15: Deadline for Hackerspace Challenge Blog Post 3
- 4/30: End of build time
- 05/01- 05/05: Judging period
- 05/06: 3 semi-finalists will be announced
- Week Of 5/16: One team member from each of the three semi-finalist
hackerspaces will travel to San Francisco Bay Area
- 5/21/22: Maker Faire
- 5/22: Maker Faire Great Global Hackerspace Challenge Grand Finale
- 5/23: Team members travel home
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